Stone Bridge of Prizren

One of the landmarks of the city is the old Ottoman stone bridge (Alb. Ura e gurit; Serbian Камеңи мост/Kameni most; Turkish Taş köprüsu). It connects the old parts of Prizren and spans the Bistrica (Alb. Lumëbardh). There are almost no historical sources about the construction period. Judging by the material, it was completed at the end of the 15th century. It has three arches, the middle one being the largest. In the 1950s the exterior of the bridge was altered as a result of road widening. It remained in this state until November 17, 1979, when massive amounts of water flooded the city and leveled the bridge to the ground. Since many residents had an emotional connection to the bridge and it was an integral part of the cityscape, work began on the precise restoration in the months that followed. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 5, 1982, and after five months of construction, the bridge was reopened on November 17, 1982 – exactly three years after it was destroyed. Since then it has shone in its old glory and is a magnet for many tourists.