We have a rather famous poem in The Netherlands, which starts (in my translation): “I went to Bommel [a place name] to see the bridge. I saw the new bridge. Two sides that formerly seemed to avoid each other becoming neighbours again. “ In a similar vein I went to Uzunköprü (Long Bridge) to see the bridge, appreciate its length and if possible walk it from end to end. Which I did, on a dreary December 2009 day, coming from nearby Edirne. It was bitterly cold, and at the other end the town that received its name from this - it was claimed - longest stone bridge in the world was as bleak as the weather. I suppose for years to come I will receive messages from proud Uzunköprülüler who will tell me how I utterly misrepresent their beautiful town, had managed to walk into the one neighbourhood that was not exciting and scenic, forgot to take a picture of this or that ancient mosque, in short, the usual comments if I do not show a town complete, unabridged and on a bright sunny day. My reply: you should have stopped the rain, make the many cars invisible, and then, maybe …

A notice at the northern end, where I started, told me: The bridge was built for Sultan Murat II (1427-1443) by the croftsman Master Muslihittin. It is 1270 meters long, has 172 vaults (“the vault connected with during the restoration”), stone is from the Eskiköy and Hatırıcı Arnavutköy “guames” (quarries?), the mortar from Horasan ( “extinct lime and broken bricks”). The natural quota is 5.10 m. The river surface 13.56 m. The width of the inside 5.24 m. Widencal to 6.80 m. after the 1964 restoration. So now you know.