The Varda Bridge The Varda Bridge, often referred to as "The Giant Bridge", is located in Karaisalı district, just 2 kilometers north of Hacıkırı Village. Completed in 1912, the bridge was built using a combination of Turkish steel framework and stone masonry techniques, as part of the grand İstanbul-Baghdad-Hejaz railway project. This iconic bridge served a vital function in establishing a railway link between Berlin and Baghdad, which was then under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Beyond transportation, the railway enabled the delivery of oil directly to German industries, which was essential for the production of ammunition during Germany’s military operations in Baghdad. One of the most demanding segments of the railway was a 13-mile stretch that winds through the Taurus Mountain range in Turkey. This difficult route, positioned between Konya and Adana, includes the region of Belemedik, where 21 tunnels were laboriously carved out over the span of 20 years. The construction of the Varda Viaduct was financed by the Deutsche Bank of Germany and assigned to Philipp Holzmann, a prominent German company known for its expertise in major infrastructure projects. The firm handled both the design and engineering of the bridge. Oversight of the project was managed by Winkler and Mavrogordato, with Mavrogordato stepping in after Winkler’s passing. In 1903, a German engineering team arrived in Belemedik, joined by a multinational labor force numbering in the thousands. As construction progressed, a settlement was formed to accommodate workers, featuring essential facilities like schools, hospitals, churches, and a mosque. Work on the viaduct commenced in 1905 and concluded by 1907, though the final technical adjustments were made in 1912, and the railway officially opened in 1916. The Varda Bridge consists of 11 large arches, each stretching 30 meters (98 feet) across and rising to a height of 10 meters (33 feet). Flanking the main arch span are four smaller sections: one arch of 6 meters (20 feet), three arches measuring 12 meters (39 feet), and four arches at 10 meters (33 feet). Construction involved placing stone pillars and assembling a steel superstructure on top of temporary falsework scaffolding. The viaduct follows a north-south alignment, bending gently across a 1,200-meter path with a curvature radius of 3,900 feet. On February 18, 1917, Enver Pasha, who served as the Ottoman Empire’s Minister of War, became the first senior Ottoman official to pass over the Varda Viaduct. Later, during the closing phases of World War I, retreating German forces also used this strategic bridge. The Varda Bridge spans more than 200 meters in length and rises to a height of 99 meters. In 2012, the bridge gained international attention when it appeared in several scenes of the James Bond film Skyfall. Located approximately 60 kilometers from the city center, the bridge is easily reachable by automobile or train. If you have any questions or inquiries, please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or simply message us via Whatsapp, and we will respond as soon as possible.