Sights · Our pick
Mes Bridge
Built around 1770
An elegant humped Ottoman bridge over the Kir river, a short ride from Shkodër.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Pudelek · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Viktoria Leqejza · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Ehasimja · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons1 / 3
About Mes Bridge
In the village of Mes, about five kilometres north-east of Shkodër, the Ura e Mesit arches gracefully over the Kir river. Kara Mahmud Bushati, the local Ottoman pasha, had it built around 1770 in two stages: first a great central arch with three smaller ones, then a longer structure once floods had shown the need. Its smooth, rounded stones and humped silhouette make it one of the loveliest bridges in Albania. Hire a bicycle in Shkodër and ride out, as the locals do, for a picnic by the river.
Our take
- Humped stone arches
- Over the Kir
- Bike ride from Shkodër
- Address
- Mes, the Balkans
- Our city guide
- On our Tirana guide
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Mes Bridge before you go.
Last checked: October 2026 How we choose
Location
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