The Ashtarak Bridge, also known as the Old Bridge, is located in the town of Ashtarak in the Aragatsotn Province, over the gorge of the Kasagh River. It is one of the important surviving examples of Armenian late medieval bridge-building.
The Ashtarak Bridge was built in 1664 under the patronage of Grigor Khoja and is 76.20 meters long. At the time, the bridge played an important role in the trade and economic ties of historical Armenia and in the movement of troops.
The bridge's parapets are stepped, and its span turned out sloped due to the uneven positions of the river's right and left banks.
According to folk tradition, the bridge was built with great difficulty. During construction, the Kasagh repeatedly destroyed the bridge's foundation. On the advice of the elders, it was decided to wall a living orphan girl into the foundation so that the structure would remain standing.
