Old Bridge, Stone bridge in Monforte de Lemos, Spain.
The Old Bridge is a stone crossing in Monforte de Lemos featuring four arches supported by sturdy granite pillars reinforced with buttresses. It spans the Cabe River through the center of town, with its surface laid in cobblestone.
The bridge was built in the 16th century under the direction of Catalina de la Cerda y Sandoval, the seventh Countess of Lemos, who commissioned the work. Pedro Rodríguez de Ramberde oversaw its construction, blending medieval building traditions with contemporary methods of that era.
The bridge connects two parts of Monforte de Lemos and remains woven into daily life as people cross it regularly to move between neighborhoods. Its granite structure reflects the practical building methods that shaped the town centuries ago.
The bridge carries one-way vehicle traffic and should be crossed on foot with attention to approaching cars. Pedestrians can walk safely across it, though you should stay aware of the roadway when moving from one side to the other.
Local stories speak of Roman origins, yet the structure actually blends medieval features with 16th-century construction techniques in an unusual way. This mixing of different building eras makes it architecturally distinctive.
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