Pont Vell, Gothic bridge in Castelló d'Empúries, Catalonia
Pont Vell is a Gothic pedestrian and bicycle bridge in Castelló d'Empúries, Catalonia, crossing the Muga River in the Sant Marc neighborhood. It has seven arches of different sizes, with triangular projections acting as buttresses, and is built from a mix of stone and brick following centuries of repairs.
The bridge dates to the 14th century, with references to an earlier structure going back to the late 13th century. Repeated flooding over the following centuries caused damage each time, and repairs gradually replaced much of the original stone with brick. In 1895, a new metal-framed bridge was built downstream, ending Pont Vell's role as the town's main crossing.
The bridge sits in the old Sant Marc neighborhood of Castelló d'Empúries, surrounded by narrow streets and old stone buildings. Locals and visitors walk or cycle across it daily, and it is a common stop for those heading to nearby shops and cafes along Carrer de Sant Llàtzer.
The bridge is freely accessible at any time and sits near Carrer del Pont, in the heart of Castelló d'Empúries, making it easy to reach on foot from the town center. Walking or cycling across gives the best view of the river and the surrounding old quarter.
Although the bridge has seven arches, only one of them is still made from the original stone of the medieval construction. All the others were rebuilt with brick after flood damage, which means two clearly different building materials sit side by side across the same structure.
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