Puente del Perdón, Stone bridge in Rascafría, Spain.
Puente del Perdón is a stone bridge spanning the Lozoya River with three rounded arches supported by sturdy pillars. Stone seating built on these supports offers a practical resting spot along the structure itself.
An original wooden structure was built in 1302 to connect the Santa María de El Paular monastery with the opposite riverbank. By the mid-18th century, this had been replaced with the stone bridge visible today.
The bridge served as a place where prisoners learned their fate: those pardoned walked free while others faced execution. This dark history shaped the site's identity and remains part of local memory today.
This location marks the start of hiking trails into the surrounding mountain area and provides access to the Peñalara Natural Park visitor center. The solid stone structure makes crossing safe and comfortable for walkers.
Paper from the nearby mill, transported across this bridge, was used to print the first edition of Don Quixote in 1605. This direct link to one of literature's most famous works makes this crossing an overlooked part of printing history.
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