The restored 1300s Pont Vell or Old Bridge now spans the Llobregat river at La Pobla de Lillet in Catalonia, Spain, with a single, graceful donkey back arch, but it may once have had two arches and the ashlar foundations of the pillars suggest it may have Roman origins.
La Pobla de Lillet, Berguedà, Catalonia, Spain: the restored medieval Pont Vell (Old Bridge) or Pont Gran, once the only permanent structure spanning the fast-flowing Llobregat river, was built in the early 14th century in response to a flurry of bequests and donations to fund its construction. In time, tolls levied on the traffic that needed to use it ensured it became a profitable venture. However, the ancient bridge seen today probably has much earlier origins, as squared ashlar blocks supporting the pillars at either end may date from the Roman era. Although the Pont Vell now has a single graceful donkey back stone arch, it probably once had two. The bridge has been restored many times over the centuries. The most recent major restoration was in 1984, when one of the pillars was strengthened with reinforced concrete, the medieval walls were consolidated, surviving parts of the medieval pavement were preserved and a new cobbled pavement was laid. The Rio Llobregat is the second longest river in Catalonia, after the Rio Ter. It flows for 170 km (105 miles), discharging into the Mediterranean south of the city of Barcelona.
Size: 2746px × 4127px
Location: La Pobla de Lillet, Berguedà, Catalonia, Spain.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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