It was built with the traditional molinaza stone, it consists of four rounded arches and it has one of the most spectacular views of Montoro. It is an ideal place for capturing the best memories of your visit with your camera or Smartphone.
Puente Mayor
This monument was built over the Guadalquivir River and it joins the heart of the town with El Retamar district. Its construction began in 1498 during the reign of the Catholic Kings, becoming one of the most characteristic and important bridges in the province of Cordoba.
It is worth stopping and contemplating the passage of the Guadalquivir river from the rocky walkway at the lower part of the village as well as the white houses of Montoro at the top part of it.
What is the bridge like?
Moreover, you should know that the bridge is 180 meters long by 9 meters wide and the keystone of the main arch is 18 meters high on the river water level.
It has two structures for accessing and the central eye stands out for its size and for being flanked in its piles by large angular cutwaters in front of the flow of water, being smaller size those located in the front-to-back and in the curved surface.
Legend tells that this bridge…
If you ask a neighbour of Montoro about this bridge when you visit the village, he/she probably will not know it or he/she may answer you with the name of Puente de las Donadas or Doncellas.
Until recently, it was believed that this Bridge was paid with the jewels donated by the women and with the salaries given by the neighbours to build this architectural construction, although the truth was different.
What really happened?
According to the information provided by the General Archive of Simancas in Valladolid, the question of donating jewellery referring to necklaces, bracelets or earrings was not dealt before the 19th century.
In this case, it was another type of jewellery referring to earthly goods: the meadows. So, the Montoreños got rid of real natural jewels which the Catholic Kings, Juana I and Carlos V, gave permission for selling them for the construction of the bridge and with the money obtained of selling them it was possible to finish the construction.
In the same way, the neighbouring villages of Montoro had also to contribute with the costs, since the Council of Cordoba forced them to provide monetary amounts to the Town Hall of Montoro.
Ubicación
Acceso por C/ Puente o C/ Redonda
Horario
-
Precio
Gratuito
Nearby places
- Santa Ana Chapel (100 m)
- Santiago Apostol Church (150 m)
- Fuente de la Oliva (550 m)
- Roman Empire Viewpoint (1 km)
