Algoso Bridge

Category: Civil Architecture > Bridge

District: Bragança > Vimioso > Algoso

Location

Algoso Bridge is immersed in the rural landscape of Algoso, in the municipality of Vimioso, in northeastern Trás-os-Montes. It stands isolated over the Angueira River, in a deep valley where the banks rise into imposing crags and terraces carefully cultivated with olive trees. This natural setting creates a scene of great beauty and tranquility, inviting leisurely observation.

Its position over the Angueira River, with its steeply sloping banks, provides a unique view of the geology and characteristic vegetation of this region. It is a place that allows one to appreciate the force of nature and how human construction has integrated into the environment over the centuries.

A Legacy Through Time

The history of Algoso Bridge dates back to the Middle Ages, a time when an original bridge was erected to facilitate crossing the Angueira River. However, its journey was marked by challenges, and in 1707, a severe flood caused the destruction of this primitive structure.

The bridge that can be seen today is the result of a significant reconstruction, carried out between 1727 and 1738, already in the 18th century. This work allowed the bridge to continue serving its essential purpose: connecting the banks and integrating into an old path that linked important medieval fortified villages, such as Penas Róias and Algoso itself, passing through São Martinho do Peso and Valcerto. Remains of the original cobblestone road that once paved this historic route still survive in some places.

Architectural Features

Algoso Bridge displays robust architecture, reflecting 18th-century construction techniques. Supported by three round arches of identical size, it features a horizontal deck that includes a gentle ramp on the right bank, facilitating access. Its piers are reinforced with cutwaters, triangular upstream and semicircular downstream elements, designed to cut the water current and protect the structure.

The construction uses a distinctive combination of local materials: the predominant masonry is of schist, an abundant material in the region, while the voussoirs of the arches and the vertices of the cutwaters are crafted from granite ashlar, providing points of greater strength and an interesting visual contrast. Its railings, with a remarkable height of 1.20 meters and a reduced total width for passage, create a corridor that leads those who cross it to a more intimate experience with the river and the surrounding landscape.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt