Pont du Gard

Category: Civil Architecture > Aqueduct

District: Viana do Castelo > Melgaço > Ameijoeira > Pontes

Location

The Pontes Aqueduct is located in Pontes, Ameijoeira, a rural area integrated into the parish of Castro Laboreiro, in the municipality of Melgaço. Situated in a predominantly agricultural environment, the aqueduct is surrounded by fields it once served, now dotted with gorse and small oak trees. Its location is set within the magnificent scenery of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, offering a visiting experience immersed in the nature and tranquility of Alto Minho.

Beneath its largest arch, an ancient path passes, connecting Pontes to the Porto de Bago bridge, over the Laboreiro river. To the west, an oak forest frames the horizon, highlighting the isolation and natural beauty of the site.

Origin and Purpose

This remarkable structure was built in the 1940s. Its construction is attributed to the initiative of Father Manuel Joaquim Rodrigues, a native of Pontes, who commissioned the work and the associated weir for the purpose of irrigating local fields. Although its original irrigation function ceased in the 1990s, the Pontes Aqueduct remains an important cultural and recreational landmark in the region, bearing witness to a rural past linked to water resource management.

Architectural Design

The Pontes Aqueduct features a solid granite masonry construction, a material abundant in the region. The structure consists of an open channel, designed for water conveyance. It extends for approximately 60 meters, crossing the terrain over 23 straight arches. These arches are formed by pillars built with superimposed granite slabs, giving the work a robust appearance in harmony with the surrounding landscape.

Elements of Devotion and Memory

In addition to its practical function, the aqueduct was consecrated by the presence of elements of popular devotion in its immediate surroundings. To the south, and west of the path, stands a simple cruzeiro, also in granite, with a quadrangular pedestal on which rest some alminhas. A Latin cross of square section, carved from a single block, completes this eastward-facing composition.

Also nearby, to the north of the aqueduct and east of the path, are other alminhas. These, of a more rustic workmanship, were carved from a granite block and include a small niche topped by a Latin cross in high relief, facing west. The presence of these religious markers reflects the ancient importance of the path crossed by the aqueduct, a vital route connecting the brandas and the inverneiras of Castro Laboreiro, and the deep faith of the local communities.

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