Tui-Valença International Bridge

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Tourist Attraction

District: Viana do Castelo > Valença > Valença

Location

The Tui-Valença International Bridge stands majestically over the Minho River, serving as a vital and symbolic link between Valença, Portugal, and Tui, in Galicia, Spain. Its strategic position offers those who cross or observe it panoramic views of the riverbanks and the surrounding landscape, reflecting the tranquility of the river and the closeness between the two countries. It is an unmistakable landmark on the border, visible and accessible from Valença.

A Historic Legacy

Officially inaugurated in 1886, this bridge represents a remarkable feat of cooperation between Portugal and Spain. Its construction, initiated in 1882 and completed in 1884, was a joint initiative of the two governments, who shared the costs and the vision of uniting the two nations. Its design is often associated with Gustave Eiffel's workshops, specifically the company founded by the renowned engineer, with the involvement of other technical figures, such as Pelayo Mancebo y Ágreda for the Spanish railway section.

Its opening to the public only occurred a few years after its completion, due to a cholera outbreak that affected Europe, delaying the official celebration. This context lends an interesting chapter to the bridge's long history, bearing witness to a past of cross-border cooperation.

Architecture and Engineering

With its 318 meters in length, the Tui-Valença International Bridge is an impressive example of 19th-century engineering. Its structure is characterized by a long metal truss, box-shaped, resting solidly on robust stone pillars. One of its peculiarities lies in the existence of two distinct decks: the upper one is dedicated to the railway line, while the lower one serves road traffic.

This dual function, from its inception, underscores its importance as an infrastructure for communication and connection between the two countries. Its excellent state of preservation allows one to admire a project that largely maintains its original layout and the grandeur of the engineering work of that era.

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