Pont Vell (Old Bridge)

The Pont Vell (Old Bridge) is a bridge with eight and a half arches that crosses the Cardener River at the southwestern entrance to Manresa. The foundations of its central arches date back to the 12th century, although it has traditionally been believed that its origins might go as far back as the late Roman period. The bridge took on its current form between the 12th and 14th centuries, during a general reconstruction that occurred in a time of economic and demographic expansion.

Although it survived the numerous wars that devastated the region between the 15th and 19th centuries, it was destroyed in 1939, coinciding with the withdrawal of Republican troops toward the Pyrenees. It was rebuilt between 1960 and 1962, preserving its previous profile and shape. Together with the Basilica of La Seu and the Sanctuary of the Cave of Saint Ignatius, it forms one of the most iconic panoramic images of the Manresa landscape.