Bridge of Taboada in terrible shape

[peregrina2000]

If you've walked the Sanabrés, you will probably remember this bridge. It's between Silleda and Bandeira. Started in the 900s, currently accessible only on foot, overgrown with vines and weeds, but it is a jewel worth saving. https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/notic...boada-sumido-abandono/0003_201709D17C3993.htm

Not far from another camino jewel. When you come out of the woods from the bridge, the little church across the road, now in the municipality of Silleda, the 12th century church, Santiago de Taboada, is well worth a few minutes. The last time I was through, it was open, and the young volunteer sitting there told me the local parishoners had decided to try to have the church open for pilgrims. Very nice and peaceful, love those simple romanesque interiors. Definitely worth a reflective stop.

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[VNwalking]

Laurie, thank you for this. From talking to the person in the church or from the article, do you have any idea on the status of the conservation work on the bridge? It looks very special.
(I ran the link through Google translate and it came out with less information than it had when it went in.)
Edit - I just found this, with more photos.

 

[hel&scott]

Despite getting lost around Silleda, I remember this lovely bridge,it being a bit unloved even back in 2008. Looks like I may need to take some branch cutters to clear a path across it next year… hopefully it will get the attention it needs before then as the Spanish do tend to do a pretty good job of looking after their history.

 

[Theatregal]

This is how the bridge looked yesterday when I walked over with @fortview Such a beautiful stretch through here on the path under the Taboada Nueve bridge and across the medieval Taboada.

 

[VNwalking]

And here's what it looks like underneath:
View media item 9712

 

[Albertagirl]

I remember walking over this bridge, heading to Santiago from the Invierno last fall. I was impressed by it and took a couple of photos, but did not examine the state of the base. I could not have understood what I was looking at if I had. It is certainly worthy of being preserved and of the base being repaired, if possible. I am somewhat concerned what the budget could be for such work in the near future. At the moment, I am thinking that it was an old bridge in the 14th century when the Black Plague was ravishing Europe, and hoping that it can remain for many more centuries.

 

[Theatregal]

And here's what it looks like underneath:
View media item 9712

Your photo gives such a good view of the underside of the bridge @VNwalking ! The first time I walked through in April 2018, I didn't notice the low passageway and stairs leading down to the river bank. When I saw the underneath photo in your forum post this past spring, I looked forward to finding the way down when I would arrive there a few days after you! But it had rained and was quite slippery and muddy so I didn't make it all the way down. Here are some other photos of the bridge from this past June 2019 as well as the fascinating rock on the path a little ways after the bridge, with an inscription in Latin by the bridge builders, recording the date it was built. This place is so special - really hope it will be taken care of and restored.

 

[peregrina2000]

Looks like some restoration work has been completed. One of the few landmarks that is completely inaccessible to cars!

Acondicionan el entorno de Ponte Taboada y colocan un panel informativo

www.lavozdegalicia.es

 

[VNwalking]

It's very special, but in 2019 was seriously overgrown:
View media item 9711Great to know ot's received some TLC.

 

[Theatregal]

Yes - wonderful to see that it's getting some attention! I'm not sure about the information panel at the stone with the founding inscription though. Both times I've walked through here, about 5 minutes past the stone, there was an information panel about the bridge and the stone inscription. There was something magically timeless about that walk from under the Taboada Railway bridge, over the Taboada Bridge on the Deza River and past the inscribed stone without any other signs of the modern world.

 

[VNwalking]

Looking at your photos again, @Theatregal, so impressed by them. And it makes me want to go back.