The best walks and hikes around Castellbisbal

Devil's Bridge

quiet place to regain strength. good views of Monserrat

Good point to regain strength. It's quiet, enjoy.

Although legend has it that this bridge was built by the devil, tricked by an old woman from the town who had to cross it daily, in reality it is of Roman origin and was part of the Via Augusta. It was designed for oxcarts to pass through. It still preserves the stirrups built in large ashlars that have inscriptions from the legions that worked on it. A flood carried away the central pillar and it was rebuilt in 1143 with a single Gothic style arch. However, the current bridge is a reconstruction from the 1960s. Until the 14th century it was the only viaduct that crossed the lower Llobregat.

It is pleasant to see written down the legend that I believe should never be lost, that is how I have known it since I was a child and that is how I would like it to always last, that is how I know it in my childhood where I studied at the Balmes Academy which is next to the Devil's Bridge, and that every day I went up remembering this astute legend, all these legends from so many places that take us to a magical world that in a not so distant time we felt like part of should become more popular. Thank you @An Agentona for spreading the word.

Once upon a time, in a small town called Martorell, there was an old lady who had to cross the river every day to fetch water from the spring on the other bank. The old lady was already very old and she was not up for those jogs. Jumping from stone to stone, getting his feet wet had already brought him more than one upset and the occasional cold. One morning, when he was along the shore, about to cross the river, the Devil appeared to him, who was a very careful businessman. – What are you doing crossing the river like this?! With my great power, I will make it so that you never have to cross it again. -As? – asked the surprised old lady. "Give me one night, and I'll build you the most beautiful bridge you've ever seen." -Sure? – asked the old lady. Do you doubt my word? - replied the Devil - And it won't cost you a penny. I settle for keeping the soul of the first to cross the bridge. The old lady, tired of having to cross the river every day, accepted the deal. The devil was working all night long and when the first rays of sun broke behind the Telegraph Tower the great bridge was finished. The Devil, hiding behind the arch of the bridge, on the other bank, waited for the old lady to arrive, so that she would cross the bridge in search of the water and thus be able to keep her soul. But things did not turn out as he expected. When the old lady reached the bridge, she took the apron out of the basket that she had hanging from her arm. From inside the basket came a cat black as coal, which, frightened, began to run up the bridge. And that is how, from that day on, the old lady and all the inhabitants of Martorell can cross the bridge without fear while the Devil watches us helplessly, together with the soul of a cat. They call it the Pont del Diable (Devil's Bridge in Spanish) and it is one of the monuments that make up the identity and culture of Martorell. Since we were little, at school we all learn the legend of the famous bridge.

The original bridge dates back to 10 BC, and was part of the Roman Via Augusta. It was rebuilt in the 13th century, with its characteristic Gothic arch. It underwent new reforms in the 18th century and was destroyed in 1939 during the Spanish civil war, being rebuilt in its current form in 1963. Its name comes from the legend that tells that the devil offered an old woman to build the bridge in exchange for the soul of the first person to cross it. The old woman, who had asked the devil to build the bridge so that she could cross the river safely, hid a black cat in her bag, which she released before crossing the bridge so that the devil could claim her soul.

Meeting point with other cyclists and a nice place to be photographed