Brandomil Bridge

The Brandomil Bridge is a jewel of Roman engineering over the Xallas River.

Máis información sobre Brandomil Bridge

The Brandomil Bridge was built in stone over the bed of the Xallas River, supported by four unequal arches that give it an unmistakable profile. Its origin dates back to Roman times, when it was part of the Via XX Per Loca Marítima, a secondary route that facilitated the transit of goods and people through the region. The abundance of gold in the river made this enclave a strategic point for mining.

Archaeological excavations carried out nearby have uncovered remains of one of the most important Roman settlements in Galicia, comparable to Brigantium or Iria Flavia. Coins, ceramics, jewellery and architectural remains confirm the relevance of Brandomil as an economic and administrative centre during the imperial period.

Over the centuries, the bridge has been adapted to the needs of the time, always retaining its role as an essential means of communication. The current construction, built in sillería and possibly dated to the seventeenth century, shows four arches: three of them of 8.20 meters and a smaller one, of 4.30 meters, which give it a singular harmony. The piles, reinforced with tamaxares, reach the top and reach a thickness of up to three meters, which guarantees their solidity against the force of the river.

The causeway, 2.75 meters wide, retains its original layout, and both the vaults and the tympanums and parapets are carved in stone. The two vaults on the right bank stand out for their double rosca, testimony to the care taken by the stonemasons in their execution. Although it was replaced in the 40s of the twentieth century by a concrete bridge, the old Brandomil Bridge is still used for local transit and maintains a great heritage value.

Today, forgotten by the hustle and bustle of other times, it needs conservation work to ensure its permanence. Its silhouette on the Xallas River not only speaks of the engineering and construction art of the past, but also of the multiple generations that crossed it, making it a true living witness to the history of Galicia.

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