Historic bridges of Vall de Núria

St. Gil was a person in love with animals. He didn’t want anyone to hurt them. Even once Gil saved the life of a deer that was being chased by a hunter.

In Núria, Gil lived with shepherds and was able to love the mountain dogs that kept the cattle, and he saw other animals there, such as the Catalan guarana, which served those shepherds. Having to leave Núria hastily for a persecution, the saint left hidden in the cave of the chapel of Sant Gil the carving of the Virgin, a cross and a bell. Discovered these treasures a few centuries later, the shepherds took them in procession from the saint’s chapel to the church, crossing the Finestrelles torrent by this bridge.

On this bridge is repeated every year, on September 1, this procession that revives the foundation of the sanctuary. Everyone who crosses it begins the adventure of feeling, participating and reliving the mysteries of Núria’s past.

QUESTION: We have already seen that shepherds and pilgrims passed through this bridge but also animals, could you tell which animal passed through this bridge, with the intention of protecting other animals?

CLUE: If you are heading 325 ° from here, as many meters as the years of the second millennium, you will find it with your back to you.

The first essential services of Núria were established near this bridge. First there were some woods installed next to the river, which, known as nocturnal, were used for washing clothes, there was also a small mill, then the building of the first cafe, which dates from the last years of the 19th century and finally the Cremallera services, which allow, among many other things, Núria to be an accessible place all year round, even in the harsh winter months. Thanks to the Núria Cremallera's, the valley soon became a renowned and popular ski resort.

The name of St. Ignatius is a reminder to the community of Jesuit religious, who had been founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola. These Jesuit religious had taken advantage of Núria's peace and tranquility to take Christian formation courses and retreats, the famous Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.

Everyone who passes by should not forget how necessary and important it is for Núria and for everyone it has been the rack railway and the associated services.

QUESTION: Life in Núria took a 360ª turn with the arrival of the zip line, could you tell when this big change happened, in what year did the zip line arrive in Núria?

CLUE: If you look around you, not too far from here and related to the zipper, there is a very basic, covert, 4-digit number, add 697 to the number and you will know the answer.

This bridge is the beginning of some of the excursions from Núria following the course of the torrent of Nou Fonts towards high peaks, where the vegetation and the orography change and the hiking and the excellent are experienced in an excellent way. In the high mountains everything changes: the rivers are very close to their source, and flow down fast and downhill, and are often called "torrents".

The Mulleres torrent, the Eina torrent and the other Núria torrents are part of the tributaries of the Freser river. The need to come to Núria on a pilgrimage from France, or the Camprodon valley via these bridges, is already reflected in the History of Núria by Francesc Marés in the 17th century.

With the arrival of the s. XX, Núria will see how hiking is born in Catalonia, first with a more scientific, humanistic aspect and later with a more social and sporting one.

Even if you only stop for a while on this bridge, you can imagine from here the greatness and beauty of the mountains of Núria passionately contemplated for many years by hikers, whose teachings and experiences continue to be beneficial and health for everyone.

QUESTION: We have seen that scientists, shepherds, or pilgrims and hikers often had to cross rivers and streams by bridges like this. What do we call these streams?

CLUE: "you need to change the start of the current", if you look at the shapes you will see that the signal is the signal, you will see the letter you need.

The Eina torrent and the valley of the same name, which gives its name to this bridge, evoke the memory of the large numbers of people who, in one sense or another, used these mountain passes as a meeting point between people and cultures, and also as an escape to freedom in times of persecution and war.

It is worth remembering, although he did not pass through this bridge, the figure of Monsignor Ventura Carrera, who fled on foot to France with the carving of the Virgin, escaped from certain death and saved the carving of the goddess of the attacks and destruction of the Civil War that began in 1936. Three years later, this bridge and others of Núria, which lead to the border with France, witnessed the flight of many other people fleeing the war.

Nowadays and always, a bridge like this one is also an opportunity to escape the routine of the city and reconnect with nature as so many poets of Núria as Verdaguer and Maragall teach:

Pirinenques, Joan Maragall 1902

A dalt del Pirineu

les flors són esblaimades,

les flors són d'un blau clar,

blavoses o morades:

són tristes dels alts monts

les crestes emboirades,

i tristos els ramats

estesos per les prades,

i la del dret pastor

figura solitària.

El sol esblanqueït

no treu color ni escalfa;

el bosc mesquí i llenyós,

i l'herba curta i clara:

pedrosos i grisencs

els cims de les muntanyes,

tots ditejats de neu

d'eternes clapes blanques,

i fumejant arreu

la boira corre i passa.

Al tard, de dins les valls

la boira va aixecant-se,

i amb ella emmantellant

se va solemnement l'alta muntanya.

QUESTION: If you’ve read or listened well now you know that many of those fleeing this and other bridges were looking for it, and currently a lot of people fleeing the big cities are also looking for it, what are we talking about?

CLUE: The animal that is the symbol it represents, you will never find it in these mountains; but if you listen to your surroundings, you will feel it.