Bridge of the Pilgrims

The Bridge of the Pilgrims is a stone bridge over the Aragón River in Canfranc, a small village in the Spanish Pyrenees in the province of Huesca. It stands among the oldest monuments on the Aragonese stretch of the Camino de Santiago and marks a key crossing point for pilgrims descending from the Somport Pass on their way toward Jaca and, further on, the Camino Francés.

Where exactly is the bridge located?

The bridge spans the Aragón River right at Canfranc, at the point where the pilgrim route crosses the valley floor. It is also known locally as Puente Bajo (Lower Bridge) or Puente del Cementerio (Cemetery Bridge), and appears in older records under the name "pon Nou." Having accumulated several names over time is itself a sign of how long it has served as a local landmark for residents, traders, and travelers alike.

How old is the bridge, and where does its current form come from?

Historians trace the original structure back to the medieval period, likely the 12th century — a time when pilgrim traffic over the Somport Pass was already well established. However, the bridge visitors see today is largely not that original structure. In 1599, a violent flood on the Aragón River seriously damaged the medieval crossing. The reconstruction was entrusted to a stonemason named Ramón d'Argelas, who came from Béarn on the French side of the Pyrenees — a detail that says a lot about how this valley functioned for centuries as a corridor of contact between Aragón and Gascony. Some elements of the older structure were preserved and incorporated into the rebuilt bridge, so what stands today layers several centuries of construction.

Why is it called the "Bridge of the Pilgrims"?

The name is no coincidence. The bridge formed a key link on the Camino Aragonés, one of the historic branches of the Way of St. James, along which pilgrims coming down from the Somport Pass headed toward Jaca before eventually joining the Camino Francés at Puente la Reina. For centuries the bridge carried not only religious traffic but also trade between France and Aragón.

What role did the bridge play in the medieval toll system?

From the 15th century onward, the residents of Canfranc held what was known as the right of Rota y Porta. In exchange for the duty of patrolling and maintaining the road — including clearing it of snow in winter — the community had the right to charge tolls on horseback traffic crossing the bridge. Tolls were collected from the moment the Somport Pass reopened after winter until the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in May, with the funds earmarked for repairing the bridge and maintaining the road toward France. It is a concrete example of how a local community financed pilgrimage infrastructure long before any modern institutions existed to do so.

What is the bridge's status today?

In 2014, the bridge was added to the catalogue of individual assets inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list under "The Routes of Santiago de Compostela in Spain" (Caminos de Santiago de España). This recognizes its significance as a physical record of the pilgrimage routes that once crossed the Pyrenees.

What else is worth knowing before visiting?

Canfranc sits directly on the walking route of the Camino Aragonés and is also well known for its monumental Canfranc International railway station, located just a few kilometers from the French border. A visit to the Bridge of the Pilgrims pairs naturally with exploring the station and walking along the Aragón River valley, framed on both sides by Pyrenean peaks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Bridge of the Pilgrims located? It crosses the Aragón River within the village of Canfranc, in the province of Huesca, along the Pyrenean stretch of the Camino de Santiago.

How old is the bridge? The original structure likely dates to the 12th century, but the bridge's current form mostly results from its reconstruction after a major flood in 1599.

Why does it carry the name "Bridge of the Pilgrims"? Because it lay on the Camino Aragonés, the route pilgrims followed after crossing the Somport Pass on their way toward Jaca and, eventually, Santiago de Compostela.

Is the bridge a protected heritage site? Yes — in 2014 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in Spain.