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The Susqueda reservoir, in the La Selva region, is at less than 23% of its capacity, which allows La Vanguardia Readers’ Photos to observe an element that goes unnoticed by many people who visit this reservoir: the ancient Can Marquès house and, especially, the bare trunk of the century-old elm tree that is right next to it and that looks like a ghost resurfaced from the waters.
The bare trunk of the century-old elm continues to guard what was the most important house in this valley before it was swallowed by the waters of the swamp.
When this reservoir is full, the spectacular Querós bridge is also covered with water, but, with the drought, it has also been exposed.
This bridge is located in the current area of ??Sant Hilari Sacalm and formerly crossed the river Ter next to the old town of Querós. But it remained under the waters of the Susqueda reservoir.
The bridge is supported by three large pillars with four semicircular arch arches, the two central ones larger than the two at the ends.
The pillars of the bridge are made of ashlars and the upper part of the bridge is made of stone work and lime mortar. The holes on both sides of the bridge that allowed scaffolding to be placed are still visible in the pillars. The floor of the bridge is pebbles.
Before its construction there is evidence of the existence of levers that were used to cross the Ter river in Querós. The bridge was built between 1532 and 1534 by the master of houses Joan Roig.
The central part was rebuilt between 1696 and 1700 after it was damaged by a flood in 1617, known as the “aiguat del diluvi” (downpour of the flood).
It was repaired again in the years 1940-1941. In 1967 it was definitively covered by the waters of the Susqueda reservoir. But, in times of drought, like now, it is passable again.
