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The Querós bridge, with more than 300 years of history, is still in perfect condition, despite having been submerged in water for 60 years.
It is well preserved and with the drought in the Susqueda reservoir it is once again visible and passable. At the time of capturing these photographs for Las Fotos de los Lectores de La Vanguardia, we had breakfast under the bridge, taking advantage of its shadow.
This bridge is located in the current term of Sant Hilari Sacalm and formerly crossed the river Ter next to the old town of Querós. But it was under the waters of the Susqueda reservoir.
In this form, it is only visible in times of drought, when the water in the swamp drops below 35-40%. Now it is at 29%, when last year it was at 53% at this time and the average for the last five years is 174.72%.
The bridge is supported by three large pillars with four semicircular arch arches, the two central ones larger than the two end ones.
The pillars of the bridge are made of ashlars and the upper part of the bridge is made of stone and lime mortar. In the pillars there are still visible the holes that on both sides of the bridge allowed the scaffolding to be placed. The floor of the bridge is made of pebbles.
Before its construction there is evidence of the existence of some levers that were used to cross the Ter river in Querós. The bridge was built between 1532 and 1534 by the master builder 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” (deluge downpour).
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 becomes passable again.
