The Eiffel Bridge
As we explored Girona, the bright red iron bridge crossing the Onyar River immediately stood out against the closely grouped buildings lining the water. Its official name is Pont de les Peixateries Velles, or the Bridge of the Old Fishmongers, although it is commonly known as the Eiffel Bridge.
The bridge was constructed in 1877 by Eiffel et Cie, the company founded by French engineer Gustave Eiffel. It was completed twelve years before the Eiffel Tower opened in Paris and demonstrates the company’s early use of prefabricated iron components and open lattice construction.
Its official name preserves the memory of the fishmongers and market stalls that once operated near the eastern end of the crossing. The bridge provided a practical pedestrian connection between the commercial streets of the historic city and the neighborhoods developing on the opposite side of the Onyar.
The red framework gives the bridge a much lighter appearance than Girona’s older stone bridges. Its geometric ironwork frames views of the river and the colorful buildings on both banks, making the act of crossing the river part of the experience of seeing the city.
The Eiffel Bridge is an example of an ordinary piece of urban infrastructure becoming an enduring landmark. Created to help people move through Girona, it now connects the city’s historic riverfront with the story of one of the nineteenth century’s most recognizable engineering companies.
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