Monforte de Lemos - Puente Viejo

The Lemavi tribe populated the area around Monforte de Lemos, before the Romans, the Suevi and the Visigoths left their own footprints.

Tt is believed the town was destroyed in the 8th century by the Muslim invaders. In the 12th century, the settlemet was granted to Fruela Díaz, of the House of Lemos, who had the town rebuilt over the ruins. Monforte flourished as an agricultural market.

During the Middle Ages, a Benedictine community established on the Monastery of San Vicente del Pino. Both the capital tower and the fortified city's walls were demolished during the Irmandiño revolt in the second half of 15th century. The rebels repressed by the Count of Lemos, the lord of the land, who made them work to rebuild the castle.


According to tradition, its origins date back to Roman times. However, the current bridge was not built until the 16th century. It is a stone bridge consisting of six round arches, two of which were rebuilt later, and whose pillars are supported by buttresses. The bridge is labelled as "old", in contrast to another important bridge in the city, built in the last century and known as the Puente Nuevo.