The Pont Eiffel of Girona
The bridge was built in 1877 by the engineering workshop of Gustave Eiffel, 12 years before the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Its official name is Pont de les Peixateries Velles (Bridge of the Old Fish Markets) because it leads to the street where the medieval fish markets stood. Locals also call it the Pont Vermell (Red Bridge) for its colour.
Why Eiffel built it
The Compagnie des Etablissements Eiffel won the public tender to connect Plaza de Catalunya with Carrer de les Peixateries Velles. Eiffel had been building railway viaducts across Spain in the 1870s, including the famous Maria Pia bridge in Porto. The Girona bridge is one of his last Spanish projects.
The Onyar coloured houses
The bridge crosses the Onyar river at the most photogenic spot in Girona. The east bank is lined with the famous coloured houses, painted in ochre, yellow, terracotta and pink. They appear in nearly every postcard of the city. Best photographed from Pont de Pedra in the morning when the east light hits the facades.
Best photo viewpoints
The four bridges over the Onyar each give a different angle:
- Pont de Pedra (south): the classic shot of the coloured houses with the Cathedral behind. Morning light is best.
- Pont de les Peixateries Velles (Eiffel): from the centre you see the houses on both banks. Sunset turns the iron orange-red.
- Pont de Sant Feliu: the only angle that includes both Sant Feliu bell tower and the Cathedral.
- Pont de Sant Agusti (north): quieter, with the medieval walls in the background.
How to find it
The Pont Eiffel is between Placa de la Independencia (west bank) and Carrer Argenteria (east bank). From Girona train station it is a 10 minute walk. Look for the bright red iron lattice over the river.
Combine with the Cases de l Onyar walk
Cross the Pont Eiffel from west to east, walk south along Carrer Ballesteries past the Onyar coloured houses, cross back over the Pont de Pedra and have a vermut on Placa de la Independencia. The full loop takes 30 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The Compagnie des Etablissements Eiffel built the bridge in 1877, twelve years before the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The official name is Pont de les Peixateries Velles. The Eiffel workshop won the public tender after building railway bridges across Spain.
Yes. The Pont de les Peixateries Velles is a free public pedestrian bridge open 24 hours. There are no tickets and no closing time.
From the Pont de Pedra looking north toward the Cathedral. Morning light from 9:00 to 11:00 hits the colourful east bank facades. Sunset light from the Pont Eiffel turns the iron lattice orange-red.
The Pont de les Peixateries Velles is around 40 metres long and 4 metres wide, all in iron lattice with a single deck. It crosses the Onyar river at its narrowest urban section.
It connects Placa de la Independencia on the west bank with Carrer Argenteria on the east bank, between the Pont de Pedra and Pont de Sant Agusti. From Girona train station it is a 10 minute walk.
