The ancient Presa del Rey dam, which contained the waters of the Tuerto River, was the origin of the Moldera stream, a man-made canal created to power numerous mills built along its course. By the 19th century, this and other nearby canals had up to 25 flour mills operating along them. The canal intersected an old Roman road that connected Astorga with neighboring towns. Over time, this route became part of the Camino de Santiago. To allow passage over the canal, the Moldera Bridge was most likely built in the late Middle Ages. This medieval bridge may have been constructed on the same natural ford where the Romans had previously built a bridge, of which no remains exist today.
The bridge suffered damage over the centuries due to floods from the river and dam overflows, as well as the constant passage of carts and travelers, leading to multiple renovations throughout its history.
Today, the bridge measures 27.50 meters in length and 3.50 meters in width. It is built with masonry and slate, featuring three arches supported by two pillars, which rest on cutwaters and wedge-shaped buttresses.
This bridge marks the arrival of pilgrims on the outskirts of the nearby city of Astorga.
Interesting Facts
The toponym “moldera” or “muldera” is a Leonese term derived from the Latin word “molitura,” which is a form of the participle of the Latin verb “molere,” meaning to grind. The modern term “molturar” also originates from this verb. The primary use of the canal was for the grinding of cereals, mainly wheat, barley, and rye, for the production of flour and bran.
Around the year 1724, a major flood caused the Moldera stream to overflow, destroying the bridge. The municipal authorities of the time sent a letter to the Royal Council, requesting assistance for the repair of this and other bridges in the region that had been severely damaged or destroyed. They also sought authorization to allocate local tax revenues preferentially for these urgent repairs, as the bridges were vital infrastructures for communication and trade. The Maragato muleteers relied on these routes as they transported goods from the city along the Camino de Santiago and other trade routes.
