World’s smallest international bridge is between Spain and Portugal

World's smallest international bridge is between Spain and Portugal

World's smallest international bridge is between Spain and Portugal. image: google hipolito rico

THE smallest international bridge in the world is the El Marco bridge which is 3.2 metres long and connects Spain with Portugal

There is a bridge that connects the two countries of Spain and Portugal, which is the smallest construction of its type anywhere in the world between two international boundaries, spanning just 3.2 metres, joining the province of Badajoz on the Spanish side, with Arronches, in Portugal.

This incredible feature, which is also only 1.45 metres wide, is so short that an athletic person could probably just as easily jump across the short distance from country to country, and it goes without saying that no traffic can cross the bridge, although motorbikes, bicycles, pedestrians, and I guess, the occasional animal, do cross it regularly.

The crossing is a viaduct, and goes over the narrow Abrilongo stream, which is a tributary of the Gevora River, and is known as the El Marco bridge, officially connecting the Spanish municipality of La Codosera – which is in the Extremaduran province of Badajoz – with the Portuguese municipality of Arronches, in the district of Portalegre – just 3.2 metres away.

Today’s bridge is a newer design than that first constructed hundreds of years ago, which locals say was originally just some planks of wood, which were easily washed away when the river flooded, although, remarkably, the new version of the world’s smallest bridge was only completed in 2008, after the residents of Arronches decided it was time a bridge was constructed that could serve its purpose for a long time to come.

It was paid for by European funds, but it was workers from each side of the river who carried out the reinforced construction, putting in place the historic smallest international bridge in the world, which even when the river floods, will never get washed away, and to avoid any confusion to travellers, there is a stone on either side of the world’s smallest bridge, with ‘S’ for Spain, and ‘P’ for Portugal, just in case they got disorientated with the long-distance crossing!

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Written by

Chris King

Originally from Wales, Chris spent years on the Costa del Sol before moving to the Algarve where he is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com

Comments


    • DigiMKT.eu

      26 August 2021 • 13:21

      Wrong atribution, it is Municipality of Arronches, District of Portalegre!

    • DigiMKT.eu

      26 August 2021 • 13:21

      Wrong atribution, it is Municipality of Arronches, District of Portalegre!

    • João Afonso

      28 August 2021 • 21:07

      Thank you for a wonderfull work, I live in this region right next to Arronches, in the town of Portalegre, we really have some special things to show to the world in this area. I invite you also to visit Castelo de Vide, with an amazing Jewish heritage, and the fortress village of Marvão, one of it’s kind among the medieval castles all over Europe

    • João Afonso

      28 August 2021 • 21:07

      Thank you for a wonderfull work, I live in this region right next to Arronches, in the town of Portalegre, we really have some special things to show to the world in this area. I invite you also to visit Castelo de Vide, with an amazing Jewish heritage, and the fortress village of Marvão, one of it’s kind among the medieval castles all over Europe

    • Raúl Vilela

      28 August 2021 • 23:56

      Eu ainda passei de Portugal para Espanha na antiga ponte. Duas pranchas de madeira lada a lado com tábuas para passagem, e era mais curta qua a atual.

    • Raúl Vilela

      28 August 2021 • 23:56

      Eu ainda passei de Portugal para Espanha na antiga ponte. Duas pranchas de madeira lada a lado com tábuas para passagem, e era mais curta qua a atual.

    Comments are closed.