It is 55 meters length and was the subject of requalification. Now it is new with the objective of becoming a “tourist icon” of the region. The 99 -year -old wire bridge crosses the Tâmega River and unites the municipalities of Celorico de Basto and Amarante.
It was thanks to the 4th walk which took place last Sunday, January 19, that it was known that the famous wire bridge in Lourido was ready to be crossed after about two years of requalification and reinforcement works. With 55 meters over on the Tâmega River, the bridge unites the municipalities of Celorico de Basto and Amarante, more precisely the parishes of Rebordelo and Arnoia, in place of Lourido.
Still with no date released for the official inauguration, the renewed wire bridge is already generating great enthusiasm and attracting attention to this area of the territory. The opening was still scheduled for the summer of 2024, but the works only ended at the end of the year. According to the Association of Municipalities of Douro and Tâmega (AMDT), responsible for the works of requalification, the reopening of the crossing of the Ponte de Arame do Lourido, aims to “preserve, within the allowed by the current state of conservation of the work, the historical memory” and At the same time, “becoming a tourist icon, with a landscaping involvement that will attract many visitors and nature lovers, as well as those who like to travel the Tâmega ecopista”, describes AMDT.
Built in 1926, but with passing records that dating back to the nineteenth century, the bridge, with wooden floor, is only 2.5 meters wide and 55 long between the two banks of the tâmega. According to the Directorate-General of Cultural Heritage, the access is made, both by the place of Lourido (right bank) and by Rebordelo (left bank). It is also explained that “starting from Lourido (Parish of Arnoia), next to the Iron Paths Station of the extinct Tâmega line, a license plate, wire bridge, on the left, passing through Capelinha, primary school in the bred access to Quinta da Scomoeira; the rural road, both stoned and on land, between vineyards cultivated and also in the forest, to the lowest altitude of the route; Starting from the parish of Rebordelo, by a steep rural rail in the forest is descended from the bank of the tâmega. ”
I and It reinforces the “complementarity created between this project and the two anchor projects of the municipalities of Amarante and Celorico de Basto,” valuing the tourist cluster of the Serras do Marão and Abobreira “and” Tâmega Ecopista – 2nd phase “, respectively, whose Intervention Area are the Serras do Marão and the pumpkin and the ecopista of Tâmega. The works of requalification and reinforcement works result from a global investment of 324 thousand euros.
