Natural Arch Bridge

The natural arch forms a picturesque bridge. mauritius images GmbH/Alamy

Most of the small, medieval village of Puentedey, located in Spain’s Burgos province, sits on top of this impressive natural limestone arch . The name of the village translates to “God’s Bridge,” and it’s pretty easy to see why.

The arch formed when the Nela River abandoned a long meander by carving its way though the hill. A fairly broad footpath runs through the arch alongside the river, which is clear and inviting. And just inside the arch, you’ll find a small, sandy beach that’s the perfect spot for relaxing in the shade.

You can walk right through the arch and out the other side easily. It has several openings which discharge water during wet weather, sometimes quite impressively. Within the roof, there’s a passable cave entrance (extent unknown) which is known to drip with water.

Be sure look up to admire the scenery, too. The village is nestled within a fantastic Karst landscape with impressive limestone bluffs towering high above it.

Know Before You Go

If you're doing the long drive from the Mediterranean coast to the Santander ferry port via Burgos, a detour to see this place only adds 40 minutes to your journey and the drive is fantastic.