We are in the 14th century, this is the story of the Céret bridge. At that time the two banks of the Tech were joined by a wooden bridge regularly washed away by the floods of this unpredictable coastal river. One day a very natural idea came to the ceretans: to make a solid masonry bridge; but the banks of the Tech were very steep, where would it be built? The country's engineers were summoned who, after a thorough inspection of the site, declared the project unrealizable.
The Céret bridge
One of them, however, after much hesitation, attracted by the large sum offered, took charge of the enterprise and made a commitment to bring it to a successful conclusion within a year. Our engineer drew up the plans, while the inhabitants managed to raise the promised money. The work began and was progressed smoothly. Soon the two abutments stood at Grau d'Exala. The carpenters were establishing the scaffolding for the vault. Misfortune ! A big storm occurred which caused the river to overflow its banks; the waters carried away abutments and scaffolding!
The ceretans, very upset, shouted at the engineer who, however, had no trouble making them understand that it was not his fault. To get back to work he asked for 5000 ducats more. He is had. Six months later the bridge spanned the Tech with its large stone arch; In a week everything will be finished. The ceretans were jubilant and congratulated the engineer.
Suddenly we hear a terrible, long crack: the scaffolding racks break, the vault collapses, no more bridge! The anger of the ceretans was at its height. They accused the engineer of being the author of all the evil and informed him, through the mouths of their consuls, that he had to raise the bridge within six months, and this without further appeal to their purse, or he will hang him high and short.
The poor engineer went back to work; what he sweated and toiled God only knows. However, the appointed day, the fatal day, was approaching. The day before everything was going well (…) but large clouds trailed over the peaks of Boularic, then descended into the valley, a cold, fast, violent wind rushed and swirled across the plain; thunder rumbles, lightning tears through the clouds: it's a storm, a tempest, a downpour!
The river descends with great noise, swells, gorges the banks, carries away everything that stands in its way. The Céret bridge is already no more! The desperate engineer fled along mountain paths. Suddenly a sort of man, tall, thin, lean, grabbed him by the arm.
- " Where are you going ? »
– “What does it matter to you; let me pass "
– “I know who you are and I want to save you”
- " And you, who are you ? »
– “What does it matter to you; let me do it. This evening at midnight, the bridge will be raised; only I put a condition that you will deliver to me the first living person who crosses it. »
The engineer started with fright; rebuild the bridge in a few hours! The Devil alone was capable of such an effort.
– “Well what do you say about that? »
– “I accept,” murmured the engineer.
Immediately a strong smell of sulfur spread in the air and the man disappeared; this man was indeed the devil himself.
When he left, the engineer stealthily returned to his home under cover of darkness. There he began to reflect on his adventure. What to do ? Around eleven o'clock, while everything was resting in silence during the night, he left his house and headed towards the Tech; he carried on his back a canvas bag whose contents the Devil himself would not have guessed. Besides, he was very busy at the moment. Indeed, true to his word, he worked ardently on the reconstruction of the bridge, piling up the materials with the skill of a master mason. Our engineer saw him and huddled behind a rock on the bank.
Half past eleven! The vault was now visible under the pale rays of the moon which had just risen over the crest of the Albère. Midnight strikes! Immediately our engineer, who had stood at the end of the bridge, opened the bag from which escaped a black cat whose tail dragged an iron pan. The Devil places the last stone, the keystone; he lets it escape to get his hands on this first passer-by, whom he takes for a knight ringing his armor. “Deceived, betrayed,” he cried, grabbing the cat! And he disappeared, leaving the bridge unfinished.
It remained as it was, because all the knowledge of engineers could not succeed in fixing the missing stone.
