These 4 Spanish Roads with Pigtails Will Shock You!
A nudo de corbata (or "pigtail" in English) on a road refers to a sharp, tight curve that loops back on itself in a spiral or 360-degree turn, creating a "tie" shape. Spain has many examples of this kind of construction.
It’s a type of road design used on steep or hilly terrains to gain elevation in a compact space. Essentially, the road turns back on itself, often resembling the shape of a tie knot, hence the name. These curves are especially useful in mountainous areas where it's difficult to build roads straight due to the terrain, so the pigtail allows the road to climb without making the gradient too steep for vehicles to navigate.
Where are the only pigtails on Spanish roads?
Spain has 5 different pigtails on the National Roads.
Carretera de Sa Calobra
The Nus de sa Corbata is located on the famous Sa Calobra Road. Part of the Ma-2141 road, the pigtail is situated on the northwest coast of Mallorca, in the Serra de Tramuntana.
Carretera A-7000
The old N-321 road, which runs from Málaga to Granada and is now known as A-7000 Road, has 2 pigtails (nudos de corbata) located close to each other. The pigtails are found in the Mountains of Málaga, in Andalusia, in the southern part of the country.
Carretera NA-137
Accessing the Col de la Pierre Saint-Martin Pass, on the border between Spain and France, there is another pigtail. It is part of the NA-137 road and is located in the autonomous community of Navarra.
Carretera CV-223
Finally, the fifth pigtail in Spain is located in the province of Castellón. It is found on the CV-223 road, in an area known as Cuesta del Caracol, between Eslida and Ahín. In this case, the curve has the unique feature of almost entirely running through a tunnel.