Devil's Bridge, Stone bridge in Schöllenen Gorge, Switzerland
Devil's Bridge is a stone arch structure spanning the Reuss River and connecting sheer rock faces in the narrow Schöllenen Gorge. The crossing sits within the Swiss Alps at roughly 1500 meters elevation.
A wooden crossing first appeared around 1200, and a stone structure followed in 1595. The current bridge was built in 1956 after earlier damage and reconstructions.
The bridge carries a folk legend where local residents outsmarted a supernatural being by offering a goat instead of a human toll. This story remains woven into how visitors and locals understand the gorge today.
The bridge is open year-round and serves as a major transport link on the Gotthard route between northern and southern Switzerland. Both pedestrians and vehicles can cross, though the narrow gorge demands care during poor weather.
The original foundation stones from 1595 remain visible along the left river bank as evidence of the earlier construction. A large boulder near Göschenen carries the name of the devil and forms part of the local lore surrounding the crossing.
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