Devil's Bridge, Stone bridge in Schöllenen Gorge, Switzerland
Devil's Bridge is the name given to three successive stone bridges over the Reuss in the Schöllenen Gorge. The first stone bridge was built in 1595, the second between 1820 and 1830, and the third in 1955–56. The 1595 bridge collapsed on 2 August 1888; its foundations remain visible on the left bank.
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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