Damn Bridge - Teifelsbrücke in Switzerland Bashny.Net

Many ancient bridges throughout Europe were given the same diabolical name. These bridges were built under such difficult conditions that the successful completion of the construction was considered a real feat of the builders and the community - hence the legendary status. This special Teifelsbrücke Devil Bridge is located above a gorge in the picturesque Reuss Valley, in the Swiss canton of Uri.



According to legend, it was so difficult to build a bridge here that a desperate Swiss shepherd turned to the devil for help. The devil agreed to build on the condition that he would be given the soul of the first person to cross the bridge. In the end, the villagers outsmarted the devil, sending a goat instead of a man. Outraged by the trick, the devil took a large stone to shatter the structure. On the way to the bridge, he met an old woman with a cross, got scared and ran away.



Schollenen Gorge, an important access route and the shortest route to the Gotthard Tunnel. It was not used until the early 13th century because it involved crossing the rugged Royce River, especially raging during the melting of snow in early summer. In 1230 the first bridge over the river was built. It was a wooden building that needed frequent maintenance.

In the 16th century, the wooden structure was replaced by a stone arch bridge. Until the early 19th century, goods were transported using mules. In 1799, this Devil's Bridge witnessed one of the most dramatic battles of the Italian and Swiss Suvorov expedition, which took place during the Napoleonic Wars. During this battle, the bridge was severely damaged by the retreating French army and finally collapsed in a storm in 1888.

The new bridge was built in 1820, and due to the special complexity of the landscape, it took 10 years to build. By the middle of the 20th century, it could no longer cope with the volume of traffic, so a new concrete structure was built in 1958. The Second Devil's Bridge still exists today, but is not in use.

In 1994, the Swiss government issued a commemorative coin for Teifelsbrücke. The front side depicts a stylized scene with the devil holding the stone and approaching the bridge. The 220-ton boulder, allegedly used by the devil, still lies in the gorge. It is planned to move to 127 meters to make way for the new Gotthard tunnel.



Source: lifeglobe.net/