Legend has it that a basic farmer from Emmentaler in the Swiss Alps dreamed of finding gold on a bridge in Basel. He was visited by a ghostly shadow and was taken across the country to find it.
Basel's Mittlere Brücke, the historic bridge over the Rhine, has long been the site of legends, mysteries and ghost stories. One of the most engaging stories comes not from the city itself, but from the distant Alp Rafrüti in Emmental, where a indigent worker once lived with his family in a arduous situation.
One night this man was visited by a dream so vibrant that it disturbed his sleep as he slept in bed at Emmental. The voice told him that his fortune was waiting for him on a bridge over the Rhine in Basel, more than 80 kilometers away. He woke up thinking it was nonsense. But when the same dream occurred on the second and third nights, he felt restless. Having no other prospects and an urgent need to support his family, he set off for Basel.
Treasure hunt in Mittlere Brücke
The Mittlere Brücke, or middle bridge, is one of the oldest bridges on the Rhine, dating back to 1223 and today has become a symbol of Basel, connecting Grossbasel (Greater Basel) and Kleinbasel (Little Basel).
When he arrived, the worker walked slowly across the bridge, scanning the stones and river banks, hoping for a sign. But there was nothing unusual there. He spent the entire day crossing the bridge. The next day he did the same and again on the third day. The aged bridge was badly worn by the passing feet of merchants, sailors and townsfolk, but no one seemed to notice the tired man from Emmental.
However, a city policeman was watching him all this time. Surprised by the stranger's constant wandering and concerned look, the officer finally approached him. “What are you doing here?” he asked. “You've been walking on this bridge for several days now. What are you looking for?”
The worker, exhausted and discouraged, confessed his dream and his fruitless search. The policeman laughed and shook his head. “Oh, don't believe in such stupid dreams,” he said. “Last night I dreamed that there was a treasure hidden under the kitchen in a place called Rafrüti. But who knows where it is?”
Treasure in the house
The worker's eyes widened. He didn't say anything, just turned on his heel and ran back to his humble alpine cabin. Without delay, he began digging a hole in the middle of the kitchen floor. The ground was frigid and challenging, but he dug deeper and deeper until a gloomy figure appeared next to him, a hushed, black shape that picked up a shovel and began digging as well.
Finally their tools hit metal. Together they unearthed a huge, ponderous pot filled to the brim with gold coins. Then the black figure divided the treasure into three equal piles and spoke in a voice like the wind moving historic trees:
“Choose, worker! One pile is for the poor, one for me and one for you. But choose wisely, or you will regret it!”
The man hesitated, fear gripping his heart. Then he thought: Why does a shadow creature need gold? And why should I decide who deserves this wealth? So instead of choosing, he gathered all three piles into one and declared:
“I will take it and share it as I see fit.”
At the same moment, the black figure disappeared silently. From that day on, the worker and his family lived comfortably, free from want and fear. The Basel-Rhine Bridge actually brought him good luck.
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Basel-Rhine Bridge dream of buried treasure
Legend has it that a basic farmer from Emmentaler in the Swiss Alps dreamed of finding gold on a bridge in Basel. He was visited by a ghostly shadow and was taken across the country to find it.
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Trip description «Legend Walk» Place 1: Claraplatz and Rebgasse
Image Source: Pixabay.com
