Considered to be the work of the devil himself, the Teufelsbrücke Bridge spanning the Scllenen Gorge in the Swiss Alps still remains a wonder and mystery. So much so that legend has it that it was so complex to build that they had to make a deal with the devil to make it happen.
Deep in the heart of the Swiss Alps lies a terrifying legend of desperation, murky dealings and restless spirits. At first glance, Teufelsbrücke, or Devil's Bridge, near the village of Andermatt appears to be a landscape wonder, rising gracefully above the roaring Schöllenen Gorge.
It was here that the French fought the Russians in 1799 and the Suvorov Monument was erected to commemorate the Russian soldiers who died in the battle.
But beneath the weathered stones and mist rising from the turbulent Reuss River, centuries-old whispers speak of a sinister pact made with the devil himself – and of strange, eerie happenings that continue to haunt this stretch of mountain pass.
A bridge built in desperation
In the Middle Ages, the treacherous Schöllenen Gorge was a deadly obstacle to travelers and merchants navigating the Gotthard Pass, one of the most significant Alpine routes connecting northern and southern Europe. The gorge's jagged cliffs and raging water made crossing unsafe, and the unforgiving terrain claimed many lives.
Desperate local villagers tried to build a bridge, but all efforts failed. Stone and wooden structures were swept away by floods or crumbled under the pressure of nature. The Uri people wanted to build a mule track through the Gorge.
Legend has it that about 800 years ago they received assist from something sinister. In their despair, the townspeople made a reckless challenge – they wanted the devil himself to build a bridge for them.
To their dismay, the Devil agreed.
A sinister opportunity
According to legend, the devil promised to complete the solid bridge within the next three days, on one terrifying condition: he would take the soul of the first creature to cross it. The villagers, torn between superstition and necessity, agreed to this deal, believing that they could outsmart the hell builder.
True to his word, the Devil built a magnificent stone bridge, its murky, moss-covered stones rising above the abyss. But the villagers came up with a cunning plan. Instead of sending a man or woman to the other side, a goat was driven onto the bridge at dawn.
Enraged by the deception, when he realized the deception, the Devil grabbed a huge boulder, intending to break the bridge and condemn the villagers. But before he could throw it, a clever ancient woman stood before him, carved a Christian cross in the rock and recited a holy prayer. The sacred symbol stripped the devil of his power, forcing him to abandon the stone and flee back into the shadow of the mountains.
Devil's Stone at the Gorge
This boulder, known as Teufelsstein or “devil's stone”, still stands near Göschenen as a mute reminder of the villagers' narrow escape. But although the bridge remains, the murky stories persist. For centuries, travelers have told of ghostly figures on the bridge at night – a lone goat with eyes glowing in the murky, or a shadowy figure believed to be an enraged devil returning to claim his soul.
However, it is not certain when the legend was told, but it was already told in the 16th century and retold by Johann Jakob Scheuchzer, who heard it from the Uri people. There are some differences in this legend, some say that a dog was sent across the bridge, others say that it was an ancient woman who held back the devil.
A place where legend and landscape collide
Even in up-to-date times, the area has enjoyed an incredible reputation. The Schöllenen Gorge itself remains a place with a sinister atmosphere. Its steep, surrounding cliffs block the sky in places, and the roar of the Reuss River below drowns out even your heartbeat. The mist swirls in ghostly tendrils along the old stones of the bridge, making it straightforward to believe that the ghosts of times past still live there.
Today, a newer bridge stands next to the original, but the legend survives in Swiss folklore. The first wooden bridge was replaced by a stone one in 1595, which collapsed in 1888. Over the years, the stone bridge was replaced and expanded several times. The newest bridge dates back to 1956.
Visitors to Andermatt can still follow the path of old travelers, crossing the restored stone bridge and standing next to Teufelsstein, imagining the echo of distant hooves and the furious howl of the betrayed devil.
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Teufelsbrücke in Andermatt and the Schöllenen gorge created by the devil
Considered to be the work of the devil himself, the Teufelsbrücke Bridge spanning the Scllenen Gorge in the Swiss Alps still remains a wonder and mystery. So much so that legend has it that it was so complex to build that they had to make a deal with the devil to make it happen.
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Schöllenen Gorge and Teufelsbrücke (Devil's Bridge) | Swiss tourism
Devil's Bridge • Famous building/monument » outdooractive.com
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