Shrouded in legend and fought over.
Location
6490 Andermatt
Description
The Devil's Bridges over the Schöllenen Gorge of the Reuss River are among the most famous bridges in Switzerland. The first bridge was built of wood in 1230. It was replaced by a stone one in 1595. When a new bridge was built next to it in 1830, the old one collapsed in 1888. Its foundations are still visible today. The bridge from 1830 is used today for slow traffic and the bridge completed in 1958 serves today's road traffic. Above the latter there is also the famous image of the devil, which is the result of a popular legend. It is said that the first bridge was built by the devil, because the people of Uri did not manage to build it on their own. As a reward, the devil demanded the soul of the first person to cross his bridge. So the people of Uri sent a billy goat across, whereupon the devil, enraged, fetched a mighty boulder to destroy the bridge. A woman, however, drew a cross on the stone, which is why the devil, confused, let the boulder fall into the Schöllenen gorge. The alleged devil's stone can still be seen today in Göschenen.
In 1799 a battle took place on and near the bridge between a Russian army under General Suvorov and formations of the French army. Since 1898, next to the Devil's Bridge, there is the Suvorov Monument. The monument and the land belonging to it are owned by the Russian state.
Picture Credits
© Niklaus Zeier
© FOTO Dany Schulthess