Monday, November 3, 2014

The Devil's Bridge in Switzerland

Teufelsbrucke also known as Devil's Bridge - The name of the three bridges across the river Rёys or Ruess in the Alps Switzerland, near the village of Andermatt, 12 km north of the Pass of St. Gotthard . Wooden bridge in Andermatt existed from 1230 to 1707 . The first stone bridge spanned the gorge Rёys in 1595 . It is named for an old local legend regarding its construction by the Devil, one of many old European Devil's Bridges with similar creation myths. In memory of the legend on a rock near the Devil's Bridge red paint were painted devil and goat. These images are still preserved. Devil's Bridge was a narrow stone arch length of about 25 meters, thrownover the gorge at a height of 22 - 23 meters above the roaring rapid stream.

In 1799 during the Swiss campaign Suvorov Russian troops, demonstrating high tactical skill and heroism, with the battle took place at Devil's Bridge. The road along the river from the village Rёys Urzern to Devil's Bridge passes through the narrow (up to 3 meters) tunnel "Urzernskaya hole" a length of about 60 meters, defended by French troops. Russian soldiers managed to bypass tunnel through the mountains and along the gorge of the river and suddenly appeared on the opposite side of the tunnel, defeated the French squad. French troops stationed on the opposite bank, began to destroy the bridge. [First Image credit ruthzolli]

Myth of the creation of the bridge — According to a