The Devil’s Bridges

As witches, goblins, fairies and ghosts join earthly inhabitants on all hallows eve, we'll take you on a journey of Europe's bridges to shows you deals made with the devil over the centuries. Throughout Europe there are many, many beautiful bridges from “modern” built (18th-19th century) to ancient (11th-12th century). The precise cuts of stone and the gravity defying arches somehow conjure mysterious feelings of awe and admiration long before motorized construction tools were available. Surely, there was a supernatural element to their construction. Look closely, some bridges even have hidden messages in their “maker’s mark”. Who was the maker of these gateway bridges to the other worlds?

The term “Devil’s Bridge” (or Teufelsbrücke, Pont du Diable, Ponte del Diavolo, depending on geographical language) typically refers to stone or masonry bridges built during medieval times across uniquely challenging rivers or gorges. With distinctive ingenuity, these bridges must have been made by the devil himself, right?

This bridge was originally built with wood, but in 1613 the “modern” bridge was reconstructed in stone. It was used by pilgrims traveling to Mont Saint Michel Monestary.

Le Viex Pont

(The Old Bridge):

Carcassonne, France

Built in 1614 this bridge was a link from the Doge’s Palace (the seat of all government institutions for the Republic) to the new prison built across the rio di Palazzo. It received it’s name during the Romantic period (1774-1850) when people claimed the sighs of the prisoners could be heard as they walked through the covered bridge between the courtroom and their cell and let out a heavy sigh when glimpsing the last bit of freedom through the small windows overlooking the lagoon.

Bridge of Sighs: Venice, Italy

The first bridge to cross the Arno River in Florence was built in 1252 where it was named. But Florence had a terrible time with flooding and rebuilds were required many times over the years. After the most dramatic flood occurred in 1557, Cosimo I de’ Medici commissioned a decorative sandstone bridge more beautiful than all others in the hopes it would survive the floods. However, this was one of the many bridges destroyed by the Germans during World War II. With tenacity it was rebuilt, yet again, in 1958 with the idea “come’era e dove’era” meaning “how it was and where it was”.

Ponte Santa Trinita: Florence, Italy

Linking Tirana to the eastern highlands, this 18th century bridge was an important route for livestock to enter the city for butchery and hide tanning. It crossed the Lana stream until the 1930’s stream diversion; and the bridge slowly fell into disrepair. In 2007, the city restored the bridge as a cultural heritage monument.

Tanner’s Bridge: Tirana, Albania

With reference to a wooden bridge in the 10th century, Vladislav II commissioned a stone bridge to cross the Vltava River around 1170 and named it after his wife. But the power of a river has a way of forcing humans into other plans. A massive flood in 1342 destroyed Judith’s Bridge. With a bit of magical numerology, the new foundation block was laid by Charles IV in 1357, 9 July, at 5:31am (read in European order as 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1), but it was not finished until the 1400’s after he died. Today, the Charles bridge is the most photographed gothic bridge in the world. With fortified towers, over 30 sculptures, and oil lanterns still being lit. This magical gothic bridge spans the test of time as well as the raging river below.

The Charles Bridge: Prague, Czechia

A peasant makes a deal with the Devil. He asks the Devil to build a bridge over the ravine, and, in exchange, must give up the soul of the first living creature that crosses it. The peasant has an awful sleepless night, tormented at the idea of sacrificing an innocent victim. Early the next morning, he walks down the road and falls upon a magnificent solid stone bridge with eight arches…but on the other side the devil claims his due. The shepherd then suddenly picks up a stick and throws it across the bridge. His dog rushes to catch it, losing his soul in the process. The Devil, furious at being tricked, walks away; swearing nobody would ever cheat him again!

Devil-The Ravine of Gaffinel: Eze, France

Located in the Côte d’Azur of France’s riviera, this steel and concrete arched viaduct which spans an almost impossible 80-meter gorge, was masterfully built between 1911-1914. The medieval town of Eze looks down upon the deep gorge which lies between the city of Nice and country of Monaco. This viaduct competed the “Moyenne Corniche” (middle coastal road), but has a scary story attached to it.

The legend, like many others, states that the foreman supervising the building of the bridge could not complete the work on time. Sitting and worrying beside the river one night, the Devil approached and offered a way out of disgrace. The Devil would complete the bridge in one night, but on one condition… he would take for himself the first soul to cross the bridge. Doing his part, the Devil lifted the bridge in place with his pitchfork. However, feeling remorseful about giving a person’s soul to the devil, the foreman consulted a priest who advised him to honor the promise. The next morning, the foreman prevented the people from crossing the bridge and sent a dog over instead. Furious, the devil plunged into the river with the dog, never to be seen again.

It is said that the dog, a white Maremma sheepdog, is sometimes seen walking on the bridge in the evenings at the end of October, and that he is the Devil still looking for the soul of the foreman. Will the townspeople see him this year?

Devil-The Bridge of Mary Magdalene:

Borgo a Mozzano, Italy

Believed to have been erected in the 11th century by Countess Matilda of Canossa and renovated in the 1300’s, this bridge was used by travelers and pilgrims headed south toward Rome. The General Council of the Republic of Lucca issued a decree in 1670 to protect the bridge. They prohibited passage with heavy millstones (ceppi) and sacks of flour, while other use was acceptable. For a long time, it held the record for the largest arch span in the world (nearly 40 meters). In 1836 the bridge was severely damaged by a flood and required repair. An additional arch was then added to the right-hand section in the 1900’s to make room for modern surfaced roadways. Somehow this bridge was spared by the Nazis destruction of bridges during WWII.