"Devil's Bridge" applies to dozens of ancient bridges across Europe. Their construction is still beyond human skills and thus their association is assumed with Satan by lore. This is the intriguing story behind "Devil Bridge In Germany" and the contemporary challenges along it.
Germany is prominent for castles and cathedrals, festivals and carnivals, monuments and landscapes. Although, there is one mysterious monument which stands amidst all and definitely, you don’t wish to miss it. It’s an enticing structure with a history, unresolved mystery, and lately, a renowned site due to Instagram. Particularly, a unique and alluring bridge is known as Rakotzbrücke (in German) or Devil’s bridge in English. This structure defies all laws of human skills in construction.
About Rakotzbrücke
Located in Kromlauer Park near Gablenz in Eastern Germany, this bridge is mysteriously semicircle in shape and from a distance, its reflection in water conjures a perfect sphere. It is 200 acres wide and the entire bridge is built man-made. Nestled amidst the beautiful landscape, autumn or spring can be the best bet to watch this beauty in its full bloom. Surprisingly, the water always stands still under the bridge and the construction of the bridge is ahead of its time in engineering. Apart from this puzzle, the myth follows that the bridge is built by Satan itself.
Story of Rakotzbrücke
Commissioned in 1860 by a local knight, Friedrich Hermann Rotschke, a nature lover rooted for this gothic architecture. "Brücke" in German is a bridge but the meaning of "Rakotz" is still unfathomable. The bridge consists mainly of basalt stones which were secured with wooden beams. Few stones were brought from Scandinavian countries themselves. It is an architectural masterpiece to marvel which took ten years for its completion. With the spikes at the end and nestled amidst the forest, this bridge exudes spooky vibes itself.
An old tale follows that an old woman signed a pact with the devil as she lost her cow and saw it grazing on the other side of the river. The devil promises to build a bridge in return for a human soul. However, the old lady broke her promise later by sending a dog instead of a human. To wreak vengeance, the bridge is cursed by Satan. Another myth states that the builder of the bridge crossed the bridge by sacrificing his soul to the devil in return for the bridge itself. Such stories loom around it due to its supernatural design and seemed a prodigy.
Currently, it is prohibited to cross the bridge and one who defies this can land up in death. It is also deemed that you may see the face of the devil or the bridge can be an entrance to another world itself. Also, if one tries to sail in a boat under the bridge, one may uncover the mystic abilities of the devil on a full moon. In the denouement, no one is allowed to be in close proximity to the bridge and thus, the monument is Instagram-worthy from far itself.
How to reach Rakotzbrücke
A 165 km drive mostly on the Autobahn from Berlin, one may require two hours to reach here by driving. The public route can involve taking a train to Cottbus from Berlin and opting for a second train to Weisswasser. Hop in the bus 257 to Kromlau and Kromlau park is 1km walk away from it. It is fairly a three-hour journey from Berlin via this route. One can book their trains on bahn.de and buses on zvon.de
Kromlauer Park is free to visit and has a parking charge of 1 Euro per hour and 6 Euros for the entire day.
How to take the best photos at Rakotzbrücke
As climbing, the bridge is fairly impossible owing to safety issues and the looming lores, one can capture this moment through photography. The first viewpoint when we approach the bridge through the car park with a bench ahead is suitable for Instagram as one can view the reflection of the bridge entirely. Not all angles may give you the perfect sphere of the bridge which it is prominently and mysteriously known for.
Other Devil Bridges In Europe
Rakotzbrücke is not the only devil bridge but there are a couple of them across Europe. They are known to have ties with Satan as their construction dating back to the Roman era was far ahead of time. A few of the famous Devil Bridges worth visiting are:
- Devil’s bridge of Arduino (Bulgaria): It is said that the devil’s footprints can be found amongst the rocks of this bridge.
- Teufelsbrücke (Switzerland): Crossing the Reuss river was a herculean task and it is believed that the bridge was built with the help of Satan. He demanded the soul of the person who crossed the bridge first but was fooled by the locals. As he was about to destroy the bridge, a woman thwarted his way with a cross.
- Devil’s bridge of Ceredigion (Wales): It is a bridge where three bridges are stacked strangely on top of each other. One can reach the oldest bridge on a set of stairs called Jacob's Ladder.
- Puente Del Diablo (Spain): Having an intriguing architectural feature of a little chapel-shaped structure, this unstable arch exudes an overall unusual silhouette.
- Ponte Della Maddalena (Italy): It is a feat for engineering due to its staggering structure. It is 60 feet tall and has five asymmetrical arches.