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Culture

especially the Schöllenen Ravine leading to it.
Schöllenen Gorge. Although the pass has
been known locally since ancient times, the
Romans avoided the immense mass of the
Gotthard, because travel involved fording the
turbulent Reiss, increased by melting snow
in early summer, across the narrow, steep
Schöllenen Gorge below Andermatt. The
th
Pass only gained significance in the early 13
century, when the first wooden bridge over the
turbulent Schöllenen Gorge was built around
1220. This allowed traffic to penetrate the full
length of the Reuss valley from Fluelen to the
pass itself. A continuation road followed the
valley of the River Ticino all the way south
to Bellinzona and Milan. So, the pass quickly
gained importance.

th
The 13 century wooden bridge was rebuilt
several times, and replaced by a stone bridge
around 1585. The first document with the
name “Devil’s Bridge” appeared at this time.
The first stone bridge lasted for only 60 years,
providing access to the Schöllenen Gorge and
carrying traffic across the Gotthard Pass. In efforts of the people of Uri to build a mule
1640 a huge storm destroyed it, flooding the track through the narrow Schöllenen Gorge
whole valley. The bridge was rebuilt between and build a stone bridge at the point where
1828 and 1830 by Swiss engineer Karl Emanuel the young Reuss river pushes through vertical
Müller and today one can only see the remains rock walls. In his despair, the “Landammann”
of the bridge’s original foundations. A new shouted: “Shall the Devil build a bridge?”
Devil’s bridge was built between 1955 and The Devil appeared and said, “I will build a
1956. bridge for you. But the first soul to go over it
shall be mine.” The people of Uri agreed to the
The legend of the Devil’s Bridge. The narrow bargain and after three days a bridge arched
rock bar above Göschenen had always blocked over the Reuss. On the other side the Devil
access to the Gotthard, and thus passage to the sat and waited for his reward. Instead of a
South, as it was extremely difficult to build a human, however, the people of Uri sent a billy
bridge there. The legend tells of the futile goat over. “You may keep it” they shouted,

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