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“here you have the first soul that crosses the
bridge!”. Full of anger, the Devil tore the billy
goat apart and found a huge stone to destroy
the bridge again. However, an elderly woman
passed by, recognized him and carved a cross July 1940, with most of Europe at war, neutral
into the stone. When the Devil saw this, he Switzerland implemented a defensive strategy
missed his target and the stone landed in the based on mountains, especially the Gotthard.
valley below, not far from Göschenen where it Passages, tunnels, redoubts and bunkers were
has been lying ever since and is known as the dug out of the mountain, many of which
“Devil’s Stone”. Today the image of the Devil remain today. One such Swiss army hidden
from this legend can be seen at the tunnel artillery fortification, considered top secret
entrance. until a few years ago, is now open to the public
as part of the Sasso San Gottardo Museum.
Suworow -Denkmal and related memorials. On the underground Metro des Sasso you can
1
The Devil’s bridge is a historical and legendary travel through the fortification and learn its
place as it was an obligatory route for all history. Currently closed for renovation, this
travellers. It has witnessed many events of unique, deep underground museum will open
historical significance, as well as furious again in June this year. Another museum,
battles, most significantly that led by the the National St. Gotthard, is also situated at
Russian Generalissimo Suworow, who along the height of the pass. This 1834 building is
with the Austrians defeated the French here dedicated to the economic, strategic, political
in 1799. A huge commemorative memorial and cultural impact of this pass.
is chiselled into the rock just opposite the
Devil’s bridge overlooking the Schöllenen Another historical monument in the pass is
Ravine, with another monument to Suworow dedicated to the famous Swiss aviator Guex,
erected on top of the Gothard Pass itself. This who died for the motherland in the Alpine
symbolizes the crossing of the Alps in his region of the Gotthard. This was built in
campaign, and two museums in his honour 1928 by Fausto Agnelli, as was the previously
– the Talmuseum Ursern in Andermatt and mentioned monument to Marshall Suworow.
Suworow museum in Altdorf – are dedicated There is also a historic hospice: Ospizio
to these historical events. San Gottardo, originally built in 1237 and
preserved by European Heritage. It was
St Gothard is a Military Fortress. The recently renovated by the architects Miller &
Gotthard Pass is also a military fortress. In Maranta in a perfect fusion between antique
and modern. You can stay here to be inspired,
just like Goethe, the Count of Cavour, Honoré
Alexander Suworow was a Russian Command- de Balzac and Petrarch, all of whom have
er in service of the Russian Empire. He was Count
of Rymnik, Count of the Holy Roman Empire, rooms dedicated to them. Those fond of
Prince of the Kingdom of Sardinia, Prince of the hiking can do the challenging five-hour hike
Russian Empire and the last Generalissimo of the past the seven St. Gotthard lakes at the top of
Russian Empire. the pass. St. Gothard is also a part of a bigger

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