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Devil's Bridge

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223: 60: 27: 485: 43: 1098: 587: 126: 378: 104:-related myth or folktale regarding its origin. These stories vary widely depending on the region and beliefs. Some have the Devil as the builder of the bridge, relating to the precariousness or impossibility of such a bridge to last or exist in the first place, so much so that only the Devil himself could have built it. Others have the knowledge to build such bridges given to mankind as a gift from the Devil as part of a 313:, which leads only over a small stream, the carpenter, in a pact with the devil, promised him the first soul to cross the bridge. On the day of inauguration, while the priest and county councillor debated who should step on the bridge first, a rabbit crossed it and the disappointed devil disappeared. A statue refers to the legend there. 298:, the legend speaks of the devil helping in a race between the builders of the bridge and of the cathedral (in fact a significantly later construction), and a slight bump in the middle of the bridge is said to result from the devil's leaping with rage upon being tricked out of his prize. 282:
to cross it. After building the bridge (often overnight) the devil is outwitted by his adversary (for example, by throwing bread to lure a dog over the bridge first) and is last seen descending into the water, bringing peace to the community.
343:, a thirteenth-century legend tells of an architect who sold his soul to the devil and then subsequently repented. M. le Curé of Sens drove the devil away with holy water and with an exorcism formula beginning with the words 950: 356:
Most of the bridges that have received the "Devil's Bridge" appellation are remarkable in some regard, most often for the technological hurdles surpassed in building the bridge, but on occasion for its
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One version of the tale presents the bridge builder and the Devil as adversaries. This reflects the fact that frequently, such as in the case of the
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The bridges that fall into the Devil's Bridge category are so numerous that the legends about them form a special category in the
190: 1493: 1327: 1284: 835: 162: 1302: 591: 237: 385: 169: 1469: 143: 20: 209: 892: 1372:"Teufelsbrücke & Felsentor | Fürstliche Anlagen Inzigkofen bei Sigmaringen | Oberschwabens Sehenswürdigkeiten" 176: 855: 263:, these bridges were built under such challenging conditions that successful completion of the bridge required a 349:, which he made the penitent repeat. The formula was, at some time, incorporated into the design of the popular 1553: 147: 1371: 1113: 1102: 1002: 158: 1445: 513: 289: 1563: 59: 1421: 1011: 1548: 19:
This article is about bridges with a corresponding Devil-related myth or folktale. For other uses, see
541: 503: 626: 26: 1054: 532: 488: 244:(Number 1191). Some legends have elements of related folktale-categories, for example Deceiving the 1033: 938: 440: 136: 818: 333: 183: 710: 319: 457: 1400: 739: 521: 507: 350: 86: 389: 8: 1137: 961: 275: 105: 90: 1518: 1072: 1040: 1233:– a highly rounded arched pedestrian bridge associated with gardens in China and Japan. 278:. In this version the devil agrees to build the bridge, in return receiving the first 1323: 1280: 1144: 921: 804: 659: 345: 267:
effort on the part of the builders and the community, ensuring its legendary status.
1558: 1163: 772: 260: 52: 1215:, Arizona, although this is a naturally formed bridge, not a man-made stone bridge 635: 556: 254: 47: 1212: 1127: 745: 724: 714: 325: 230: 94: 89:. Due to their unusual design, they were an object of fascination and stories in 617: 304: 1353: 1348: 1251: 1225: 1194: 1148: 925: 841: 704: 694: 35: 484: 1542: 1159: 1076: 1044: 669: 248:(AT #1196), The Devil's Contract (AT #756B), and The Master Builder legends. 1198: 1184: 1080: 997: 608: 428: 1254: 1230: 1155: 1084: 786: 655: 82: 1358: 1117: 1064: 908: 630: 575: 469: 358: 295: 150: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 42: 517: 1188: 1174: 1097: 1015: 1006: 612: 527: 362: 586: 125: 108:
between the Devil and local populace, usually in exchange for their
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Other versions of the legend feature an old lady or a simple
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Each of the Devil's bridges typically has a corresponding
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and represent a significant technological achievement in
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or strategic importance to the community it serves.
1279:. New Zealand: Higuma Limited. pp. Books 1–5. 499:There are 49 Devil's Bridges in France, including: 1257:(private website). Pittsburgh, USA: D. L. Ashliman 688:Ponte del Diavolo (officially Ponte Vecchio, also 654:Ponte del Diavolo – ruins of a Roman bridge along 1494:"The Devils Bridge Weston Park, Weston Underwood" 1540: 605:, Azalea and Rhododendron Park Kromlau – Saxony 723:Ponte del Diavolo – Cavallara (a frazione of 317: 1322:. Hampshire, England: Picador. p. 131. 302: 287: 252: 63:Rakotzbrücke Devil's Bridge, Saxony, Germany 907:Puente del Diablo (or Punta del Diablo) – 16:List of bridges, found primarily in Europe 1277:The Chronicles of Julian, the Hospitaller 238:Aarne-Thompson (AT) classification system 210:Learn how and when to remove this message 1274: 1096: 585: 483: 221: 58: 41: 25: 70:is a term applied to dozens of ancient 1541: 1470:"The Devils Bridge, Weston Super Mare" 1298: 1296: 937:Moara Dracului ("The Devil's mill") – 408: 1344:Die Sachsenhäuser Brücke zu Frankfurt 1307:, Volume 6, Part 1, 1856, note p. 683 115: 1317: 1250: 592:Azalea and Rhododendron Park Kromlau 372: 148:adding citations to reliable sources 119: 1357:. Band 1. Berlin 1816, S. 267–268 ( 1293: 1154:Devil's Bridge – in the grounds of 13: 881: 368: 14: 1575: 1422:"Devil's Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale" 1092: 1516: 1205: 565:Pont du Diable – Crouzet Migette 376: 332:, tells of a local saint (often 124: 1510: 1486: 1462: 1347:. Mündlich, aus Frankfurt. In: 1088:. The old bridge has collapsed. 506:– Aniane, Gorges de l'Hérault, 135:needs additional citations for 21:Devil's Bridge (disambiguation) 1438: 1414: 1385: 1364: 1336: 1311: 1268: 1244: 1136:Devil's Bridge – Horace Farm, 1021: 901: 871: 1: 1303:"Odd Phrases in Literature", 1114:Devil's Bridge (Pontarfynach) 334:Saint Julian, the Hospitaller 1197:, Rhossili, Gower, Wales (a 421: 7: 1446:"Devils Bridge, Pennington" 1219: 971: 915: 450: 434: 10: 1580: 1305:The Irish Quarterly Review 1275:Bernardi, Eduardo (2018). 1151:(1841 bridge over railway) 1103:Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion 960:– bypass route around the 931: 581: 463: 361:grace as well, or for its 18: 1166:bridge in form of grotto) 1070:See W. Turner's etching: 1012:Aqüeducte de les Ferreres 944: 479: 30:Devil's Bridge (Italian: 1523:www.greatsedonahikes.com 1498:British Listed Buildings 1474:British Listed Buildings 1450:British listed buildings 1237: 990: 648: 644:Teufelsbrücke—Inzigkofen 1374:(in German). 2014-11-03 1320:The Discovery of France 1027:Pont du Saut de Brot — 783:Su ponti de is aremigus 542:Pont du Diable (Ariège) 514:Villemagne-l'Argentière 443:(Дяволски мост) – near 1109: 598: 496: 318: 303: 288: 253: 233: 64: 56: 39: 1554:Medieval architecture 1426:Engineering Timelines 1318:Robb, Graham (2007). 1101:The three bridges of 1100: 1073:Little Devil's Bridge 939:Câmpulung Moldovenesc 779:Su ponti de su tiaulu 711:Ponte della Maddalena 709:Ponte del Diavolo or 589: 487: 320:Ponte della Maddalena 227:Little Devil's Bridge 225: 106:deal, pact or bargain 62: 45: 29: 1519:"GREAT SEDONA HIKES" 996:Puente del Diablo – 771:Ponte del Diavolo – 678:Ponte del Diavolo – 668:Ponte del Diavolo – 522:Languedoc-Roussillon 508:Languedoc-Roussillon 390:adding missing items 351:Saint Benedict Medal 144:improve this article 87:ancient architecture 1564:The Devil in legend 1050:Teufelsbrücke (Egg) 962:Severomuysky Tunnel 877:Duivelsbrug – Breda 814:Ponte Fabio Massimo 795:Ponte del Diavolo ( 777:Ponte del Diavolo ( 456:Puente del Común - 409:Antigua and Barbuda 286:In the case of the 276:pact with the Devil 1397:Ceredigion Tourism 1110: 1067:, canton of Schwyz 1063:, municipality of 1029:Gorges de l'Areuse 599: 559:(Pont Valentré) – 497: 427:Puente La Noria – 388:; you can help by 234: 116:Associated legends 65: 57: 40: 1549:European folklore 1329:978-0-330-42761-6 1286:978-0-473-43697-1 1211:Devil's Bridge – 1193:Devil's Bridge – 1183:Devil's Bridge – 1169:Devil's Bridge – 1145:Weston-super-Mare 1143:Devil's Bridge – 1126:Devil's Bridge – 1003:Puente del Diablo 922:Ponte da Mizarela 851:Ponte del Diavolo 831:Ponte del Diavolo 805:Province of Cuneo 752:Ponte del Diavolo 735:Ponte di Annibale 660:Montecalvo Irpino 574:Pont du Diable − 568:Pont du Diable – 550:Pont du Diable – 526:Pont du Diable – 512:Pont du Diable – 495:, southern France 414:Devil's Bridge – 406: 405: 346:Vade retro satana 301:In the legend of 220: 219: 212: 194: 32:Ponte del Diavolo 1571: 1533: 1532: 1530: 1529: 1514: 1508: 1507: 1505: 1504: 1490: 1484: 1483: 1481: 1480: 1466: 1460: 1459: 1457: 1456: 1442: 1436: 1435: 1433: 1432: 1418: 1412: 1411: 1409: 1408: 1399:. Archived from 1393:"Devil's Bridge" 1389: 1383: 1382: 1380: 1379: 1368: 1362: 1340: 1334: 1333: 1315: 1309: 1300: 1291: 1290: 1272: 1266: 1265: 1263: 1262: 1248: 1058: 1045:St Gotthard Pass 1037: 959: 896: 859: 839: 822: 773:Civita, Calabria 760: 743: 698: 627:Steinerne Brücke 401: 398: 380: 379: 373: 323: 308: 293: 290:Steinerne Brücke 261:St Gotthard Pass 258: 215: 208: 204: 201: 195: 193: 159:"Devil's Bridge" 152: 128: 120: 53:St Gotthard Pass 38:, northern Italy 1579: 1578: 1574: 1573: 1572: 1570: 1569: 1568: 1539: 1538: 1537: 1536: 1527: 1525: 1515: 1511: 1502: 1500: 1492: 1491: 1487: 1478: 1476: 1468: 1467: 1463: 1454: 1452: 1444: 1443: 1439: 1430: 1428: 1420: 1419: 1415: 1406: 1404: 1391: 1390: 1386: 1377: 1375: 1370: 1369: 1365: 1341: 1337: 1330: 1316: 1312: 1301: 1294: 1287: 1273: 1269: 1260: 1258: 1252:Ashliman, D. L. 1249: 1245: 1240: 1222: 1208: 1140:Parish, Cumbria 1128:Kirkby Lonsdale 1095: 1052: 1031: 1024: 993: 983:Hudičev most – 977:Hudičev most – 974: 953: 947: 934: 918: 904: 890: 884: 882:North Macedonia 874: 853: 833: 816: 754: 746:Cerreto Sannita 737: 725:Gualdo Cattaneo 715:Borgo a Mozzano 692: 651: 584: 482: 466: 453: 437: 424: 411: 402: 396: 393: 377: 371: 369:List of bridges 326:Borgo a Mozzano 231:J. M. W. Turner 216: 205: 199: 196: 153: 151: 141: 129: 118: 95:medieval Europe 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1577: 1567: 1566: 1561: 1556: 1551: 1535: 1534: 1509: 1485: 1461: 1437: 1413: 1384: 1363: 1354:Deutsche Sagen 1349:Brothers Grimm 1335: 1328: 1310: 1292: 1285: 1267: 1242: 1241: 1239: 1236: 1235: 1234: 1228: 1226:Bridge of Arta 1221: 1218: 1217: 1216: 1207: 1204: 1203: 1202: 1191: 1181: 1167: 1162:(18th-century 1152: 1149:North Somerset 1141: 1134: 1124: 1094: 1093:United Kingdom 1091: 1090: 1089: 1068: 1047: 1038: 1023: 1020: 1019: 1018: 1009: 1000: 992: 989: 988: 987: 981: 973: 970: 969: 968: 946: 943: 942: 941: 933: 930: 929: 928: 926:Braga District 917: 914: 913: 912: 903: 900: 899: 898: 883: 880: 879: 878: 873: 870: 869: 868: 848: 842:Lanzo Torinese 828: 811: 793: 775: 769: 749: 732: 721: 707: 705:Emilia Romagna 686: 676: 666: 650: 647: 646: 645: 642: 633: 624: 615: 606: 590:Rakotzbrücke, 583: 580: 579: 578: 572: 566: 563: 557:Pont du Diable 554: 548: 539: 533:Pont du Diable 530: 524: 510: 504:Pont du Diable 489:Pont du Diable 481: 478: 477: 476: 465: 462: 461: 460: 452: 449: 448: 447: 441:Dyavolski most 436: 433: 432: 431: 423: 420: 419: 418: 410: 407: 404: 403: 383: 381: 370: 367: 328:, Province of 316:The legend of 218: 217: 132: 130: 123: 117: 114: 68:Devil's Bridge 36:Lanzo Torinese 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1576: 1565: 1562: 1560: 1557: 1555: 1552: 1550: 1547: 1546: 1544: 1524: 1520: 1513: 1499: 1495: 1489: 1475: 1471: 1465: 1451: 1447: 1441: 1427: 1423: 1417: 1403:on 2012-09-18 1402: 1398: 1394: 1388: 1373: 1367: 1360: 1356: 1355: 1350: 1346: 1345: 1339: 1331: 1325: 1321: 1314: 1308: 1306: 1299: 1297: 1288: 1282: 1278: 1271: 1256: 1253: 1247: 1243: 1232: 1229: 1227: 1224: 1223: 1214: 1210: 1209: 1206:United States 1200: 1196: 1192: 1190: 1186: 1182: 1180: 1176: 1172: 1168: 1165: 1161: 1160:Staffordshire 1157: 1153: 1150: 1146: 1142: 1139: 1135: 1133: 1129: 1125: 1123: 1119: 1115: 1112: 1111: 1108: 1104: 1099: 1087: 1086: 1082: 1078: 1074: 1069: 1066: 1062: 1056: 1051: 1048: 1046: 1042: 1041:Teufelsbrücke 1039: 1035: 1030: 1026: 1025: 1017: 1013: 1010: 1008: 1004: 1001: 999: 995: 994: 986: 982: 980: 976: 975: 967: 963: 957: 952: 949: 948: 940: 936: 935: 927: 923: 920: 919: 911:, Philippines 910: 906: 905: 894: 889: 886: 885: 876: 875: 867: 863: 857: 852: 849: 847: 843: 837: 832: 829: 826: 820: 815: 812: 810: 806: 802: 798: 797:Ponte Vecchio 794: 792: 788: 784: 780: 776: 774: 770: 768: 764: 758: 753: 750: 747: 741: 736: 733: 730: 726: 722: 720: 716: 712: 708: 706: 702: 696: 691: 687: 685: 681: 677: 675: 671: 670:Ascoli Piceno 667: 665: 661: 657: 653: 652: 643: 641: 637: 636:Teufelsbrücke 634: 632: 628: 625: 623: 619: 616: 614: 610: 607: 604: 601: 600: 597: 593: 588: 577: 573: 571: 567: 564: 562: 558: 555: 553: 549: 547: 543: 540: 538: 534: 531: 529: 525: 523: 519: 515: 511: 509: 505: 502: 501: 500: 494: 490: 486: 475: 471: 468: 467: 459: 455: 454: 446: 442: 439: 438: 430: 426: 425: 417: 413: 412: 400: 397:December 2019 391: 387: 384:This list is 382: 375: 374: 366: 364: 360: 354: 352: 348: 347: 342: 337: 335: 331: 327: 322: 321: 314: 312: 307: 306: 299: 297: 292: 291: 284: 281: 277: 273: 268: 266: 262: 257: 256: 255:Teufelsbrücke 249: 247: 243: 239: 232: 228: 224: 214: 211: 203: 200:December 2019 192: 189: 185: 182: 178: 175: 171: 168: 164: 161: –  160: 156: 155:Find sources: 149: 145: 139: 138: 133:This section 131: 127: 122: 121: 113: 111: 107: 103: 98: 96: 92: 88: 84: 81: 77: 73: 69: 61: 55:, Switzerland 54: 50: 49: 48:Teufelsbrücke 44: 37: 33: 28: 22: 1526:. 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Retrieved 1246: 1199:natural arch 1185:Mossley Hill 1071: 1060: 1059:– Hamlet of 998:Cueto, Spain 951:Chertov Most 796: 782: 778: 618:Teufelsbrück 609:Brickegickel 603:Rakotzbrücke 498: 429:Buenos Aires 394: 355: 344: 338: 315: 305:Teufelsbrück 300: 285: 274:who makes a 269: 250: 235: 226: 206: 197: 187: 180: 173: 166: 154: 142:Please help 137:verification 134: 99: 83:arch bridges 67: 66: 46: 31: 1231:Moon bridge 1195:Worm's Head 1156:Weston Park 1053: [ 1032: [ 1022:Switzerland 954: [ 902:Philippines 891: [ 872:Netherlands 854: [ 834: [ 817: [ 787:Decimomannu 755: [ 738: [ 693: [ 690:Ponte Gobbo 656:Via Traiana 1543:Categories 1528:2017-03-25 1503:2011-01-16 1479:2011-01-16 1455:2011-01-16 1431:2019-11-09 1407:2011-01-16 1378:2021-08-05 1359:Wikisource 1261:2016-10-03 1138:Pennington 1118:Ceredigion 1065:Einsiedeln 909:Binangonan 827:, Campania 748:, Campania 631:Regensburg 576:La Forclaz 470:Kuradisild 386:incomplete 296:Regensburg 229:(1809) by 170:newspapers 1189:Liverpool 1175:Glynneath 1171:Pontwalby 1075:over the 1016:Tarragona 1007:Martorell 888:Elen Skok 613:Frankfurt 528:Beaugency 422:Argentina 359:aesthetic 242:folktales 91:antiquity 1220:See also 1081:Altdorft 1079:, above 972:Slovenia 966:Buryatia 916:Portugal 862:Torcello 846:Piedmont 825:Faicchio 809:Piedmont 791:Sardinia 763:Cividale 664:Campania 640:Mannheim 552:Olargues 451:Colombia 435:Bulgaria 363:economic 1559:Bridges 1132:Cumbria 1085:Swiss.d 932:Romania 801:Dronero 719:Tuscany 622:Hamburg 582:Germany 544:– near 518:Hérault 464:Estonia 416:Antigua 311:Hamburg 259:at the 184:scholar 80:masonry 72:bridges 1517:Bill. 1326:  1283:  1213:Sedona 1164:listed 985:Tolmin 979:Bohinj 945:Russia 897:– Reka 866:Veneto 767:Friuli 729:Umbria 701:Bobbio 674:Marche 596:Saxony 561:Cahors 480:France 445:Ardino 272:herder 265:heroic 186:  179:  172:  165:  157:  1238:Notes 1179:Wales 1122:Wales 1107:Wales 1057:] 1036:] 991:Spain 958:] 895:] 858:] 838:] 821:] 759:] 742:] 697:] 684:Lazio 680:Blera 658:near 649:Italy 537:Céret 493:Céret 474:Tartu 330:Lucca 246:Devil 191:JSTOR 177:books 110:souls 102:Devil 76:stone 34:) in 1324:ISBN 1281:ISBN 1077:Russ 799:) – 785:) – 699:) – 570:Sens 546:Foix 458:Chía 341:Sens 280:soul 240:for 163:news 93:and 1061:Egg 781:or 491:in 392:. 339:At 324:in 309:in 294:in 146:by 78:or 51:of 1545:: 1521:. 1496:. 1472:. 1448:. 1424:. 1395:. 1351:: 1295:^ 1187:, 1177:, 1173:, 1158:, 1147:, 1130:, 1120:, 1116:, 1105:, 1083:, 1055:de 1043:– 1034:fr 1014:– 1005:– 964:, 956:ru 924:– 893:mk 864:, 860:– 856:it 844:, 840:– 836:it 823:– 819:it 807:, 803:, 789:, 765:, 761:– 757:it 744:– 740:it 727:, 717:, 713:– 703:, 695:it 682:, 672:, 662:, 638:– 629:– 620:– 611:– 594:– 535:– 520:, 516:, 472:– 353:. 112:. 97:. 1531:. 1506:. 1482:. 1458:. 1434:. 1410:. 1381:. 1361:) 1332:. 1289:. 1264:. 1201:) 731:) 399:) 395:( 213:) 207:( 202:) 198:( 188:· 181:· 174:· 167:· 140:. 23:.

Index

Devil's Bridge (disambiguation)

Lanzo Torinese

Teufelsbrücke
St Gotthard Pass

bridges
stone
masonry
arch bridges
ancient architecture
antiquity
medieval Europe
Devil
deal, pact or bargain
souls

verification
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"Devil's Bridge"
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J. M. W. Turner

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