Teufelsbrücke The Teufelsbrücke (Devil's Bridge) is a stone arch bridge located in the Schöllenen Gorge. The bridge provides access to Gotthard Pass by crossing the Reuss River.   The first bridge across the river was built in 1230. Because it was a wooden bridge susceptible to weather it was replaced several times.   In the 16th century it was replaced by a stone bridge. This bridge was so heavily damaged during the Napoleonic war of 1799 it became unusable so trade with Italy was re-directed over an alpine pass at Splügen.   An order to construct a new stone bridge was eventually issued and after 10 years of construction it was completed in 1830.   By the middle of the 20th century the 1830 bridge was insufficient to handle traffic. This resulted in construction of the current two lane highway bridge completed in 1958.   The Myth   According to local myth the first bridge was built by the devil himself, but with a condition. The devil would get the soul of the first to pass over the bridge.   When the bridge was finished the local people chased a goat over the bridge.   Of course, the devil was furious, so he picked up a large stone. (It is called the Teufelsstein or the devil's stone.) He intended to smash his newly built bridge to pieces. On his way to the bridge however, he encountered an old woman with a cross. Scared of the cross he dropped the stone and fled.   The Teufelsstein weighs 220 tons. In 1977 300,000 Swiss Francs were expended to shift the stone 127 metres to make way for the motorway passing over Gotthard Pass.   Now local belief has it that moving the stone is the cause of an increased number of accidents on Kilometre 16 of the Gotthard Tunnel - Wikipedia.