Schöllenen Gorge

Dramatic rocky gorge formed by the Reuss river, with the legendary Devil's Bridge

The Schöllenen Gorge is a short, savage canyon that the Reuss has cut through the granite of the Uri Alps between Göschenen and Andermatt. The gorge walls rise vertically above the river, and for most of history this was one of the most formidable natural barriers on the route between northern and southern Europe.

The gorge is crossed by the Teufelsbrücke — the Devil's Bridge — which became the critical link on the Gotthard route when the first bridge was built here in the 13th century. The current bridge dates from 1958, but the older arch of its 1830 predecessor stands beside it, and below both you can see the original boulder-strewn gorge where the river churns through granite narrows. The gorge is walkable and cycle-able on a path between Göschenen and Andermatt.

things to do sight
A story
According to legend, the villagers of Uri needed a bridge over the gorge but could not build one. They made a pact with the devil: he would build the bridge in exchange for the first soul to cross. They sent a goat across first. The devil, furious, hurled a boulder to destroy the bridge. A woman drew a cross on the boulder as it fell, and it harmlessly split in two. Both halves can be seen beside the road today.