The Die Rakotzbrücke bridge, or the Devil’s Bridge, is an iconic arched bridge located in the picturesque Kromlau Park in eastern Germany. Constructed in 1860 is famed for its unique man-made construction accuracy, with the bridge and its reflection over the still water merging into a complete and perfect stone circle, no matter where you see it from. This is probably why the bridge is also known as the ‘Devil’s Bridge’. It seems that the makers of the bridge emphasized more on its aesthetics than its utility. Both the ends of the Rakotzbrücke have thin rock spires installed, to make it look like natural basalt columns, which commonly occur in many parts of Germany.
There are dozens of so-called Devil’s Bridges located around Europe, each one with a local myth or folktale associated with it, all built during medieval times. Most of the devil’s bridges are stone or masonry arched bridges and became known as devil bridges due to their mythical qualities and tales of interactions with the Devil. These bridges are masonry bridges that are either so spectacular or so challenging to build that only the devil could have helped with their construction. The legend goes that the devil helps to build the bridge in exchange for the soul of the first human who crosses the bridge.