SIGHT TO SEE
THE DEVIL’ S BRIDGE, GERMANY
Europe’ s waterways are laced with so-called‘ Devil’ s bridges’— but none conjures a more flawless illusion than Rakotzbrücke in Saxony, says Emily Lush
Located in a secluded corner of eastern Germany, this fairytale bridge carries an air of the supernatural. Locally known as the Devil’ s Bridge, Rakotzbrücke in Kromlau was never meant to be crossed— the knight Friedrich Herrmann Rötschke commissioned it in the 1860s purely to dazzle the eyes.
While dozens of similar bridges can be found across Europe, Kromlau’ s stands out for its precision and artistry. Its elegant arch was engineered to an exact curvature so that, on a still day, the bridge and its reflection in the waters of Rakotzsee( Raktoz Lake) below merge into one flawless ring.
The bridge itself measures 26 feet long and 21 feet wide, and is fashioned from basalt. Rocky spires that echo the hexagonal shapes found in volcanic landscapes flank either end. Its form channels the mystery of folktales tied to earlier Medieval bridges, when gravity-defying engineering led people to believe that such structures could only have been built with the Devil’ s help. The name Rakotz comes from a more benign source: the Upper Sorbian word for crab( rak), a nod to the region’ s Slavic heritage.
The bridge sits within the 200-acre Kromlau Park, one of Germany’ s largest rhododendron gardens. Landscaped in the 19th century by Rötschke himself, the park is free to enter and features grottoes and manicured gardens linked by circular walking paths and bicycle routes. Visit in April / May for clouds of azalea blossom, or in September / October for a blaze of fall color. Crossing the fragile bridge is strictly forbidden, but views from across the lake are impressive. Early morning and late afternoon are best for photographers.
ESSENTIALS
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Kromlau is located around 90 minutes by road from Dresden or two hours from Berlin. Stay in the Kavalierhaus, a Swiss-style chalet built by Rötschke inside the park, or at a guest house in nearby Gablenz, Bad Muskau or Weißwasser. While in the area, ride the historic Waldeisenbahn Muskau narrow-gauge railway for scenic forest views. image: alamy
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