Teufelsbrücke & Schöllenen Gorge
A narrow slot of vertical rock, a roaring white river and a stone arch soaked in medieval myth — the Schöllenen Gorge is the most dramatic short walk you can do from Andermatt's doorstep. The Devil's Bridge has stood here since the 13th century, and the gorge it spans was the key that unlocked the entire Gotthard trade route across the Alps.
Where History Cracked the Alps Open
The Reuss River has spent millennia cutting through the Gotthard granite here, producing sheer walls so tight and so tall that the gorge was considered impassable until the first bridge was thrown across it in the 13th century. That single crossing transformed the Gotthard into the most important mountain pass in Europe, and you can still feel the weight of that history standing on the arch today.
The current stone bridge — the Teufelsbrücke — spans the gorge just north of Andermatt, where local legend insists the Devil himself helped with construction in exchange for the soul of the first creature to cross. The villagers outsmarted him by sending a goat. Look for the small monument to Russian General Suvorov nearby, commemorating his dramatic 1799 crossing with 20,000 troops.
Walking the Gorge Loop
From Andermatt railway station the trail drops straight into the gorge past steep rock faces, avalanche galleries and old mule tracks. At the Teufelsbrücke it is worth doing the 20-to-30-minute circular walk through the gorge, taking in historic bridges and views of the rock face from all sides before climbing back up.
The gorge is also accessible by a short walk from Göschenen, which lets you combine it with the charming rack railway that rattles between Göschenen and Andermatt — a perfect way to arrive or depart in style.
Teufelsbrücke & Schöllenen Gorge on video
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