Rakotzbrücke – The Devil’s Bridge
The Devils Bridge (Die Rakotzbrücke) was built in 1860. Because of its unique construction, the bridge and its reflection merge into a perfect circle, regardless of the point of observation.
The Devil’s Bridge – Rakotzbrücke
A delicately arched bridge, known as the Rakotzbrücke or the devil’s bridge was specifically built to create a perfect circle when it is reflected in the waters beneath it.
This amazing sight is a beloved spot for the professional photographers and there are some really amazing photos taken of this bridge.
The Devil’s Bridge was commissioned in 1860 by the knight of the local town. The thin arch stretching over the waters is roughly built out of the varied local stone.
The Rhododendron Park is located in Kromlau, Northern Saxony just about an hour away from Dresden. The area is very serene and extra quiet. The park has no entry fee and can be accessed anytime.
The Rakotzbrücke is known as “Devil’s Bridge”, due to the colloquialism that such bridges were so miraculous that they must have been built by Satan itself – not by mortals.
Kromlau is a district of Gablenz, a municipality with about 1,900 inhabitants. It is also very close (less than 6 kilometers) to the Polish border.
Most of the bridges that have received the Devil’s Bridge appellation are remarkable in some regard, most often for the technological achievements, but on some occasions for its aesthetic grace, or even for its strategic or economic importance to the community it serves.
Ends of the Rakotzbrücke are decorated with thin rock spirals that look like they could be natural outcroppings. And they really look amazing.
The parabola of the bridge is designed to be one-half of a perfect circle, so that when the waters are still and the light is right, it creates the illusion of a complete stone circle for the viewer.
Today, the bridge can still be viewed in the park, but crossing the aging relic is prohibited in order to preserve it.
Video: Early Morning Video of Rakotzbrücke