Bridges, Arches, Columns, Tunnels and Walls

Ljusarkitektur-solvesborg-bridge, Sweden

bump

Wonder why therre are so many Devil´s bridges?
I can understand if they were so complicated to build or so dangerous to cross, but some are neither nor. Or did the Devil hide under the bridge?

Many stories about it, but probably it reflects the fact that frequently these bridges were built under such challenging conditions that successful completion of the bridge required a heroic effort on the part of the builders and the community, ensuring its legendary status. Each of the bridges that have received the Devil's Bridge appellation is remarkable in some regard; most often for the technological hurdles surpassed in building the bridge, but on occasion also for its aesthetic grace, or for its economic or strategic importance to the community it serve

Like that one a lot..

In medieval times, the devil was a prolific architect. All around Europe are bridges known as the Devil's Bridge, with a stories of soul-selling deals and outwitting satan and other legends.



Illustration of the devil in the Nuremberg Chronicle, by Hartmann Schedel (1440-1514)

The story about the Devil's Bridge in Ceredigion, Wales,for instance, is the ravine was too steep for mortal architecture, so the devil offered the traditional deal which was to take the soul of the first to cross. It ended up being an overly excited dog.

In Ardino, there's a a double legend.
One is that the builder's wife died while it was being constructed and her shadow became a part of it.
The other goes that the devil himself walked over its arches while helping its construction and left a footprint.

The legend about the Ponte della Maddalena in Borgo is that the complicated bridge proved too much for the villagers to complete, so they begged the devil to finish it. As per usual, he requested the soul of the first to cross. The townspeople sent over a dog.

Back in the 13th century for the first bridge in Andermatt, it's said that the villagers found building their bridge to be impossible. So they got the crafty devil to do it. But of course he wanted the first crosser's soul. They sent a goat over. The devil flipped out and picked up a giant rock and was going to shatter the wood bridge, but an old woman with a cross scared him off. The stone he supposedly dropped is nearby.

In Martorell, Spain, the story has to do with the disbelief that human hands could have made such a bridge that could stand, and the structure would make a perfect place for the devil to request crossing souls.

The bridge osso like (in Cahors) took 70 years to finish, from 1308 and 1378.
There's the legend of the devil hurrying it along. Rather than some random soul, this time the devil wanted that of the builder. However, the builder said he would give him his soul only when the bridge was finished. For the water for the last batch of mortar, he gave the devil a sieve, so of course it could not be completely finished. The devil was none too pleased and stole a stone out of the central tower. Each time it was replaced, he would take it again overnight. When the bridge was being restored in the 19th century, the lead architect was inspired to replace the real missing stone with a sculpture of the the devil stealing the stone away.

Interesting answers - thank you
I can´t remember that the Devil has been involved in any bridge building in Sweden.
Necks in the water and trolls under a bridge that I have heard about and the Devil in other areas.
The Neck plays his violin and the fairies dance

These two bridges are the oldest ones in Tartu, Estonia, with the Angel Bridge dating back to 1838 ...



...and Devil's Bridge to 1913.



The legend says that if you walk across the Angel Bridge for the first time and make a wish, it will definitely come true.

The Devil's bridge's name may have come from the fact that it complemented Angel's Bridge or have been derived from the name of its lead construction engineer, Werner Zoege von Manteuffel (Teufel being German for 'devil').

Good information - it is so interesting to think about how names were created long ago.
Why was some poor ancestor given the name Manteufel? How cruel was he?
Or was it a woman ....?

The HR Giger Museum bar in Gruyères, Switzerland......









(Guinness was £9 a pint)

The first known is a certain Johannes Mandiuel, in 1256, a nobleman in Eastern Germany .... most probably origianally from Westphalia. Their were and are several branches of this noble family, which changed the name to Manduvel (which is Low German for "Man devil") and than to Man(n)teuf(f)el.

You just can speculate why the first got this name.

When is a bridge not a bridge? …

London's new planned Garden Bridge was said to bring tranquillity, and foot traffic to the Thames. A project "that's brilliant, bold and well, absolutely fabulous" according to some media.




But now, conditions have emerged that make the garden bridge appear to be more of a private tourist attraction.
“It will set hearts racing and calm troubled minds,” according to the garden bridge’s chief promoter, Joanna Lumley. “It will enchant everyone who uses it.” But not, it turns out, if you’re in a group of eight or more, or if you want to ride a bicycle, or visit Thomas Heatherwick’s bridge by night – and certainly not if you’re planning a protest.
More @ source: Building Design (You have to register, though)

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2014/nov/19/londons-garden-bridge-the-public-park-where-groups-and-cyclists-arent-welcome
A wonderful idea - but with a lousy result if you really cannot use it as a bridge

A new campaign is using artistic imagery to challenge people’s attitudes towards those with mobility issues. This stairlift image was shot at night on Albert Bridge in London.

The whole idea sounds quite nice, actually.

There are plenty of other places in London where cyclists can zoom along, and large groups of people in confined spaces may, and I stress may, be regarded by some as intimidating.

Also, if this was open 24/7, it would no doubt fast become a worrying place to pass through after the hours of darkness. City life, night time, bushes, patchy lighting. Would you cross it on your own?

This cuts out most of the opportunities for negative or anti social behaviour to occur. By having these "rules", it promotes the bridge as a user friendly place where one doesn't have to worry about dodging out of the way of bikes/roller bladers, or steering ones self around large groups of boisterous funseekers.
Don't worry, the noisy funseekers have acre upon acre of gorgeous green London parks to go to during the day.

The people who just want a quiet, undisturbed walk through nature will love this bridge. Quiet, bike/blader free green areas are becoming few and far between in Central London.
There is plenty of green, but it is mostly busy busy. This sounds like a bit of a haven.

Good explanation.
Agree I would probably not walk across there at night just as I do not walk thru a park at night.
I can also imagen that a lot of the trees and bushes ending up in the Thames at night.
As far as I remember there are plenty of little parks where only people with a key have acess to. Nobody is complaining about that or am I wrong.

Try Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, or Phoenix Gardens (one of my favourite parks), or Ebury Square Gardens (I wonder, how many know this park, next to Buckingham Palace) ... there is a few more quiet, quiet green in London.

I said mostly mostly, Walt. Not all.

This new bridge will offer something really quite different. There's not many green and pleasant country lanes that take one over a wide, tidal river in the centre of a major city.

"As far as I remember there are plenty of little parks where only people with a key have acess to. Nobody is complaining about that or am I wrong."

A lot of those little spaces form the centrepiece of a large residential square, where the land is jointly owned by the surrounding residents and is not therefore a public space.
These spaces are actually providing vital, non developed green corridors for all manner of flora and fauna, and even though they are closed to the public, they are very pleasant to stroll past and get away from the traffic.

Years ago now, I liked (and it's still there!) the garden at the New Otani Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The garden was on the roof. LA also has a river, but that's another story altogether.

The food was great there, then, and the bookstore fascinating. Never had reason to stay there, but I'd probably like it. At least back then, anybody could take the elevator to the large roof garden.


Aha, I see it's now the Kyoto Grand..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DoubleTree_by_Hilton_Hotel_Los_Angeles_D
owntown

Hmm, speaking of towers, the hotel is one.