Devil's Bridge Ardino

Overview

The Devil's Bridge is a bridge on the Arda River in the Municipality of Ardino, Kardzhali District. It is located in a picturesque gorge about 10 kilometers northwest of the town of Ardino, near the village of Dyadovtsi and not far from the village of Latinka. The bridge is located at 420 meters above sea level in a gorge, surrounded on both sides by steep slopes, reaching 800 meters above sea level. Its length is 56 meters, width - 3.5 meters, three-arched, and the arches of its side ribs are made holes with semicircular arches for water drainage. The height of the central vault is 11 - 12 meters, and on the edge is preserved a stone railing with a height of 12 cm. The bridge was built in the early 16th century by order of Sultan Selim I as part of a road connecting the Upper Thracian Plain with White Sea Thrace and the Aegean Sea. In place of today's bridge there was once a Roman bridge, part of the important ancient road Via Ignatius, connecting the White Sea and Thrace through the Makaza Pass. By order of Sultan Selim I, the bridge was rebuilt to continue trade links between the two geographical areas. He was known as Shaitan Kyupriya. For centuries, the bridge has been shrouded in legend and mystery. Almost nothing is known about its construction, but according to legend its creator is Master Dimitar from the nearby village of Nedelino. He accepted the challenge to build a bridge over the stormy river, although everyone before him had failed. He did a great job in record time, but died soon after. Here the beliefs whisper that Satan had a hand in the construction of the bridge. The devil promised the master to share a secret that will make his creation forever if he manages to complete it in 40 days. If he failed, however, he would take his soul. Dimitar coped with the devil's task and Satan fulfilled his promise, but soon after the gifted master died and took the secret knowledge to the grave. It is said that from the Devil's Bridge you can see the face of Satan if you look at the waters of the Arda River between 11.00 and 12.00 noon, when the bridge and its reflection form a circle. In addition, according to some, one of his stones shows the imprint of the Devil's footsteps! On February 24, 1984, the bridge was declared a cultural monument.