Landmarks

Devil’s Bridge in Czerna

Devil’s Bridge in Czerna is the ruin of a 17th-century hermit bridge in the Eliaszówka Valley, near the Discalced Carmelite monastery. The stone structure resembles a Roman aqueduct: it was about 120 m long, 9.5 m wide and 18 m high, supported over the ravine by 13 arches. The bridge connected two hills of the former hermitage and provided a route between the monastery and the Carmelites’ estate.

The hermit bridge

Construction took place from 1671 to 1691. Hermits associated with the monastery in Czerna built it, which is why sources also call it the Hermit Bridge. It was originally known as the Angel Bridge, but the name Devil’s Bridge became established from the 19th century onwards. It has not been used since 1889 because of its advancing deterioration. What visitors see today are the remains of a historic structure, not a functioning crossing.

Legend in the Eliaszówka Valley

Local stories tell of a gathering of devils and evil spirits, or treasure hidden under the bridge. These are legends explaining the unusual name, not confirmed historical facts.

Visiting

The ruins are an outdoor sight visible from the road and nearby paths. Entry is free and there are no set opening hours, but the structure is unstable: do not climb the arches or enter beneath unsafe sections. Walking and cycling trails run through the Eliaszówka Valley; PTTK lists a roughly 3.6 km Czerna–Czerna loop taking about 1.5 hours. Combine the visit with the monastery at Czerna and St Elias’s Spring. Wear sturdy footwear, as forest ground can be uneven.