The Devil’s Bridge over the Arda river is one of the most picturesque bridges in Bulgaria (spelled Дяволски мост or Dyavolski most in Bulgarian). It is located in a scenic valley near the villages of Dyadovtsi and Latinka in Southern Bulgaria, a must for your Rhodope Mountains route.

The bridge is 420 meters high locked in a gorge surrounded by steep mountains. It is 56 meters long, 3.5 meters wide and it consists of 3 beautiful arcs.

The bridge was built in the beginning of the 16th century when such huge dimensions were not a common sight. It still strikes visitors as an impressive Medieval structure.

The Devil’s Bridge | by Klearchos Kapoutsis

Back then, Bulgaria was still under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. However, Selim I, the sultan at that time, wanted to connect the southern Bulgarian lands with the Aegean Sea. This was a strategic move owing to the land’s abundance of natural resources. The sultan wanted to boost the empire’s production and trading market.

Why Devil’s bridge

The legend behind the name tells the story of a Bulgarian girl who was running away from the Ottoman governors. When she crossed over the bridge, the persecutors thought they saw the Devil in the water underneath and they did not dare to go on. The girl was set free.

There’s picnic area nearby, so you can relax and admire the view.

The Devil’s Bridge | by Klearchos Kapoutsis

How to get to the Devil’s Bridge

There’s no public transportation so you’ll have to rent a car. There’s a road all the way to the bridge. The Devil’s Bridge is some 300 km from Sofia but save at least 5 hours for driving as a big part of the route is mountainous.

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Luke has visited and photographed the locations mentioned in the book and this is enough to create you own itinerary. Here’s what Luke Gracias shared with us about the book, the stories on the road, and his best finds:

My major inspiration for the “Devil’s Prayer” book was… David Seltzer’s Omen and Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code are the major inspirations. I always thought it would be great to write a Da Vinci Code version of The Omen.

Salzburg Cathedral: Penitents walk the Rings of Fire

During my travels around the locations of the book I discovered… The Devil’s Bible in the National Library of Stockholm which is purportedly written by the Devil himself. A 13^th century conspiracy between the Mongols and the Papal Inquisition depicted in the Stefaneschi Tryptych in the Vatican Museum. The recently discovered secret tunnels under the Moreruela Abbey in Zamora, Spain. The church of Asen’s Fortress in Bulgaria where all the paintings of the saints have their eyes gouged out. A punishment reserved for treason against God. The Katskhi Pillar in Georgia which has a church atop it, although it was not possible to climb it from the 13^th century till the 20^th century.

Asen’s Fortress – Bulgaria

As a photographer, I enjoy shooting… landscapes and glamour. In search of locations for The Devil’s Prayer, I have been to some amazing destinations.

Incredible Zamora, the most Romanesque city in Europe

My latest adventure is… I am an environmental specialist. A green project I have designed is being developed.

The strangest thing that ever happened to me on the road was… the opening of my book had a fictitious place called the Gateway to Hell. I found the steps to the Gateway to Hell at Bezdez Castle in the Czech Republic, and then my guide took me to the real Gateway to Hell which I did not know existed. It was at Houska Castle located some 25 km from Bezdez. I had imagined a place and it existed for real.

The stairs to the Gateway to Hell. Bezdez Castle, Czech Republic

I never travel without… my camera.

The trip that changed me… 2015 I saw the Semana Santa in Zamora. I knew I had the perfect opening scene for a film. I used it in my book cover.

The Semana Santa – held every year in Zamora since the 12th century.

The most helpful thing I’ve learned on the road that could be used in everyday life… scan all your important documents and email it to yourself before a big trip. If you lose your tickets, bag or bookings or in my case camera gear, you have all the serial numbers to make a claim.

The place that surprised me the most… the Amalfi Coast. It is undoubtedly the most beautiful place on earth.

The Amalfi Coast – Priano at sunset

My recipe for turning dreams into reality is… the biggest regret you will ever have is not having tried to be the someone you imagined. If you want to do something, give it a red hot go. The journey of a thousand miles always starts with a single step.

One travel challenge for everyone reading this… visit a Devil’s Bridge. There are more than 75 Devil’s Bridges around the world. Each shares a legend that the builder made a pact with the Devil who built it in exchange for the soul of the first person who crossed it. Each bridge is an engineering marvel thought impossible to build.

Rakotzbrucke: The Devil’s Bridge – Germany

All photos: Luke Gracias. The Devil’s Prayer is on Amazon.

See the book trailer:

The Devil’s Prayer – A Novel by Luke Gracias from The Devil’s Prayer on Vimeo.

Explicit Content Warning: “The Devil’s Prayer” is a historical horror thriller that contains brutality. Readers may find its content offensive and confronting.

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