Schafbrücke over the Weiße Elster

The sheep bridge spans the White Elster near the town of Beesen shortly before it flows into the Saale. This arch bridge made of sandstone used to be called the Zollbrücke. It is located on an old trade route that led from Magdeburg to Merseburg. A gruesome legend goes hand in hand with the construction of the bridge. Accordingly, water spirits ensured that the bridge collapsed again and again until a child was walled in as a human sacrifice.

Built in 1733 in place of a previous wooden building, blown up in 1945 and rebuilt in 1946. The name comes from the brick factory owner Schaaf, an a was later lost ;-)

The following legend is associated with the construction of the bridge:
During the construction, what had been built during the day collapsed again at night. Only when a child was sacrificed - it is said to have been walled in - the bridge could be completed. The mother found no rest beyond her gruesome act after her death. (Source Wikipedia)