The Spreuer (or Müllen) Bridge in Lucerne has more than sixty triangular paintings that compose the "Dance of Death" series. They were commissioned in the early 17th century by the Council of Lucerne to remind citizens of the ever present risk of death and to encourage a healthy life style.
Spreuer Bridge was erected around 1400 (first mentioned in 1408), but destroyed by storm in 1566, and rebuilt in 1568. The small chapel on the bridge also dates back to 1568.
The 1408 bridge was built to connect the mills with the baker's quarter in Pfistergasse.
Though medieval towns in Europe were known to be quite filthy and sophisticated Roman sewage techniques had been forgotten over the centuries, they still made some elementary provisions to restrict immissions. In medieval Lucerne, it was allowed to throw Spreu [chaff] into River.