Mespelbrunn Robbers' Trail: Stories and Tales

Today we were on the Robber's Path from Mespelbrunn. This took us to Heimbuchenthal to the water wheel. From there we went back to the main road and a little later up into the forest at the edge of the forest. Across the field the path led us ever higher up to the Echterspfahl. This was also our turning point. We then went back down towards Mespelbrunn on a wide forest path. But after a while the Robber's Path branched off to the right again onto an unpaved forest path. This led us back onto a forest path which we could only use for a short time before we went across the field again. The Robber's Path led us back into the valley to Mespelbrunn past the moated castle and crypt chapel back to the car park.

For the 25th anniversary. The tour starts at the hiking car park at the hiking lodge. First, follow the red hiking sign with the white "Q" and the golden crown (the name of the municipality is on the right-hand side) in the direction of Heimbuchenthal. Along the Elsava stream, the beavers' tracks are unmistakable. The mill wheel at the Hotel Lamm car park invites you to take a short break. The Kullmann mill once stood here, which used water power to process grain into flour. A look inside St. Martinus Church is also definitely worth it. From the "Steiniger Berg" signpost, the "RÄUBERpfad" Mespelbrunn quality tour sign accompanies you steadily uphill. At the almost inconspicuous Echterspfahl, a piece of history comes to life again. According to legend, three brothers from the Echter family met here, who were up to mischief as robber barons and hid in the Spessart from the persecution of the then Emperor Frederick the Redbeard. From the signpost "Echterspfahl" the route continues for a short distance along a wide forest path and then along soft forest paths to the Mespelbrunn moated castle. The Mespelbrunn moated castle is known from the film "Das Wirtshaus im Spessart"

Somehow I didn't know which tour to do today. So I looked around on the Spessart Räuberland website and chose the Räuberpfad in Mespelbrunn. I parked at the former Echterspfahl inn. I hiked down beautiful paths to the magnificent moated castle in Mespelbrunn. I continued to the crypt chapel of the Counts of Ingelheim. Then I crossed the road and hiked to Heimbuchenthal. On the way I saw in the valley that the beaver was at work here and that a completely new landscape was emerging. I soon reached the Hotel Lamm, crossed the road again and passed the office of the "Räuberland" tourist association. Shortly afterwards it went steeply up the mountain. A beautiful forest path led me back to the car just before the car park. It was great! I highly recommend this tour, which runs almost exclusively on beautiful forest paths.

Today we hiked the RÄUBERpfad Mespelbrunn: Geschichten und Geschichten 🎒🥾. This trail was once again a quality tour, awarded 🏅 by the German Hiking Association. We started at the parking lot 🅿️ of the Mespelbrunn hiking lodge, right next to the REWE supermarket. We decided to hike the tour counterclockwise 🔄. So we first went along the Elsava stream towards Heimbuchenthal. Here we passed the old water wheel of the Kullmannsmühle and the church ⛪️ of St. Martin, before climbing the "Steiniger Berg" just behind the tourist information office. It lives up to its name! It was a steep climb ⬆️ for a good 1km and then a steady uphill climb ↗️ for another 3km until we reached the highest point of the tour at the Echterspfahl 🪵 (which gained importance in the 12th century). Now it was downhill again for the first time (approx. 1km) ↘️ and then, unfortunately, another 1km uphill ↗️. Once at the top, the Königshöh mountain hut 🛖 invited us for a rest and a game of Robber Memory. After we had fortified ourselves 🍎🥨🧃, we headed back into the deep Spessart forest 🌳🌳🌳 and began the descent towards Mespelbrunn. After about 2km, we reached Mespelbrunn moated castle 🏰 (currently €6.50 for adults) and the Wirtshaus im Spessart (open), which became famous through the eponymous film starring Lieselotte Pulver in 1958. We then continued (approx. 700m) to the last highlight of the tour, the crypt chapel of the Counts of Ingelheim, which was unfortunately closed. A final short descent through the forest 🌳🌳🌳 led us back to our starting point 🏁. Conclusion: A very beautiful hike with the moated castle as the highlight. As a reward, we then stopped off at Rainer Roth's ice cream pavilion and fortified ourselves with coffee ☕️ and delicious ice cream 🍨. Highly recommended 👍🏼❗️

Pictures aren't in the correct order. But a great tour through the Spessart Forest. 🥾🎒

Today, on day 5 of our "Spessart Hiking Week", we hiked the "Robber's Path" "Stories and Anecdotes" -Mespelbrunn. It starts there at the hiking parking lot. Initially, you can observe beaver activity along the Elsava for over a kilometer. At the water wheel in Heimbuchenthal, you walk a short distance through the village and then consistently uphill through the forest to Echterspfahl. Here, the "Donkey Path" ("Eselsweg"), an old trade route running north-south, along which heavily laden animals once transported salt from Bad Orb, intersects with the old postal road running east-west from Würzburg to Frankfurt am Main. It was once a meeting point for the hunters and beaters of the Electors and Bishops of Mainz. The name goes back to the legend according to which the three Echter brothers, who were all active as robber knights and were pursued by Emperor Barbarossa's troops, met there from time to time and tied their horses to the metal rings of the post. The "Eselsweg" is today a 111 km long quality long-distance hiking trail. Afterwards, it gently descends to the "Enger Grund" signpost and then turns right uphill again to the Königshöhe shelter. It is an ideal spot for a picnic break, but today it was occupied. The further path then led us, partly steeply downhill, to the Mespelbrunn water lock. It dates back to a donation from the Archbishop of Mainz in 1412 to his electoral master forester Hamann Echter for loyal service. His son then expanded it, and Peter Echter von Mespelbrunn enlarged it into a Renaissance palace. Those who haven't visited it yet should plan to join a guided tour. From the palace to the parking lot, it's only a few hundred meters. Many thanks to Marietta and Thomas for five hikes together.

🗡💰https://www.outdooractive.com/mobile/de/route/wandern/raeuberland/mespelbrunn-raeuberpfad-geschichten-und-geschichtchen-qualitaetstour/23061558/ This route is not the one with the robber as a sign 🙃 - it is shorter (8 km) and the tour dates can be found here: https://www.spessartraeuberland.de/aktivitaeten-natur-pur/wandern/familientour-raeuberwanderweg/ The guided tour at Mespelbrunn Palace (📽"Das Wirtshaus im Spessart") was entertaining and beautiful (approx. ¾ hour / €6.50 - a visit is not possible without the guided tour). Picture 7 is supposed to show the architect of the castle, who is shown naked, should drive away the evil spirits - or - according to the theory of an employee there - was simply poorly paid...😄 https://www.schloss-mespelbrunn.de/#home

The Mespelbrunn moated castle is something special. 600 years old, never destroyed and still the residence of the Echter von Mespelbrunn family. And it was the filming location for "The Inn in the Spessart", a film from 1958. Since then, around 100,000 visitors have "pilgrimaged" here every year. The hike captivates with nature, culture and history. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on the castle grounds! Entry costs 6.50, but it is definitely worth it! The legend of the Echterspfahl: Three Echter brothers, pursued as robber barons by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, had found refuge separately in the Spessart. They met from time to time roughly where the forester's house later stood. They tied their horses to a post that had three iron rings on it. This is how this place and the later forester's house got the name Echtersphahl.