Taubenstein at Kuhsee Poppenhausen

Two legends about the Taubenstein come from the book "Legends from the Grabfeld and the Franconian Hills" by Eckhardt Witter from Gleicherwiesen. It's always interesting to experience such historical backgrounds based on local circumstances. A piece of history up close. A medieval atonement cross is located here. At that time, it was common practice to negotiate atonement agreements. As part of the reparation, the erection of a stone cross was usually agreed upon. The reason for this was usually murder or manslaughter.

The seating area and the small square were completed by the Poppenhausen village community in May 2020, providing hikers with various places to linger.The Pigeon StoneThere are two known legends about this memorial stone:
1. Directly by the Kuhsee, on the footpath from Hellingen to Käßlitz, about 200 meters north of the Landwehr, stands a stone. According to legend, two pigeon dealers got into an argument at this spot. During the argument, one of them lay dead at the site of the stone. The other dragged himself to the Käßlitz churchyard and collapsed there. Nothing is known about the exact age of the "Pigeon Stone."
2. In the village of Poppenhausen, by the Kuhsee, you can find an old atonement stone. If you look closely, you can see two birds carved into the upper part. I was told they are two pigeons... Two brothers once lived in Poppenhausen. One morning, they were plowing their father's field together. The younger brother chattered about having found a dove's nest in the forest. But when he went to fetch the almost fledged chicks a few days later, the nest was empty. His brother had gotten there first. He angrily confronted him. At first, the older brother merely mocked him. But when his brother called him a thief, his anger overcame him. He struck his brother with the plow's tine. Covered in blood, he fell to the ground and died in that unfortunate spot. In memory of this deed, this stone was erected at the spot where the fratricide occurred – a warning and admonition, but also as a place of silent remembrance and reflection. (oral from Poppenhausen) (Witter, Eckhard – Fuhrmann Spörlein. Legends from the Grabfeld and the Franconian Hills. Hildburghausen, 1992, p. 51)

Here you will find an old stone cross, marked as a ground monument and the Kuhsee.