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Lower Franconia

Heidenloch Cave and Devil's Rock

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Places to see

Caves

Germany

Bavaria

Lower Franconia

Heidenloch Cave and Devil's Rock

Recommended by 19 hikers out of 20

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Location: Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany

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Best Hikes to Heidenloch Cave and Devil's Rock

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1. Former Muschelkalk Quarry – Shelter loop from Birkenfeld

11.6km

03:09

170m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

3.0

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2. Hiking loop from Birkenfeld

11.8km

03:15

200m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

Tips

Hobbywanderer Chris

January 20, 2021

Say to the Heidenloch

(From: From the past of the Waldsassengau ...., p. 168.)

The following legend plays in the deep meadow in the village of Urspringen. It goes back to the time of the Christianization of Franconia. The message of God had also reached Urspringen and the nearby Grünfeld, which has not existed for a long time. Half of the inhabitants were already converted, but the devil did everything possible to prevent the further advance of the faith. To his great regret, the missionary actually had little success, so he concluded a contract with the devil without further ado.

On the edge of the Urspringer Wiesengrund there is a rather steep hill, on the summit of which is a cave that is still called "Heidenloch" today and which is avoided if possible. At that time there was a mighty boulder at the foot of this hill.

The contract concluded between the missionary and the devil, however, said: The priest reads a holy mass in Urspringen for the conversion of the still pagan inhabitants; If the devil brings the boulder into the cave in the time from the beginning of the holy sacrifice to the ringing of changes, the whole village is said to have fallen for him and to return to paganism. If he does not succeed, he must give way to the man of God.

The sacrifice began, and the devil went to work. He had already brought the block to within two steps of the entrance to the cave when the conversion bell rang from the village. The lord of hell was seized with senseless rage, and he hurled the huge stone in front of the cave so that it penetrated almost halfway into the ground.

The boulder can still be seen today, and resourceful heads want to recognize the impressions of the devil's claws on its surface.

gemeinde-birkenfeld.de/gemeindeinfo/sehenswerte

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 280 m

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Wednesday 17 September

16°C

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100 %

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Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

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See hikes here

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Location: Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany

Heidenloch Cave and Devil's Rock

1. Former Muschelkalk Quarry – Shelter loop from Birkenfeld

2. Hiking loop from Birkenfeld

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