If you come from the Oberschweinstiege tram stop and keep to the right, a narrow path leads to the left at a wooden information sign from the main path: It is part of the ancient Schäfersteinpfad, lined with over 500-year-old Schäfersteinen made of basalt. They once put an end to a century-old dispute over grazing rights. The Teutonic Order had received land and rights to raise sheep in Sachsenhausen in the 13th century and at times grazed more than 1,000 animals there. But the city of Frankfurt, which acquired the city forest as a fief from Emperor Charles IV in 1372, also had sheep farms and laid claim to pasture land, because the wool business for cloth making was lucrative. A legal dispute broke out that was not settled until 1484: 60 so-called shepherd stones were erected, which were connected by a ditch and separated the pasture areas of the competing companies. The cross of the Deutschherrenorden is engraved on one side of the stones, and an F on the other. This F is mirror-inverted and was long referred to as the "Frankfurt Gothic F". However, according to the German Forest Protection Association (SDW), researchers today tend to believe that it was a mistake by the stonemasons, because in the Middle Ages many people could neither read nor write. 49 stones have been preserved, indicating a western and an eastern shepherd's stone path.

At the SDW-Frankfurt there are flyers on which the paths are marked in the city forest map
sdw-frankfurt-main.de

Translated by Google •

Siegfried Kühn

February 9, 2024

A nice place that is also easily accessible.

Translated by Google •

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 130 m

Weather

Today

Friday 28 November

6°C

5°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See rides here

Take Me There

Location: Hesse, Germany

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Jacobiweiher

View of the Frankfurt Skyline from the Main River

Gehspitzweiher bei Neu-Isenburg Nature Reserve

Goetheturm Observation Tower

Königsbrünnchen

Römerberg (Frankfurt Old Town Square)

Forest Sprint Route

Tiroler Weiher

Försterwiesenweiher

Oberschweinsteig Teich im Frankfurter Grüngürtel

View of Frankfurt Cathedral (Kaiserdom)

View of the Frankfurt Skyline

Schäfersteinpfad

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️