Germany
Hesse
Regierungsbezirk Kassel
Kassel District
Schwalm-Eder-Kreis
Ottrau
Hexenkaute (Silberkaute)
Germany
Hesse
Regierungsbezirk Kassel
Kassel District
Schwalm-Eder-Kreis
Ottrau
Hexenkaute (Silberkaute)
Hiking Highlight
Recommended by 44 out of 48 hikers
This Highlight is in a protected area
Please check local regulations for: Naturpark Knüll
Location: Ottrau, Schwalm-Eder-Kreis, Kassel District, Regierungsbezirk Kassel, Hesse, Germany
The "Witches' Chew". From time to time a "light figure" appeared here, the goddess of fertility BERCHTA, as the stories and legends of the past tell. The entrance to their underground castle was a hollow in the basalt rock, the witch's chew. But how did the entrance to the hidden castle become the witches' cauldron? In order to dissuade people from believing in Berchta, the church authorities declared the goddess Berchta and her entourage to be witches after Christian missionary work had taken place. Thus the "entrance to the Berchta Castle" became the "Witches' Kaute". Witches now came and went, accompanied by the rumble of thunder from the nearby "Rumpelskuppe". People were afraid of it and many an innocent woman in the area was suspected of witchcraft, even the English missionary Walpurga, who gave her name to the "Walpurgis Night" even after her death.
Source:
vogelsberg-touristik.de/aktiv/wandern/geotouren/berchta-rundweg.html#/de/vogelsberg-touristik/default/detail/Tour/t_100187549/Berchta_Rundweg
February 13, 2022
Because of its mythology, this place is very inspiring and mysterious. Especially at dusk I imagine it to be really scary here.
August 30, 2022
Near the Rumpelskuppe there is a kesselelförmige depression, the witches chewing, also called Silberkaute; here on the 1st of May, at midnight, great host and witch dance will be held.
December 15, 2018
Sign up for a free komoot account to get 2 more insider tips and takes.