Donkey fountain
The origin of the donkey fountain east of the Eselwasen cannot currently be proven historically. It is assumed that its source dates back to around 1600, but it is not known why it was built. Before that, drinking water was taken from the Kuhbach and transported by horse to the Hohenburg (later Homburg) in the cistern wells (limestone rock too hard for deep wells) of the castle. On April 26, 1525, the bailiff Trockau wrote to the Würzburg marshal that water was running out at the castle and that the horse riders were afraid of rebellious farmers when drawing water from the Kuhbach. No records have been found to date about the route the horses were used to transport the water and the reason for the switch to donkeys around 1600.
The fountain's name came about because of the new method of transporting water, because donkeys had to carry containers filled with this water up to the Homburg's official residence. After a fire in the Homburg manor house (main building) on January 23, 1680, the proud castle gradually fell into disrepair. In 1732, the last official cellarer of the castle, bailiff Mohr, moved the headquarters of the official cellar to the Sachsenheim district court, which had been newly built in 1731. The use of the well for the castle's drinking water ended after around 130 years and still refreshes weary hikers today.
From here, the original donkey path led behind the mountain mill, below the former castle vineyards to the western ridge and along the last vineyards over the Hohe Setz up to the southern gate of the Homburg. Due to the deterioration of the path, it was eventually abandoned. A new donkey path was created (to the right up through the Herrenhölzl/"Herrnhölzle", to the left up over the Brunnleite, the eastern edge of the then completely bare slope "Kahl" or "Schüüd" of the Setzberg, to the eastern gate of the Homburg)
Source: Information board at the site