According to legend, a horseman once hunted in the lonely forest when the evening broke in and darkness covered the way and the bridge, so that the rider had to surrender to the guidance of his good steed. The horse, however, knew the way and carried it safely through the night. Suddenly all of a sudden it was quiet and could not be driven by any flattering word, nor by a spur. So the horseman had to dismount and take his camp at the same spot in the dark forest. When he awoke the next morning, how astonished he was when a yawning abyss opened before his eyes, at the edge of which he had slumbered. Had his faithful horse been one step ahead yesterday, the rider would have found his grave in the depths. He knelt down happily and thanked God for his miraculous salvation and later had a stone cross erected there in memory of eternal times. (Source: Schöppner, Alexander - Saga of the Bavarian Lands)
In truth, it was built by a messenger who had lost his way on a business trip. He promised to build a cross out of fear if he came back on the right path.
In 2006 and 2012 it was struck by lightning and rebuilt