Hexeneiche
Detailed description
The gnarled witches‘ oak is shrouded in legend right on the Druids’ Trail. According to an old story, a demon was banished here: A long time ago, there was a house called ‘Fluchs’ in Elkenroth. A woman lived in it, but she never found peace because a demon - a witch - also lived in the house. She was up to mischief here, emitting terrifying voices and speaking in unintelligible tones. The woman, who lived alone, could not and would not stay in the house any longer. As prayers did not help, she went on a pilgrimage to Marienstatt Abbey. Here she told a priest about the witch in her house and asked him to drive the evil spirit out. One day, he appeared in front of the woman's house and sprinkled it with holy water. He spoke the words that have been used since time immemorial to drive away evil spirits. The demon left the house with screams, rumblings and roars. The monk drove the spirit towards the ‘Hoh’ and said to the woman: ‘If you want to see the evil one, walk behind me and look closely over my left shoulder. Then you can see him.’ ‘No and no again,’ cried the woman, ’I never, ever want to see the devil.’ When the demon arrived at the ‘Hoh’, he turned round once more and looked at the houses in Elkenroth. He begged the monk to let him back into the village. But he banished the demon to an oak tree behind the ‘Hoh’. From then on, the witch moaned all the more and begged the monk to allow her to take just one cock's step towards Elkenroth every year so that she could finally occupy the house again. But the priest would allow nothing of the sort. And so the witch remained in the oak tree forever.
Brief description
A gnarled old oak characterised by an ancient history - this is the witches' oak near Elkenroth. You will pass right by it on the Druidensteig trail.
Contact and directions
Rathausplatz 1
57580 Gebhardshain