Robber-Heigl hiking trail

Popular circular hiking trail in the Upper Bavarian Forest Nature Park, Bavaria. The hike starts at the fire station in Hohenwart. From there, follow the footpath westwards, past the school and downhill. After 400 metres, cross the traffic lights and continue straight ahead towards the farm on the right-hand side. Pass the farm and head towards the nearby village of Gotzendorf. After the long left-hand bend, turn right into the village and after 100 metres you will come across the Räuber-Heigl lime tree. The lime tree was probably planted during the Thirty Years' War and, according to legend, served as a hiding place for the robber Heigl. Passing the lime tree on the left, the path leads uphill to the main road. You cross the road and now the Ho6 trail marker points across the meadow to the nearby forest. Immerse yourself in the aromatic forest air and follow the Ho6 markings steadily up the slope. After almost 3 kilometres, you reach the first rest stop, the former Reitenberg mountain farm. Now leave the Ho6 and follow the green triangle markings on a white background (long-distance hiking trail). Walk uphill for around 45 minutes until the markings point left to the Räuber-Heigl cave. After a few metres, you come to a rocky outcrop under which the cave is hidden. It is said that the cave once extended far below the Kreuzfelsen. Heigl is said to have lived here with his lover, the "Red Res". After visiting the robber's lair, return to the hiking trail and begin the ascent to the Kreuzfelsen (999 m), which can be reached via a detour to the left. Once you reach the summit cross, you will be rewarded for your ascent with a magnificent view down into the valley to the Whitsun town of Bad Kötzting - and far beyond into the so-called foothills of the forest. Turn east and continue walking just below the ridge on the south side of the Kaitersberg until you reach the Mittagstein (1034 m) with the Mittagstein monument after 2 kilometres. The monument, which had fallen into disrepair due to the weather, was rebuilt in 1956 to commemorate the victims of the two world wars. Less than 100 metres further on, the Kötztinger Hütte awaits you for a tasty and inexpensive lunch. The hut was built after the Second World War by the grandfather of the current landlord. It is one of the few mountain huts in the Bavarian Forest that is privately owned. Refreshed, you continue the hike in the footsteps of the robber Heigl in the direction of Steinbühler Gesenke. Walk for about 1 km until you see the Ar6 trail marker. Here you leave the hiking trail heading north downhill and continue on the Ar6 through the forest. After a good 3 km, you will see a beautiful building in a large clearing: The Simmereinöd, once called Unterfreudeneck. In Heigl's time, a robbery was committed here on a Sunday, 3 June, against Katharina Dachs, sister of the then farmer Josef Dachs. However, Michl Heigl could not be proven guilty of the offence and its violent nature did not suit him. If you feel like it, you can cool your arms and legs, heated from hiking, in the Kneipp pools above the house with fresh spring water or take a walk along the nature trail. Then tackle the last stage of the day's hike and walk past the car parks and information boards on the path marked Ho5. After approx. 500 metres, turn left again into the forest, always following the Ho5. After one and a half kilometres, the forest opens up and you cross a meadow with a farm (please cross in single file out of respect for nature and the owners if you are travelling with several hikers). After a small section of forest, you come to a forest road again, where you turn right. Once you reach the tarmac road, turn left towards Simpering, cross the village and soon reach the road "Am Sportplatz" on the edge of Hohenwarth. Follow this road for a few minutes until the Johannes Baptist parish church with its 36 metre high tower appears in front of you. At the town hall, turn left up to the church and after a short detour to the old church, you reach the Hohenwarth fire station again. Highlights of the hike: - Räuber-Heigl cave - Kneipp facility - Räuber-Heigl lime tree - Lunch stone - Refreshment stop at the Kötztinger Hütte