Robber-Heigl hiking trail

Popular hiking trail in the Upper Bavarian Forest Nature Park, Bavaria. The hike begins at the fire station in Hohenwart. From there you turn west on the footpath, past the school and down into the valley. After 400 m you cross the traffic lights straight on towards the farm on the right-hand side. Passing the farm, you head towards the nearby village of Gotzendorf. After the long left curve, turn right into the village and after 100 m you will come across the Räuber-Heigl-Linde. The linden tree was probably planted during the Thirty Years' War and, according to legend, is said to have served the robber Heigl as a shelter and hiding place. Passing the linden tree on the left, the path leads uphill to the state road. Cross the road and the Ho6 path marker now points across the meadow to the nearby forest. Immerse yourself in the fragrant forest air and hike up the slope, always following the Ho6 markings. After almost 3 km you reach the first rest stop, the former mountain farm riding mountain. Now you leave the Ho6 and follow the green triangle markings on a white background (long-distance hiking trail). You walk uphill for about 45 minutes until the markings point left to the Räuber-Heigl-Höhle. After a few meters you are in front of a cliff under which the cave is hidden. It is said that in earlier times the cave should have extended far below the cross rock. Heigl is said to have lived here together with his lover, the "Roten Res". After you have visited the robber's shelter, you return to the hiking trail and start the ascent to the Kreuzfelsen (999 m), which leads via a detour to the left Arrived at the summit cross, you will be rewarded for the ascent with a wonderful view down into the valley to the Pfingstreiterstadt Bad Kötzting - and far beyond into the so-called Vorwald.You turn east and continue hiking just below the ridge on the South side of the Kaitersberg until after 2 km you come to the Mittagstein (1034 m) with the Mittagstein memorial.The memorial, 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 m further, the Kötztinger Hütte awaits you for a tasty and inexpensive lunch. The hut was built after World War II by the grandfather of today's innkeeper. It is one of the few mountain huts in the Bavarian Forest that is privately owned. Freshly strengthened, you continue the hike in the footsteps of the robber Heigl in the direction of the Steinbühler Gesenke. Walk about 1 km until you see the Ar6 trail marker. Here you leave the hiking trail heading north down the slope and continue on the Ar6 through the forest. After a good 3 km you will see a pretty building in a large clearing: The Simmereinöd, formerly called Unterfreudeneck. In the days of robber Heigl, on a Sunday, June 3rd, Katharina Dachs, sister of the then farmer Josef Dachs, was robbed. However, the act could not be proven to Michl Heigl and it did not suit him because of its violence. If you feel like it, you can cool your arms and legs, which have been heated up from hiking, with fresh spring water in the Kneipp pools above the house or take a tour of the nature trail. Then you tackle the last leg of the day hike and hike past the parking lots and information boards on the path marked Ho5. After approx. 500 m turn left again into the forest and let the Ho5 show you the way. After a kilometer and a half, the forest opens up and you cross a meadow with a farm (out of respect for nature and owners, please in single file if you are hiking with several hikers). After a small piece of forest you come across a forest road again, on which you turn right. Arriving at the tar road, turn left in the direction of Simpering, cross the town and soon you will reach the street "Am Sportplatz" on the outskirts of Hohenwarth. Follow this for a few minutes until the parish church of Johannes Baptist with its 36 meter high tower is in front of you Turn left at the town hall up to the church and after a short detour to the old church you will reach the Hohenwarth fire station again. Highlights of the hike: - Robber Heigl Cave - Kneipp facility - Robber-Heigl-Linde - Mittagstein - Refreshments at the Koetztinger Huette