Labertal tour

- South of Hernwahlthann, in the valley of the Esperbach, extensive moor meadows previously stretched out, which today, except for a few swampy remnants in the forests, have been drained. However, in the world of legends, the moor lives on. There are numerous stories of ghostly glowing moss lights or whimpering dogs that met the walker at night in the moor. In earlier times, those traveling between Herrnwahlthann and Langquaid after the tolling of the prayer bell were accompanied by a "Fiery Man." In Frauenwahl, a man lived who thanked the "Fiery Man" for his company with a "God bless you." On one such encounter, the man asked: "How can you be redeemed?" To which the "Fiery Man" replied: "In your forest stands a fir tree. Cut boards from it and make a cradle. But only when there is a child lying in the cradle am I redeemed."

In Langquaid we pass the town hall and go down Bahnhofstraße into the Labertal valley.

-In Appersdorf, there used to be the first crossing over the Laber river. "Lange Furt" or "Lange Waid" are interpretations of the place name Langquaid and refer to an elongated river crossing over the Laber.

- The Labertal is a breeding area for meadow birds, i.e., bird species that build their nests on the ground, in the meadow, such as the very rare curlew or lapwing, breed here. Therefore, it is especially important not to leave the paths during the breeding season from March to July. The stork, which has built its nest on the roof of the Langquaid town hall, also searches for food in the meadows of the Labertal. The Great Labertal cycle path leads towards Schierling. The path roughly follows the course of the former Ox Road, an important traffic route in Roman times. It represented the shortest connection from Straubing to Eining (Roman fort). The name "Ox Road" is said to come from the fact that cattle herds were driven westward on this route from the Hungarian lowlands. Another interpretation of the name refers to a corruption of "Augustus Street." The valley of the Große Laaber divides here the landscape of the Danube-Isar Hills. The Große Laaber originates near Volkenschwand and flows into the Danube near Straubing. The Labertal itself is a traditional grassland area. Arable farming is practiced on the higher sites and on the flat east-exposed valley slopes. A settlement belt runs along the terrace edge on the border between arable land and the moist valley meadows. Historically, settlements were thus located on the valley edge, not in the flood area of the rivers and streams.

In the Labertal, meadows of various usage intensities and moisture levels can be observed: low moor meadows, wet and moist meadows, intensively used economic grassland. Depending on the use and moisture level of the meadows, different plant species and plant communities can be observed. Without mowing or grazing, woody plants would establish themselves, and the meadow areas would gradually become overgrown. For nature conservation reasons, the valley meadows here are to be used extensively. Fertilization should also be avoided for water protection reasons. Arable farming in the valley leads to significant fertilizer input into the waters. During floods, valuable soil is washed away, which contaminates and burdens the waters. The Labertal project is a nature conservation project trying to jointly solve the concerns of water management, agriculture, and nature conservation. Buffer strips and tree groves are created along the river that improve water quality and ensure the near-natural development of the river. Areas are purchased for nature conservation so that valuable areas can be protected and developed, and habitats secured in the long term. Arable farming is to be relocated out of the direct floodplain area, and the land plot arrangement will be improved for farmers in intensively used areas.

-  An important north-south connection ran from Regensburg via Paring, Hebramsdorf or Oberroning to Landshut and crosses the Ox Road. At this north-south connection is also the rampart in Obereichet. The origin of this Celtic rectangular rampart, also called Gschlössl, was explained earlier as follows:

 In the Obereichet forest near Eichbühl, there was a castle many hundreds of years ago. Two brothers and their blind sister lived here with a large group of knights. Through their raids, they became richer and richer. It is even told that the roads to the castle were paved with loaves of bread. One day the three siblings quarreled. They decided to divide their wealth. The two brothers cheated their blind sister. Suddenly, a thunderstorm arose, and a mighty lightning bolt struck the castle. In a single stroke, the castle and its inhabitants with all their wealth vanished into the ground. The high ramparts of the castle can be seen in the forest. In the middle is a deep hole. It is said that at certain times, sounds of swords clashing from a fierce battle can still be heard. If you pass this spot at night, you may see a fiery rooster crowing three times.

- In Schierling, soldiers often invaded during the Thirty Years' War. When a troop of soldiers once again stood in front of Schierling, the people of Schierling wanted to protect the only edible thing left to them after numerous raids, namely a few geese, from the enemy. They caught the geese, turned their necks, and hid them in the bushes near the castle pond. The dead geese were found, and the people of Schierling have since had the nickname "Gennßhenkher." 

- Along the road to Sandsbach, rowan trees line the path. The berries of the rowan, also called mountain ash, are slightly poisonous when raw. They were often eaten as jam or jelly in the past. They are also used to make brandy and vinegar, malic acid, and sorbic acid. The fruits are very popular as food for birds after the first frost. Earlier, they were dried and used as feed, e.g., for chickens, goats, or pigs. The blossoms of the rowan serve as bee forage. The mountain ash is a common roadside tree. It occurs in hedges and field woods, at forest edges and on clearings. It is also found in deciduous and coniferous mixed forests. Here it is the only deciduous tree that even grows in the highest areas at the tree line.

- Sandsbach has already been documented since 878. The Counts of Ebersberg donated the place to the Benedictine convent Geisenfeld in 1037, which maintained a provostship here until 1803. Behind Sandsbach, there is a wonderful view of the St. Koloman chapel, built in the late 17th century. The lords of the castle, which was said to have stood in the Sinsbuch forest, heard the death bells of their son, who lived in Vienna, at a certain spot while walking their fields. They had a chapel, namely St. Koloman, erected exactly at that spot.

-  Rohr was owned until 1133 by Adalbert von Rohr from the house of the Abensberger Babonen. He transferred his property to the Augustinian canons, of whom he became a member himself. The former collegiate church and now monastery church of the Benedictines of the Assumption of Mary was built from 1717 to 1722 by Egid Quirin Asam.

You show consideration and responsibility toward nature if you stay on the paths. Thank you very much!

Texts: Inge Dunkel-Littel