Kürnbach - old borderland between Württemberg, Hesse and Baden

The hike begins at the market square of Kürnbach, between the town hall and the Protestant church. Historic buildings document the history of the condominium (see appendix; see pictures).

This is the way:

1. First, follow Lammstraße, the Geringer Winkel, then turn right into Bachstraße and then left into Klosterstraße. On the left is the moated castle, although without a moat.  
2. Follow Klosterstraße towards the forest. On the left is the Schlosswiesensee and shortly afterwards, on a steep path upwards, directly at the edge of the forest, the barbecue hut “Steinmetz.”
3. If you deviate from the hiking trail uphill a few steps later and turn left, you will reach a viewpoint.
4. After the barbecue hut, this hiking trail meets the “Eppinger-Linien-Weg” (chartaque on a white background). This hiking trail leads about 3.5 km up through the forest and over the plateau ...
5. ... until it meets the “Frankenweg” (HW8; red stripe on a white background). The “red stripe” continues right over the plateau towards the south.
6. At the Leonbronn sports field, the “Eppinger-Linien-Weg” takes over again. Turn right and follow the path first along the forest edge, then into the forest and down the path. After about 800 m, leave the “Eppinger-Linien-Weg” and walk straight down to the valley. The vineyards are located to your right further along, and on the left are the meadows and the stream.
7. At the bottom of the valley at a path junction, walk straight a few more steps, then follow the meadow path half-right, which later leads into a hollow way. Shortly thereafter, you will have reached the moated castle and village center.

Stories by the wayside:

The Michael's Church in Kürnbach, which houses one of the most beautiful Renaissance gravestones of our homeland and shows the last two local nobles, Bernhard von Sternenfels and his wife, as well as the striking crucifix and the rib vault, can also be visited additionally. In a small village tour, which leads to the Baden and Hessian grape presses and to former Württemberg inns with their magnificent pub signs, the term condominium is explained. Kürnbach was a unique legal case since 1479. It was two-thirds Hessian and one-third Württembergian, then from 1810 Baden. There were two civil registries, two municipal treasuries, two grape presses, and two mayors who took turns "directing." Citizenship was determined by the location of the house. For example, if a Hessian moved into a Baden house by marriage, he was immediately a Baden native. Most of the forest belonged to Hesse and only came to Baden-Württemberg by exchange in 1983.

Kürnbach has two famous female citizens. The seer F. Hauffe, known as the seeress of Prevorst, and F. Löffler, who in 1791 initiated a revolution in the kitchen with her cookbook "Economic Handbook for Women." The first comprehensive, also easily understandable guide to cooking spread worldwide, was published 38 times in total, and was often the only book in a household besides the Bible.

The many border stones by the wayside were of great importance for centuries. Whoever changed the position of a boundary stone was a criminal and was severely punished. The threat that the offender would find no peace in the afterlife but had to wander as a ghost by the stone helped protect the stones.

On the plateau over which the hike leads is the oldest stone cross of the upper Zabergäu with its strange inscription “DAS HAEIST AN DEM SILUDACKER ANO 155?“ and the coat of arms of the Lords of Sternenfels. The simplest explanation is that it is an atonement cross that recalls a murder or a guilt (Losch). Allegedly, two shepherds killed each other here or two farmers fought with scythes over a girl. But why then the inscription and coat of arms? People at that time could not read. Atonement crosses were often decorated with pictorial representations and indicate the profession of the murdered person. Another explanation sees the cross and inscription as a symbol related to a lease agreement or a field name. It could also be that the Sternenfels, due to hunting disputes, wanted to "mark" their territory. After 500 years, this mystery about the cross is difficult to solve.