The best traffic-free bike rides around Herbitzheim

The sign reads - Part 3: An old wayside cross still commemorates the wondrous story on Brudermannsfeld. The culturally and historically significant cross was donated in 1695 by the then prior of the Gräfinthal monastery, Wilhelm Klocker. The "Madonna with the Arrows", which was venerated in Gräfinthal until the dissolution of the Wilhelmiten monastery in 1785, is now located in the Kreuzkapelle in Blieskastel.

On the sign it reads - Part 3: Like many others, Countess Elisabeth von Blieskastel also visited the hermit to see the miracle. As she suffered from a painful eye disease, she smeared her eyes with the blood of the Madonna. The Countess was cured on the spot. Out of gratitude, she decided to build a worthy chapel for the Madonna. She had wood and lime bricks brought to the site. But when the builders wanted to start their work, the building material was suddenly gone. They found it in the nearby valley of the Letschen stream. Thinking it was a prank, they brought the wood and stones back to Brudermannsfeld. But the next morning, the building material was again in the valley. Countess Elisabeth saw this as a sign from God and had a chapel and a monastery built on the Letschen stream. Since then, this spot has been called Gräfinthal.

On the sign it reads - Part 2: Like many others, Countess Elisabeth von Blieskastel also visited the hermit to see the miracle. As she suffered from a painful eye disease, she smeared her eyes with the blood of the Madonna. The Countess was instantly healed. Out of gratitude, she decided to build a worthy chapel for the Madonna. She had wood and limestone brought to the site. But when the builders wanted to start their work, the building material was suddenly gone. They found it in the nearby valley of the Letschen stream. Thinking of a prank, they brought the wood and stones back to Brudermannsfeld. But the next morning, the building material was again in the valley. Countess Elisabeth saw in this a sign from God and had the chapel and a monastery built on the Letschenbach. Since then, this spot has been called Gräfinthal.

On the sign it reads - Part 1: The Brudermannsfeld near Bebelsheim According to tradition, a pious man lived on the Brudermannsfeld in the 13th century. He had carved an image of the Madonna which he greatly revered. The image of the "Sorrowful Mother of God" stood in the niche of a hollow, old beech trunk at the edge of the forest. One day, robbers came by, who beat the pious man and shot arrows at the Sorrowful Madonna in the tree niche. Five times they hit the image of suffering. And then the miracle happened: Warm, red blood flowed from the five wounds of the wooden figure. The highwaymen fled in fear and terror. The hermit, however, spread the miraculous story throughout the region.

On the bronze plaque it reads: The Miracle of Brudermannsfeld In the first half of the 19th century, some hermits of the Order of St. William settled at this spot. In the hollow of an oak tree, they had placed a wooden carved image of the Mother of Sorrows with the dead Son on her lap. Ruffians shot arrows at the image. Blood flowed from the impacts. Countess ELISABETH v. Blieskastel was healed of an eye ailment by the blood. Out of gratitude, she founded the Gräfinthal Monastery. • Gräfinthal Support Association

...a nice property on the other side

Viewpoint from one of the many bunkers along the Marginot Line. On a clear day, the view from here is fantastic, stretching all the way to the nearby Vosges Mountains. Even the Donon and Dabo peaks are easily visible to the naked eye. This shady spot with its bench is also perfect for a short break.

This reddish-brown wooden bridge safely crosses the Blies River and connects the hiking trails on both sides of the border. Surrounded by lush greenery, it offers an idyllic view of the river and invites you to pause for a moment. 💡 Tip: Pause for a moment in the middle of the bridge – from here, you can often spot ducks, fish, or even the shy kingfisher.