Philippsreut - Vorderfirmiansreut

WINTERBERG, NORDWALD, SECRET PATHS, GUARDIANS OF THE PATHS, CODEX LONDSDORFIANUS

Border encounters at the "Goldsteig Trail"

Imagine you’re on your way with your fully loaded pack horses. To protect against wild animals and malicious riff raff, you joined together to a big horse and cart. You’re about to cross the Bohemian border, heading for Winterberg, in order to sell the precious salt there. Every once in a while you’d come along border towns with toll stations along this route "Mittlerer Steig" (1312). Sure enough, there were several secret paths back then, leading away from the official stations. But what happened to the illegal toll evaders? Some got caught by the guardians of the paths, seizing their freight together with the horses and imposing a fine. Since the Codex Londsdorfianus (1256), trading hem has been subject to stringent rules, e.g. granting every sumpter  a deficiency compensation if the tragedy happened during the day and on the official path. Furthermore, sumpters were allowed to lead up to four horses.

Old arial view of Philippsreut, without its ring road in the direction of the Bohemian border.
Map with its three paths in the forest, the toll station Grainet, Hinterschmiding and Kreuzberg as well as horse and carts, border bridges and marking signs - Photo: Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, München
Castle ruin, remainings of the watchtower "Kunzwart" above the town of Strazny, former Kuschwarda.
Protecting against dangers, the sumpters united to bigger caravans, Säumerverein Grainet.

Regulations of sumpters, 16th century

  • one sumpters trip per week to Bohemia
  • prohibition for single sumpters
  • one sumpter was allowed to lead a maximum of 4 horses
  • horse and cart on marked paths only
  • sumpting only during the day

Violations led to heavy fines and the seizure of the packed horses including its freight.

The conversation booklet, first printed in 1540 by Ondrey Klatowsky, citizen of the old town of Prague, originating from Klattau, was to help the communication between mergants from the Czech Republic and Germany. It was reprinted in several editions, becoming one of the most widespread books in Bohemia in the 16th century. Picture of the first edition in the library Strahov in Prague, Sing. FK III. I03. - Photo: P. Praxl, Stadtarchiv Waldkirchen