Röhrnbach - Info point Rumpenstadl, below

"HANS VON WIESEN", ROBBER BARONS, NORDWALD, ARMED FEUDS

Sumpters threatened by dangerous raids

Imagine travelling from Röhrnbach in the direciton of Freyung together with befriended sumpters. Rough terrain through the dark "Nordwald" forest lays ahead. We go back to the year 1393 when many people tell scary stories of "Hans von Wiesen" (today Großwiesen), roaming the area with his ravenous journeymen, fleeing to his castle on Großwiesen after robbing many merchants and sumpters along these steep paths. Times were rough as there was only limited income for the landed gentry.

This is why Hans von Wiesen joined his neighbour Heinrich von Buchberg, from the castle Neuenbuchberg, for the sake of robbery. Toghether the robber barons carried on their feuds until Bohemia, harassing its population and merchants. As a consequence, trading hem dropped for some time. Thanks to armed guardians along the paths, life on the Goldsteig Trail was back to normal again.

Großwiesen, original version (1829) – Source of data: © Bayerische Vermessungsverwaltung (CC BY-ND 3.0 DE)

Extract from a painting by J. Fruth: Armed guardians accompanying horse and cart on the Goldsteig Trail – municipality of Hinterschmiding.

This small forest was once home to the Castle Großwiesen. Unfortunately, not much is to be seen of it anymore.

Former castle ruin close to Lobenstein. You can still see the hill where the keep once stood.

Freight and Counter-freight

Bohemia and Passau exchanged goods

Apart from the crucial salt, Bohemia received wine, tropical fruits, spices, fabric, cotton, soap, olive oil, paper and "Passauer Wolfsklingen" (ornamented arms hand-forged in Passau).

In return, Passau received grain, malt, lard, cheese, peas, fish, spirits, wool, bed springs, wax, game, glass and beer.

Sumpters crossing a steep path through the woods with their pack horses – great care must be taken here. Säumerverein Grainet.