Pöllwitz Forest Circular Hike

This circular route through the Pöllwitz forest was created in the shape of an eight with two almost equally sized loops.  The intersection runs about 500 m past the fortified church in Pöllwitz through the village.

Until the year 1430, a prosperous village with a castle, blooming gardens, fertile fields, and hardworking inhabitants was located on the edge of the Pöllwitz forest. Its name "Ritzmannsgrün" is still spoken of by the locals today. The site where it once stood is also still known. It was destroyed and razed to the ground in a single night by wild bands of marauders. One night there was a big celebration at the castle. With feasting, clinking glasses, and dancing, the castle maiden’s wedding was celebrated. But at the stroke of midnight, while the villagers were deeply asleep, the festive mood in the castle was suddenly shattered by terrible noises and loud cries for help from the village. The Hussites had invaded Ritzmannsgrün, murdering and pillaging house by house up to the castle. After a short fight, the gate was broken down, its defenders killed, and then the warband stormed the castle rooms with wild shouting. In the wedding hall, they killed everyone, whether they defended themselves or pleaded for mercy. No one survived. Then the warriors sat down at the richly set wedding table and loudly boasted of their atrocities. After they had ransacked all the rooms, they set the castle on fire and left, richly laden with loot. Today, the village and land of Ritzmannsgrün is an area covered with forest and heath, where ruins can still be found. It is said that the village appears every hundred years, as on that dreadful night of old. The windows of the castle shine brightly, joyful wedding cheers are heard, and anyone near the castle may even see the dancing couples turning around. But the ghostly apparition lasts only a few minutes before it becomes quiet and dark again at the place where the vanished village once lay.