Schüpfer Peasants' War Trail

The Peasants' War Hiking Trail Schüpfer Grund provides information about the beginning of the bright, light (also Odenwald) troop at the end of March 1525 in the Schüpfbach Valley. The circular route also leads over Beckstein and Sachenflur.

Hiking trail “Schüpfer Grund 1525 – In the footsteps of the Peasants' War

Discover the exciting history of our ancestors. The trail takes you through the picturesque Schüpfbach and Tauber valleys – and informs about the beginning and the end of the largest popular uprising in our area.

In 1525, the peasants in southern Germany rose up against the prevailing feudal structures. About 80% of the population were peasants, making it the largest German popular uprising. The peasants justified their demands with the Gospel, formed Christian associations and military groups (“troops”). An important role was played by the “bright, light troop” (later Odenwald troop), which was founded at the end of March 1525 in the Schüpfbach valley. In May, it besieged the Würzburg fortress together with the Tauber-Franconian troop. On June 2, 1525, it fought on the Turmberg in Königshofen against the heavily armed Swabian League under Georg Truchsess von Waldburg. Several thousand peasants were killed, the uprising brutally suppressed. Many goals of the insurgents were only permanently achieved in the 19th/20th centuries.

Experience exciting history – and hike through a varied landscape

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Market Square Unterschüpf

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The Peasants' War Hiking Trail “Schüpfer Grund” informs about the beginnings of the bright, light (also Odenwald) peasant troop that formed in 1525 in the Schüpfbach valley. Designed as a circular route, the hiking trail leads from the info station “Market Fountain Unterschüpf” uphill along the valley to the info station “Pilgrimage Church Oberschüpf.” At the edge of the village, it steeply ascends between meadows and fields. Along the way, there are interesting views into the Schüpfbach valley. On the height, the path leads through shady forests to the sunny Beckstein vineyards. Here too you can repeatedly find beautiful, wide views of the varied landscape.

The Beckstein vineyards provide information about grape varieties and extend into the village. At the Old Press House in Beckstein, our path joins the local Peasants' War hiking trail, which runs as a circular route through seven villages in the Lauda-Königshofen area. We walk downhill towards the Umpfert valley, then along more vineyards on the height toward Sachsenflur. Before the railway crossing, our Peasants' War Hiking Trail “Schüpfer Grund” joins the bike path towards Unterschüpf, which runs near the Lauda-Osterburken railway line. In Unterschüpf, we turn onto the main road towards the village center, where, between the former water castle and the evangelical Winkelhaken Church, we return to our starting point, the Market Fountain.

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