rhenser richtstatten

In regrard to witch trials and the number of death sentences imposed in Rhens between the two persecutions 1628-1630 and 1645-1647, the question arises as to where in its current region the execution sites were, in Rhens there are two different options. A scaffold in meaning of "place of Justice" (established on basis of historical sources) had been the Königstuhl itself, i.e.: the former “Königstuhl inter nuces” (Nussbaumgärten,Walnut-garden) built 1390-1400. Negotiations were conducted not only here, but also other imperial Affairs were discussed. It symbolized a place of Royal power and place of law and jurisprudence. But there was also an execution place was near the former Königstuhl: in plague year 1597 the city of Rhens ordered gallows to be build on the "Käßenacker" near the Königsstuhl (this is confirmed by the inventory-book of Arckenhof, as this homestead owned a plot of land near the Königstuhl. Some historians presume that most of the witch trials took place at the Königsstuhl and were executed at a nearby location, however, this is questionable as even in early times one would have chosen a more "comfortable" location, moreover, the question arises whether this place ever existed: in „Dilich's Landtafeln Hessischer Ämter“ (map) from 1608 is indeed the Königstuhl listed but no such execution place nearby. Only 11 years between the order in 1597 to build gallows and 1608, and no indication of such. Nevertheless, other details, such as a sheepfold in the forest, were listed. This suggests that the execution site near the former Königstuhl was planned but perhaps not built. Via verbal tradition was in Rhens spoken about a "witch place" where witches were executed, such a designated areal is on the map by Wilhelm Dilich mentioned: the “Reenser Gallows”. An imaginary extension of street "Auf der Geyerslay" would lead uphill to its proximity, who travels direction Kronenhof and Schauren passes its vicinity: there is a sloping terrain surrounding the small quarry on which border a private recreation hut is located. Delinquents, the executioner and his servants, officials and public had to walk from the Kirchtor the almost 800 meters long uphill road to the "Reenser Gallows", on this place of execution victims of the witchcraft trials underwent their gruesome end. Due to the exposed slope the burning stake must have been seen from Lahnstein to Braubach, which must have been a cautionary spectacle: another witch was burnt in Rhens! Who intends to visit this site must travel the road to Schauren to reach it. After one has passed the last building on the right handside the road bend to the right, on that spot an unpaved road bends in a straight line. On this road one walks 50 meters uphill, the field path on the right handside is a scrubby hillside which hangs over this path. On that slope, tucked between bushes, is an entrance to a sinkhole, a small quarry where on its western edge a recreation hut is located. It is a horseshoe shaped area, its walls rise relatively steep, and has a diameter of approximately 25 m. To the left of this sloping path lies (sloping towards the East) a large meadow with fruit trees on a forward slope (from this location one has a beautiful, albeit limited, panorama overlooking the Rhine Valley). Follow the path uphill, soon it will bend to the West. From here on the terrain goes steep downhill in south direction to the Tauberbach (and street Geyerslay). Leave this path and heading right handside, arcross the field in the direction of the recreation hut. Just before one reaches this, one passes trees (in this area one has a wonderful view of the Rhine Valley: from Lahnstein to Braubach and almost to Spay). In the area of trees and hut the execution place must have been situated.