“There’s the great egret!” Laachus exclaims happily as he walks along the idyllic shore of the Rodder Maar, which spans over 5 hectares. He wants to ask it for an answer to his question. But before he can reach the bird, which is glistening in the sun, it takes flight and flies away. As Laachus watches it go, disappointed, his gaze falls on an impressive medieval castle perched high on a mountain. “A real castle!” Laachus exclaims enthusiastically, “I have to go there!” Soon he stands before the 34-meter-high keep of the nearly 1,000-year-old Olbrück Castle. He nimbly climbs the 142 steps. Then the breathtaking view of the surroundings leaves him speechless. Laachus enjoys the view for a while, and slowly it grows dark. Suddenly he hears a terrifying howl that fills him with dread. He quickly storms down the steps to the foot of the mountain. The howling grows louder and louder. Frightened, Laachus hides in a bush. Then he discovers the source of the blood-curdling sounds: a black fox is circling the castle hill. As it does so, it howls heart-wrenchingly: “I am the black soul of the servant Benno. I tormented the people in the burgrave’s absence. The citizens of Niederdürenbach outwitted me and freed the people. I was hanged, and as punishment for my misdeeds, I howl every midnight hour.”– “That’s terrible!” Laachus blurts out from his hiding place. The howling falls silent; the fox senses Laachus in the bushes and asks, “Who are you?” Laachus stammers fearfully, “I just want to know why I can swim.” – “This is not the place where you’ll find an answer,” Benno croaks in a hoarse voice, “but when it comes to rocks, no one in this area knows them better than the tuff quarry workers in Weibern,” he whispers before he starts howling again. And so Laachus continues on his way through the legendary volcanic region of Lake Laach to find out why he can swim.

Location info:

Rodder Maar, near Maarheiderweg, 56651 Niederdürenbach

Olbrück Castle, Burgstraße, 56651 Niederdürenbach