At the end of the 18th century, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, also Duchess of Luxembourg, had the country surveyed by engineers and cartographers. Here, on the border between the possessions of Echternach Abbey and the County of Vianden, a boundary stone was erected in place of a cross that had marked the border for centuries.

The massive, square stone, more than one meter high and 80 cm wide, now bears the name of the esteemed sovereign, "Maria Theresa Stone". The east side of the markstone shows the coat of arms of the "Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation", the double-headed eagle. This testifies to the fact that Echternach Abbey was an imperial abbey that was directly subordinate to the emperor. The year of construction, 1771, is engraved above the imperial coat of arms. The coat of arms of the Counts of Vianden can be seen on the west side of the stone. The two crosses on the sides date from Prussian times (1816).

The border ran from the Maria Theresa Stone in a westerly direction through a deeply incised valley, popularly known as "Moarkendell" - "border stone valley". The Moarkendell still marks the border between the districts of Bollendorf and Wallendorf.

You can visit the Maria Theresa Stone during a hike through the "Green Hell" on circular hiking trail no. 55 of the Southern Eifel Nature Park. Download the app for the " Grüne Hölle" eavesdropping tour now and you will also receive interesting background information.

NOTE:

The Grüne Hölle Tour Bollendorf/Rundwanderweg des Naturpark Südeifel No. 55 has won 2nd place in the competition "Germany's Most Beautiful Hiking Trail 2024", category day tours! Further information...