Dengelstein, Natural monument and geotope in Durach, Germany
The Dengelstein is a glacial erratic boulder located in the Kempten Forest near Durach in Bavaria. This natural monument rises prominently from the forest floor and is protected as both a geotope and natural heritage site.
During the last ice age, roughly 18,000 years ago, the Iller glacier carried this boulder from Rottachberg mountain and deposited it at its current location. Such long-distance transport by glacial ice created these scattered boulders across the landscape.
Local traditions suggest that the site served as a Celtic ceremonial ground where horses were offered as sacrifices, though no archaeological evidence supports this claim.
The boulder is accessible on foot via forest trails marked from Durach, though the paths can become slippery after rain. The site is free to visit and open year-round without restrictions.
Local folklore claims that the devil sharpens his scythe on this stone before calamity strikes, which is the origin of its name. This old tale has kept the boulder embedded in regional legend for centuries.
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