Echterspfahl, Historic hermitage in Weibersbrunn, Germany.

Echterspfahl is a historic hermitage in the Spessart mountain range situated at 490 meters elevation where ancient trade routes intersected. The former forest house once operated as a restaurant until 2020 and is positioned along the Bundesstrasse 8 connecting Frankfurt and Würzburg.

The site served as a gathering point for hunters and foresters working under the Archbishop-Electors of Mainz when the forest was part of their territory. Its position along trade routes made it an important stopping place in the Spessart region.

The name Echterspfahl comes from a legend that three Echter brothers, said to have turned to robbery in the Odenwald, met at this spot and tied their horses to a post fitted with three metal rings. Those rings are said to be the origin of the three blue rings in the Echter family coat of arms, which today form part of the Aschaffenburg district emblem. A wooden post with three metal rings still stands a few metres from the former inn, and locals call the house "Jockel".

The former restaurant building no longer operates, and the site sits along a busy federal highway with regular traffic. It's wise to check ahead about current access conditions and any available facilities before planning a visit.

The three blue rings of the Echter family coat of arms, said to derive from the rings on the post where the brothers tethered their horses, are today part of the coat of arms of Aschaffenburg district, not the city. A wooden post with three metal rings still stands a few metres from the former inn, right by the road.