Atonement Crosses in Wellmitz

Atonement crosses - symbols of the jurisprudence of the time

There are always stone witnesses to history to be discovered along the wayside in the region. The village church can be seen from afar on the Wellmitzer Anger. The neo-Gothic brick building is surrounded by a churchyard wall. In the shade of tall trees there are old graves with an unusual history.

In Wellmitz, a traditional farming village, four atonement crosses are a reminder of the legal system of the time. The stone crosses, which date back to the Middle Ages, are listed buildings and were erected in the old churchyard or on the churchyard wall. The legendary atonement crosses are the only ones of their kind in the region.
According to legend, a farmer from Wellmitz had four sons who were always arguing because each of them wanted to take over the farm. Like every Sunday, the parents went to church. The brothers started a violent argument and attacked each other. In their unspeakable rage, they grabbed scythes, flails, pitchforks and axes and beat each other to death. One had his legs cut off, another had his arm chopped off and a third had his head cut off. The fourth, who survived, had the stones put up and took over the farm.

The atonement crosses are located directly on the Monk's Tour.