Natural spectacle - will-o'-the-wisps and moor spirits

With the bog warden through the Ibmer Moor in the evening

When the darkness falls over the land at night, we set off for the Ibmer Moor. In the lantern light, we feel the touching atmosphere and mysticism of this legendary primeval landscape and discover many a moorland secret.

This mystical lantern hike with the moor ranger leads directly into the moor, which radiates a special atmosphere and mysticism in the evening hours. Many people avoid this place at this time of day, as all kinds of eerie stories are told about strange happenings in the moor. This ancient knowledge of our ancestors about the secrets of the moor spirits and will-o'-the-wisps is to be explored.

We cross the crackling undergrowth with the bog warden to keep an eye on the swampy moor and make sure that no one is in danger at this time of night. After all, many a young and dashing youth has been lured to their doom by the Moorweiberl at night and has never been seen again, wandering around the swamp as a will-o'-the-wisp. A black alder, in whose branches the moor and swamp spirits and the Moorweiberl live, can be recognized in the darkness of the night. We listen into the silence. Did we just hear the whispers of the moorland spirits? An oppressive atmosphere spreads. We are very quiet and expectant. Unfortunately, no ghost shows up. But this is the right place to tell the exciting tale of the cobbler Stöffl, who was haunted by a will-o'-the-wisp.

But where do we find the will-o'-the-wisp?

Silently, avoiding any noise, we approach a water or bog hole. In the nightly lantern light, we see bubbles rising from the depths of the bog. According to ancient wisps of light, this is where they form. Now we try to track down the will-o'-the-wisp. The legend of the cobbler Stöffl fires our imagination - unfortunately we don't have any holy water with us. We wait in awe and excitement to see if a will-o'-the-wisp appears. Was there a sparkle? The tension reaches its peak. The bog warden crouches on the boardwalk and suddenly a small flame rises from the depths of the bog. Many a participant gets goose bumps and a shiver runs down their spine after this impressive experience.