Taufstein

the only bowl stone in the Mühlviertel
The baptismal font on the summit rock of the saddle-shaped Hoferberg at 758 metres above sea level northwest of Bad Zell is the only baptismal font of this name in the Mühlviertel. During the Counter-Reformation, this Schalenstein, which has not dried out in living memory, was presumably used as a baptismal font.
According to tradition, the Catholic Duke of Coburg had a large hunting ground in this area. However, there were also Protestant families among his foresters and hunters. The then pastor Schwarz from Gallneukirchen regularly visited his parishioners in Zell and many a child was secretly baptised according to the Lutheran confession at the baptismal font, hidden deep in the forest. Apparently, blessings for the deceased were also celebrated and some parents who had been disturbed by the religious conflicts were helped to find a new relationship with their faith.
This historical ground around the baptismal font, also known as a place of power, has now been opened up with a hiking trail.