Status: 09.11.2023, 18:00 PM
By: Christina Jachert-Maier
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High in the rock face near the Sibli waterfalls, the statue of the Virgin Mary has found its new place. Martin Goldhofer (left) and Stefan Schmidtchen were part of the team that brought the Madonna safely to lofty heights. © private
The statue of the Virgin Mary at the Sibli waterfall was smashed by falling rocks. The Rottach Tourist and Beautification Association has donated a new Madonna. In order to place them, the mountain rescue service was deployed.
Rottach-Egern – The Sibli waterfall in the Sutten area is a small attraction on the way to the Wallberg. For many years, there has been a statue of the Virgin Mary, which makes the place a very special one. But a year ago, the Madonna lay shattered on the ground. "Rockfall," says Christian Stadler, deputy chairman of the Rottach Traffic and Beautification Association, which has taken over the care of the rest area at the Sibli waterfall. The shattered figure could not be saved. The association decided to donate a new Madonna.
The new Madonna is 2.20 meters tall
It is now back at the waterfall, this time in a safe place a good 20 meters higher on the wall. This, in turn, is thanks to the efforts of members of the Rottach mountain rescue service, who, as experienced climbers, hoisted the 2.20-metre-tall fibreglass figure to its location at lofty heights.
The Madonna, which had been broken, had been somewhat smaller. "It came from a private source," says Stadler. No one knows for sure, the original owner probably had no more space for the figure and handed it over to the association, which has been looking after the place at the Sibli waterfall for years. The members repair paths and steps, clean the seating and generally check that everything is in order. Hikers like to take a break here and enjoy the place. This is evidenced by a memory book in which many visitors have signed their names.
Safe place high up in the rock face
The association has spent around 2000 euros to have a new statue of the Virgin Mary made. The idea was to have them look down on visitors from a high rock face, protected from falling rocks and clearly visible. The traffic and beautification association has therefore asked members of the Rottach mountain rescue service for support, reports Stadler. From there, the okay came immediately. Laura Klomp, Karl Enders and Stefan Schmidtchen were on hand with private equipment and in their free time. In the course of late summer, according to Stadler, there were several abseiling actions to anchor the figure safely in the rock.
Consecration in spring
The platform was made by master blacksmith Bernhard Gloggner Sr., electrician Andreas Niedermaier provided high-performance drill technology, and Martin Goldhofer from the tourist office climbed into the wall for support. If you take a short detour from the hiking trail, the Madonna immediately catches your eye. A solemn consecration is also planned – no longer this year, but at a devotional in the spring.