Pechölstein Elz

In 1992, a pitch oil stone was rediscovered in Elz and brought back to life as part of the village development programme. Since then, pitch oil has been distilled in the village again.

The pitch oil trail, which is approx. 1.8 kilometres long, is suitable for pushchairs and offers people of our time a good opportunity to take a fresh look at the natural remedy pitch oil (Pechl), which has almost been forgotten.

The age of the historic pitch oil stones is largely unknown; they are mostly made of granite and have grooves carved into their flat surface, similar to leaf veins. Knowledge of pitch oil burning in the eastern Mühlviertel (Freistadt district) is centuries old and was widespread. The more than 90 pitch oil stones that can still be found in the region bear witness to this. The extraction of pitch oil has not survived anywhere in the region as an ongoing tradition and has been pushed back in recent decades, mainly because the general interest in traditional folk medicine and time-honoured traditions has declined sharply.
In 2005, a pitch oil hiking trail was established in Elz, which leads past the pitch oil stones and provides information about pitch oil burning on display boards. Today, pitch oil burning demonstrations are regularly organised as part of village festivals. The pitch oil obtained is sold in small bottles as a souvenir and is used for minor medical needs of animals and humans. In addition, the pitch oil stones that can still be found are maintained and preserved in agreement with the respective landowners. (Source: www.unesco.at)