Was the shortest route

Maypole stolen with barges across the Salzach

On Sunday, the Überackern fire department brought the stolen maypole back to Germany. The route across the Salzach is the shortest.

(Bild: Daniel Scharinger)

The two border communities of Überackern and Piesing are separated by the Salzach river, but the tradition of stealing maypoles also exists among our German neighbors. And the shortest route is across the river.

"It takes about half an hour by land. By water, it's only one kilometer, so it's clearly the shortest and quickest way," explains Tobias Weyand from the Überackern fire department.

He and his colleagues set out to steal two weeks ago. "It was actually a very last-minute operation, with a few complications. Three hours after we stole the tree, another group wanted to steal it," say the thieves with a smile. It was the second time since 2018 that they had stolen the maypole from their partner fire department from Bavaria. Yesterday, Sunday, the tree was returned in accordance with custom.

(Bild: Daniel Scharinger)

(Bild: Daniel Scharinger)

Barbecue as a reward
Once again, the faster route across the Salzach was chosen. Eight Floriani in four barges brought the 25.3-metre-long tree back to Bavaria intact. "The transport has to be very well coordinated, everyone has to row just right. The Bavarians also paint their maypole, so we had to be careful not to damage it. But it all worked out," says Weyand happily. The tree was up in the afternoon and they celebrated with their German friends. As a reward, the Innviertler were treated to a barbecue.