The legend of the Tuifelstäi above Engelberg
Above Horbis, on the way towards Planggeneralp, there is a striking rock block. In the English dialect it is called Tuifelstäi – Teufelsstein. Its history is linked to the Horbis Chapel, a brave farmer and the Devil.
The Horb Chapel and the path to the Planggenalp
The legend begins in May of the year 1490 – at a time when a new chapel was consecrated in Horbis.
According to tradition, a large crowd of people set off from the monastery of Engelberg at that time. The procession led to what is now called «the end of the world». Among them were the conventuals of the monastery and their abbot Niklaus II. The vicar general of the bishop of Constance, Bishop Daniel Zehnder, walked in the honor square.
In Horbis, a chapel was to be dedicated. The small church had been built the year before, donated by Abbot Niklaus and promised to the «dear lady».
The Tuifelstäi is located in the Planggen area above Engelberg. The Swiss Inventory of Stone Monuments lists him as Sagenstein is also known as Tüfelstei and Tuifelstäi.
At the same time, further up, a path led over the meadows of Chrüterli, Nesslebalm and Gälbalm towards Planggeneralp. A woman was on her way there to set up the hut of her family for the upcoming Alpine season. On her back she carried a heavy torch.
From her place, she could follow the procession down in the valley. The warm valley wind occasionally carried part of the pious singing up to her. She had no idea that she would soon encounter something strange herself.
The devil wants to destroy the chapel
Shortly before the peak of the plateau general, on a steep slope, a mighty rock stands. On its lower side, the rock forms a small balm – a natural shelter. People can find protection there during a thunderstorm. Sheep, goats, and the freshly dried hay from the alpine pasture also found a roof under the rock.
When the Alpine woman reaches the rock, she sees to her horror how the rock is slowly moving backwards. The devil tries to make it roll. His goal is the new chapel at the bottom of the Horbis valley. If the rock were to fall down the slope, the «Chäppeli» and the people and animals in the valley would be in great danger.
The devil fights with all his might against the rock. With He presses his back against the rock, and his arms and legs are trapped in it. Hang. He doesn't notice the old woman.
The woman puts her load on the way, hurries up the seven steps to the rock and draws a cross with her thumb on the stone. At that moment everything happens quickly: a piercing scream, lightning and thunder shake the slope. A cloud of snow and debris swirls. The woman is thrown to the ground and slides several feet down the steep slope. She remains unconscious.
In the legend, the cross not only protects the woman; it also prevents the devil from rolling down the rock towards the orbis chapel.
Sources, bells and a devil figure
When the woman regains consciousness, the huge rock block lies above her. Beneath her, the cliff falls steeply. Suddenly, numerous small springs spring from the ground around the rock – in a place that had previously been considered particularly dry.
For the first time, the sound of the newly built chapel in Horbis can be heard Evangelical Lecklein. It is clear to the woman that the cross saved the chapel and the valley.
At the place where leek grows today, another memory of the event is created. Anyone who knows leek says that it tastes particularly «sour,» that is, spicy. And why should it surprise anyone that the rock has been called Tuifelstäi ever since?
According to legend, the hideous image of the devil remained at the front of the rock. It reminds us that the stone is not just a rock block on the mountain path, but part of an ancient Engelberg tradition.
Such stories do not just explain a name; they connect. Landscape, faith, work on the Alp and the history of a Stories with each other.
The Tuifelstäi in the Engelberg Valley
The Tuifelstäi is a small but distinctive piece of Engelberg Cultural history.
Anyone traveling in the Planggen area will find a place here where mountain landscape and storytelling come together directly. The rock stands in steep terrain above Horbis. The legend explains why it bears its name and why a cross at this place holds a special significance.
The trails in the Horbis and Planggen area are mountain trails. Depending on the season, humidity, and the operation of the alpine pastures, they can be slippery or closed off. For a hike, good footwear, grip, and a realistic assessment of the conditions are important.
Horbis is the starting point of various trails leading to Ober-Zieblen and Fürenalp. The official hiking trail from Engelberg via Horbis and Fürenalp to Fürenalp leads through the mountain landscape of the Hahnenmassiv and further through alpine meadows and the area of Tagenstall.
The Tuifelstäi is not a reason to cut short your hike across the terrain. Stay on the marked trails and respect the alpine meadows, animals, and private properties. The legend can also be read without entering the rock from close range.
The Tuifelstäi is located on steep terrain. Do not climb up on the rock and assess the area especially carefully when the ground is wet or snowy.
Where is the Tuifelstäi located?
The Tuifelstäi is located in the Planggen area above Engelberg, near the Continue towards Planggeneralp. The map shows the location of the Sagenstein as documented in the inventory.
Location according to the Swiss Inventory of Stone Monuments. Map by swisstopo / map.geo.admin.ch. The map can be enlarged and moved directly in the window.
Open map in new window ↗There is also a Tuifelstäi in the village
The name in Engelberg is not only associated with a rock. Right next to the train station there is the Tuifelsstei restaurant in the hotel. Crystal Engelberg.
I can highly recommend this restaurant in person. The menu includes pizza, pasta, risotto, and meat dishes. There is also a playroom for children – very convenient if you want to have something to eat after a hike.
- Lunch menuCHF 20.50
- 2-course evening menuCHF 35.50
- Pizza offCHF 18.–
- Pizza TuifelssteiCHF 25.50
- Ravioli «Tuifelsstei»CHF 29.50
- Coffee TuifelssteinCHF 6.–
The prices correspond to the food and drink items published online. Drink menu from September 2026. All prices are in Swiss francs. Frank and including 8.1 % VAT.
Visit Restaurant Tuifelsstei ↗Frequently asked questions about Tuifelstäi
The most important information about the legend and the place above Engelberg.
Where is the Tuifelstäi located?
The Tuifelstäi is located in the Planggen area above Engelberg, above the Horbistal valley. The information board describes the rock face along the path. Direction Planggeneralp.
Why is the rock called Tuifelstäi?
The name comes from the legend that the devil wanted to roll the rock down towards the Horbiskapelle chapel. A farmer drew a picture He placed a cross on the stone and thus prevented his plan from coming to fruition.
When does the saga play out?
The information panel sets the story in May 1490. At that time, according to Horbis a chapel was dedicated.
What does «rässe» mean?
«Rässe» is Swiss German and means sharp or spicy. In the legend, it describes the leek that is planted in the place of the The event is growing.
Source and classification
The legend and the dating follow the text of the information panel at the Tuifelstäi. The place name and the classification as a stone monument were compared with the Swiss Stone Monuments Inventory.
The spelling «Tuifelstäi» follows the sign. In other sources, the spelling is also «Tüfelstei» or «Teufelsstein».
More from the mountains
You can read about Engelberg through its paths, tours, and stories. More Information can be found in the hiking data bank and in the Bergwissen (Mountain Knowledge).
