Unusual Place Names

[glatt]

When I was a lad, I lived in the village of Merzhausen in Germany. Merzhausen and something like five other little villages were all nestled in this beautiful storybook valley on the edge of the Black Forest. The name of the valley? Hexental. (Witches' Valley.)

I wish I knew the story behind that name. It gets the imagination going. I mean, come on. Black Forest? Witches? Maybe the real Hansel and Gretel lived there?

The wikipedia article I linked to above says the name is derived from "Hagstal" or Hag valley. And Hag is a sort of protected clearing surrounded by brush or woods or even fences. So maybe it's a boring explanation, except the translated entry for "Hag" says:

The Hag also offered cemeteries protection from evil spirits, especially if it consists of yew or boxwood existed. Also, both in Central Europe, as well as Nordic and English sagas surprising passages in hedges as a transition into a fairyland or the underworld to find. So also derived Witch (OHG hecse, English:. hag, also mnl. Hagetisse), from the same root word from. As an alternative designation is found Fence Rider / in.