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Since 1921, when Burgenland became the 9th state of Austria, there is the
intersection of the three states-Lower Austria, Styria, and Burgenland-in
the valley of the Willersbach creek. Earlier, since the Bavarian settlement
in the 11th century, the border between the Duchy and later Empire of
Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary proceeded in this point. The common border
with Styria has been here since the 16th century, when the territory of the
former county of Pitten was finally separated from the Duchy of Styria and
integrated into the Duchy of Austria.
In this place had already been a great boundary stone in the 17th century. It
was then called "Vierherrenschaften Stein" ("four-manor-stone",
boundary description of the manor of Bärnegg). Here, the four manors of
Bärnegg, Ziegerberg, Krumbach, and Bernstein met each other.
According to an eyewitness from Offenegg today's boundary stone was set in about
1914. She had been there as a little girl and could remember very well that
there was a great festival with folklore groups from Styria, Hungary and Lower
Austria. The stone, it is said, was brought there by 12 decorated horses. But
factually reliable written records about the erection of the boundary stone do
not exist.
Nowadays, annually on the second Sunday in September many people from the
neighboring states participate in an ecumenical church service.
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