At the Franz-Eberhofer roundabout in Frontenhausen, unknown people committed an outrage: the lime tree on the traffic island was felled by unknown people with a chainsaw, the police in Dingolfing said on Sunday. The roundabout is known from the crime comedies about the Lower Bavarian provincial police officer Franz Eberhofer (Sebastian Bezzel), who often makes his rounds here in the films and has even been immortalized as a monument on the roundabout since 2018.
The crime took place on Saturday night. The police estimate the property damage at around 8,000 euros. But the intangible loss weighs more heavily for the place; the East Bavaria Tourism Association even speaks of it as probably the most famous roundabout in Germany. “This is unbelievable. This tree has done nothing to anyone,” said Frontenhausen Mayor Franz Gassner (CSU) to the Bavaria media group. “All he did was provide shade and has done so for many, many years.”
According to the local politician, the linden tree was five meters high and had a diameter of around 25 centimeters. Of course you could plant a new tree again. “But it’ll take forever until it’s so big and beautiful again!”
The Eberhofer films are based on the novels by bestselling author Rita Falk and take place in the fictional town of Niederkaltenkirchen. The backdrop for many scenes is the Frontenhausen market, where real Eberhofer tourism has developed. In addition to the Franz-Eberhofer roundabout, you can admire the Simmerl butcher’s shop or the town hall.