Myths & Legends

In the older days, long before the appearance of Christianity, the residents of the northern part of Europe worshipped their own gods.  Ever since the name of the god Rübezahl – mountain spirit and master of the riches under the ground – has secured by no means the last place in mythology. And there is a very good explanation for this.

Rübezahl  could assume different appearances. He could be encountered as an elder, a grizzled monk or Romanesque warrior. Countless legends were compiled about him. Almost all these legends said that the Lord would help people with pure hearts and punish scoundrels.

According to one of the most famous legends, Rübezahl would often assume the likeness of a toad  (the pediments of Rubezahl Castle are decorated with images of toads) and, depending on how the traveler treated the toad when meeting it on the path through the woods, would draw conclusions on what sort of individual the traveler was. He would reward the good, and assuming the likeness of an elder, would grant the individual his innermost wishes. He would punish bad people. Any traveler, who kicked the toad from the path after encountering the creature, could fall down in the next three meters and break his leg.

The legends about Rübezahl are an important part of cultural heritage. Initially they were passed on by word of mouth. Later on they were written down and assembled together by the German writer Johann Musäus. The collection of legends was translated into numerous languages. Such famous storytellers as the Brothers Grim,Charles Perrault and Giambattista Basile used the legends about Rübezahl to create their own fairy tales. The great composers Karl Weber and Gustav Mahler, inspired by the legends about  Rübezahl, penned operas in his name.

According to one of the legends, Rübezahl owned on the earth’s surface a small forest allotment where his meetings with people would take place. It is highly likely that this is the reason why a 3.5 metre high statue of Rübezahl was erected by an unknown sculptor in a forest where a hotel park is located today. People have been coming there for a long time now with candles and flowers in order to make secret wishes. Over time people have become convinced that many of their wishes have come true.