Tradition / Region: Swiss Mythology
Alternative names: Mandrake
Category: Cat
The Myth
The Alraune was believed in the Werdenberg region to be a real cat-like creature that brought good fortune and great wealth to the household in which it lived.
According to local tradition, although the mandrake root was widely used for magic and carved into human-shaped figures believed to possess supernatural powers, people in Werdenberg also believed that the Alraune existed as a living, cat-like animal. Rather than being feared, it was regarded as a bringer of prosperity, blessing the home with luck and great riches. The source records no further description or legends about the creature.
Sources
“118. Mandrake / Alraune.” St. Gallen Myths. June 23, 2024. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://stgallenmyths.com/2024/06/23/118-mandrake/.
“Alraune.” Sagen.at – Sagen aus Österreich. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/schweiz/st_gallen/alraune.html.