Tradition: Liechtenstein Mythology
Alternative Names: Lindworm of Mäls
Category: Dragon
The Myth
In ancient times, a terrible Lindworm lived at the northern foot of Ellberg, in a place called Laubwinkel. It terrified the inhabitants of Mäls, especially around the swamp where the creature was said to dwell. The area that is now known as Oberfeld was then a wild, marshy landscape washed by the Rhine, covered with oak forests, hedges, and dense bushes.
The people of Mäls tried to keep the Lindworm away from the village by carrying food out to it. Calves, sheep, and goats were taken to the edge of the swamp and left there for the monster to eat. When this failed to rid them of the creature, the villagers tried another method. Large nets were stretched across the northern end of Ellberg, hoping that the Lindworm would become entangled in them. The beast escaped the traps, however, and continued to haunt the people of Mäls.
Since the monster could not be overcome by natural means, the villagers turned to the Virgin Mary. They vowed that if the Lindworm disappeared, they would build a chapel in her honor, and they held a nine-day devotion dedicated to Mary.
Their prayer was answered. The Lindworm suddenly vanished and never appeared again. In gratitude, the villagers are said to have built the pilgrimage chapel of Mariahilf, which was later enlarged. A dragon’s head made of sheet metal can still be seen on the church tower, while several large holes high in the nearby rock face are known in local tradition as the “dragon holes.”
Sources
“Der Lindwurm.” SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen aus Liechtenstein. Reproduced by SAGEN.at.
https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/liechtenstein/seger/lindwurm.html