Czech Mythology

Redeemed Hand

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Tradition: Czech Mythology
Alternative Names: The Hand in the Cellar
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Redeemed Hand is a mysterious supernatural apparition said to haunt the cellar of an inn on Saueben Hill, above the ruins of Bayreck Castle in the Bohemian Forest. Long ago, the innkeepers employed a maid who was once sent down into the cellar to fetch potatoes. There, she encountered a terrifying sight: a disembodied hand hanging in the darkness, holding a bag. A strange voice repeatedly whispered, “Take it, take it!” Frightened, the maid fled from the cellar, trembling with fear.

The maid told her father, who lived in a dilapidated cottage in the village of Dörrstein. He accompanied her back to the cellar, carrying a torch to illuminate the darkness. The mysterious hand and the bag appeared again before the maid, and the pleading voice once more urged her to take it. Her father, however, could see nothing unusual, even as he waved his torch around the cellar. Finally, the maid overcame her fear and took the bag from the hand.

As soon as she seized it, the voice sighed, “God bless you!” The disembodied hand immediately vanished, and the cellar became quiet. Inside the bag was a fortune in Swedish gold. The maid and her father used the treasure to purchase a beautiful farm in Austria. By accepting the mysterious bag, the maid had apparently fulfilled the spirit’s wish and released the hand from its supernatural burden, allowing it to disappear at last.

Sources

“Die erlöste Hand.” In Hans Watzlik, Böhmerwald-Sagen. Budweis: Böhmerwalder Dorfbücher, 1921, Heft 5. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/tschechien/watzlik/erloestehand.html

Stilzel

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Tradition: Czech Mythology
Alternative Names:
Category: Ghost

The Myth

Stilzel was once a horse herder who worked for the farmers of Heuhof, near the Bavarian border. His difficult task was to drive a hundred horses into the forest pastures. One day, before returning home, he counted the herd to make sure none had wandered off into the vast woods. However, no matter how many times he counted, he could only account for ninety-nine horses because he kept forgetting which horse he was riding. Enraged by his failure, Stilzel cursed and swore so blasphemously that the stones seemed to fly toward the sky and the forest trees trembled. Finally, he stood upon his horse and hanged himself from a pine branch using his own whip.

After his death, Stilzel became a mischievous and terrifying spirit who haunts the forest at night. He cracks his whip and bellows like an entire herd of cattle, frightening border guards into believing that smugglers are driving livestock across the border into Bavaria. The guards rush out, hoping to catch the smugglers, only to become trapped in deep mud up to their forks. From somewhere nearby, Stilzel laughs like the devil at their misfortune. Wanderers who hear the forest roar are warned never to look behind them, for Stilzel may leap onto their backs and force them to carry him until they are exhausted, their chests heaving and their knees buckling.

Despite his frightening nature, Stilzel sometimes helps people who recognize his presence. Once, a farmer from Bärnlohe found that his wagon would not move, even though it carried no logs and his oxen could not pull it forward. Realizing that Stilzel was secretly pressing his fist against the wagon, the farmer shouted at the spirit to get off and help push. Immediately, the wagon became light and rolled forward as if moving by itself.

Stilzel is also associated with the Saumühle, an old mill between Flöß and Heuhof where he once herded horses. According to the legend, the supernatural herdsman carried the entire mill there himself on his back. His stories portray him as a powerful, unpredictable spirit who delights in frightening travellers and tricking those who enter his forest, but who can also be persuaded to lend a helping hand.

Sources

“Stilzel.” In Hans Watzlik, Böhmerwald-Sagen. Budweis: Böhmerwalder Dorfbücher, 1921, Heft 5. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/tschechien/watzlik/stilzel.html

Weihizer

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Tradition: Czech Mythology
Alternative Names: The Weihizer
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Weihizer is the ghost of a wealthy but dishonest innkeeper who once lived in Neukirchen in the Bohemian Forest. He cheated his customers by pouring only as much drink as he could fit his unusually long thumb into the jug. Through this trick, he accumulated an enormous fortune. One day, he challenged his servant Girgel to cut as much straw from dawn until dusk as the innkeeper possessed money. If Girgel succeeded, he would receive ten guilders; if he failed, he would have to pay the innkeeper the same amount. Girgel worked tirelessly and produced a huge pile of straw, but the innkeeper’s mountain of money was even larger. The poor servant lost his ten guilders, which the wealthy man simply tossed onto his enormous pile of silver.

The innkeeper was said to possess supernatural abilities, including the power to be in two places at once. When the hay was being brought in, he could be seen in the meadow and inside the barn simultaneously. As he grew old, he tried to ease his conscience for the harm he had inflicted on the poor. He ordered a gigantic bell to be cast, so wide that eight couples could dance beneath it. Yet the bell could not save him, because not a single honest penny had been used to pay for it.

After his death, the innkeeper could not rest in his grave. As punishment for his dishonesty, he was condemned to raise mysterious fires and sit on the cellar stairs. Before the Angelus bell rang, he was forbidden to harm anyone. Afterward, however, his ghost tormented those who came to fetch beer. The beer would not flow from the barrel because the innkeeper sat upon it, holding his purse. At night, cattle often cried out in terror, and farmhands who rushed outside discovered the stable doors standing open while the cows trembled and staggered around the yard.

One night, a travelling priest stopped at the inn, but nobody dared fetch him beer from the cellar. The priest descended himself to banish the ghost, making the sign of the cross three times. The ritual failed, and the Weihizer leapt from the barrel and struck the priest on the head with his purse, knocking him down. Desperate to rid themselves of the troublesome spirit, the people summoned the Bishop of Regensburg. The bishop finally took the ghost away to the wilderness of Switzerland, ending its haunting of the inn.

Sources

“Der Weihizer.” In Hans Watzlik, Böhmerwald-Sagen. Budweis: Böhmerwalder Dorfbücher, 1921, Heft 5. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/tschechien/watzlik/weihizer.html

Geykalek

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Tradition: Czech Mythology
Alternative Names: Geykaleck, Heykaldo, Tenich
Category: Forest Dweller

The Myth

The Geykalek is a harmful forest spirit described as a shaggy, fur-covered man with a beard, glowing eyes, and immense supernatural strength. It lurks among the trees and can move through the forest without being seen. Its presence is often announced by strange laughter or a disembodied voice echoing through the woods. The spirit delights in tormenting people who enter its territory, especially woodcutters, berry pickers, and travellers passing through the forest.

The Geykalek is a mischievous and dangerous trickster. It may move fallen trees or shift logs so that woodcutters find their carts blocked, then laugh at their confusion. Women gathering blueberries have been slapped so violently on the back of the head that they fall to the ground, despite seeing no attacker. Travellers may hear a voice calling out from the trees, mocking them or answering their shouts. If someone challenges the spirit by shouting louder than it, the Geykalek may suddenly throw them to the ground, crush them beneath an invisible weight, or smash them against the earth with such force that they die.

The spirit can also torment people by pressing down on them like an unbearable, invisible burden. In some encounters, it appears as a huge man who makes sounds resembling a strong wind. Despite its malicious nature, the Geykalek is sometimes associated with the protection of the forest. It is said to feed on insect larvae, eggs, small birds, mice, frogs, and fish, and it may ask travellers for water in exchange for directing them to a forest spring. Some tales claim that where the Geykalek settles, robbers dare not operate and bandits eventually abandon the area. Nevertheless, anyone who enters its woodland domain risks becoming the target of its cruel tricks and supernatural strength.

Sources

“Гейкалек (Gejkalek).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/gejkalek

Black Hiesel

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Tradition: Czech Mythology
Alternative Names: Black Hiesel of Zassau
Category: Forest dweller

The Myth

The Black Hiesel was a notorious poacher from Zassau who roamed the Wallerer woods, hunting stags and deer while evading the lawful hunters. He possessed extraordinary supernatural protection: no bullet, blade, or iron weapon could harm him. Lead bullets softened against his skin, and even when the marksmen surrounded him and fired at close range, he emerged unharmed. His resilience made him a source of fear and frustration among the local hunters, who watched helplessly as he continued to kill the forest’s game.

Hiesel also possessed the power to transform himself into other forms. When the Wallerer marksmen cornered him, he could become a young green fir tree or a withered hare. His pursuers would pass him without recognizing him, sometimes standing nearby while discussing their plans to capture him. Hidden in these disguises, Hiesel listened to everything they said and escaped their traps. His ability to blend into the forest made him nearly impossible to catch, and the hunters gradually grew uneasy and lost their courage.

Eventually, the marksmen managed to overpower Hiesel, but ordinary weapons remained useless against him. Unable to kill him with bullets, blades, or iron, they resorted to a different method: they smashed his skull with a drum. Thus ended the career of the seemingly invulnerable poacher whose supernatural toughness and shapeshifting had long allowed him to defy the hunters of the Wallerer woods.

Sources

Hans Watzlik. “Hiesel.” In Böhmerwald-Sagen. Budweis: Böhmerwalder Dorfbücher, 1921, Heft 5. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/tschechien/watzlik/hiesel.html

Medulina

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Tradition: Czech Mythology
Alternative Names: Medulina
Category: Forest Dweller

The Myth

Medulina is a beautiful forest spirit and the patron of wild bees and honey. She watches over the bees that live in the woods and protects the honey they produce. Her presence is associated with the flowering forest, where bees gather nectar among the trees and blossoms. She is imagined as a benevolent lady of the woodland, bringing sweetness and abundance to those who respect her domain.

In spring, people carry honey into the forest and place it on tree stumps as an offering to Medulina. They call upon her, asking her to come and return to them with a year of good honey. As they make their request, they decorate the stumps with flowers and bouquets, honouring the spirit who watches over the bees. The ritual expresses the hope that Medulina will bless the coming season with plentiful honey.

Medulina is also associated with the honey that falls from the sky onto flowers and trees, where bees gather it. Through her connection to the forest, wild bees, and honey, she represents the natural sweetness and abundance of spring. Those who honour her hope for flourishing blossoms, healthy bees, and a generous honey harvest.

Sources

“Medulina.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/medulina

Bohemian Man

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Tradition: Czech Mythology
Alternative Names: Bohemian Man
Category: Forest dweller

The Myth

The Bohemian Man is a mysterious and terrifying spirit that haunts Föhrenberg, a wild forest behind Hadruwa near the border between German-speaking lands and Bohemia. In former times, his presence made the woodland a place of fear, and his chilling cry of “Hohoho!” could often be heard echoing through the trees at night. His true appearance remains unclear, but his supernatural power is enough to overwhelm anyone foolish enough to summon him.

One night, after the evening bells had rung, a mocking farmhand walked through the wilderness. Driven by curiosity, he shouted into the darkness, calling for the Bohemian Man to come to him. The spirit immediately seized him by the scruff of his neck. It pulled his hair and forced him onward until he sweated and struggled beneath a burden that felt as heavy as heaven and earth. The farmhand could not escape the torment until he reached a consecrated crucifix, whose sacred power finally freed him.

Another winter night, a young man travelling with village maids decided to show off by calling out the Bohemian Man’s name. The moment he shouted, he was terrified by the sound of his own voice and fled into a nearby house, bolting the door behind him. But the spirit soon appeared outside the window, shining its eerie light into the room. The frightened people hid behind the stove, beneath the table, and behind the bed while the mysterious figure lingered outside. Eventually, the spirit crept away, but the young man was too terrified to leave the house until morning. He swore never again to call the Bohemian Man, having learned that mocking the darkness could summon something he could not control.

Sources

Hans Watzlik. “Der böhmische Mann.” In Böhmerwald-Sagen. Budweis: Böhmerwalder Dorfbücher, 1921, Heft 5. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/tschechien/watzlik/derboehmischemann.html

Moss Sprite

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Tradition: Czech Mythology
Alternative Names: Moss Woman
Category: Forest Dweller

The Myth

The Moss Sprite is a strange forest spirit from the Bohemian Forest, described as a hunchbacked, half-human creature that wanders through the deepest and most remote parts of the woodland. She moves quietly among the trees, creeping through the darkness with a curious and watchful nature. Her unusual appearance and hunched back distinguish her from ordinary forest dwellers.

One evening, three charcoal burners built a kiln deep in the forest. As the sun set and the fir trees darkened, the men lay down to sleep with their heads together on a sack of moss and their feet stretched out in three different directions. While they slept, the Moss Sprite crept toward them, stepping over their six legs as she searched in the darkness for the moss sack.

Suddenly, she stopped and frowned in astonishment. She had counted six feet but found only one head, something she had never encountered before. Declaring that the Bohemian Forest was full of strange things, she decided to hurry home and tell her grandmother, who was nine times older than she was. The encounter reveals the Moss Sprite’s curious nature and her bewilderment at the peculiar arrangement of the sleeping charcoal burners.

Sources

Schwartz, Alvin, and Glen Rounds. Kickle Snifters and Other Fearsome Critters. New York: Bantam Books, 1978. Originally published in 1976. https://archive.org/details/kicklesniftersot00schw

Inviting Pond

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Tradition / Region: Czech Mythology
Alternate Names: —
Category: Flame

The Myth

The Inviting Pond is a mysterious light associated with the Herrenweiher pond in Oppelitz.

One night, a poor woman was walking past the Herrenweiher pond when a little light danced toward her and whispered, “Come with me into the pond, you’ll be well off there.”

The woman resisted, saying, “What will my children do?” But she went closer to the water, and the lights grew more and more numerous, dancing, beckoning, and telling her, “Come on, come, your children will be taken care of.”

Suddenly, the woman shuddered and ran away. At home, she immediately looked for her children. They were lying dead in bed.

Sources

Hans Watzlik. “Jungferblitz.” In Böhmerwald-Sagen. Budweis: Böhmerwalder Dorfbücher, 1921, Heft 5. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/tschechien/watzlik/jungferblitz.html

Maiden Lightning

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Tradition: Czech Mythology
Alternative Names: Lightning Maiden
Category: Flame

The Myth

Maiden Lightning is a beautiful supernatural woman who appears during violent thunderstorms. She is completely naked, with fiery red hair and a body that glows so brightly that light radiates from her skin. Her arrival is accompanied by crashing thunder and flashes of lightning, and she can vanish in an instant, leaving behind a blazing flame.

One day, an elderly woman from Mugrau was gathering berries in the forest when a terrible storm approached. Seeking shelter, she climbed inside a hollow maple tree. As she peered outside, she saw the glowing maiden standing before her. Concerned that the stranger would get soaked, the old woman invited her to share the shelter. The maiden refused, explaining that she could not enter because the woman possessed the mysterious Lightning Thread.

At that moment, thunder roared and a spark ignited a nearby tree, sending a bright flame shooting upward. The maiden disappeared, leaving the old woman alone in the hollow tree. Had the bailiff not been carrying the Lightning Thread, the fire would have engulfed her shelter. The encounter revealed the maiden as a powerful spirit of lightning, whose fiery presence could ignite trees during a storm.

Sources

Hans Watzlik. “Jungferblitz.” In Böhmerwald-Sagen. Budweis: Böhmerwalder Dorfbücher, 1921, Heft 5. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/tschechien/watzlik/jungferblitz.html