Liechtenstein Dragon Mythology

Dragon of Guflina

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Tradition: Liechtenstein Mythology
Alternative Names: Guflina Dragon
Category: Dragon

The Myth

Deep within a rugged cliff on the heights of Silum lived a dragon of terrible size. It was a winged beast with horns upon its head and eyes that burned like two blazing torches.

The dragon was the terror of the miners and mountain folk. Each spring and autumn, when the herds of cattle were driven to the Silum alpine pasture and the Bargella Alp, the monster emerged from its cave at night and attacked the animals, causing great destruction. The attacks brought misery and fear to the people who depended upon the mountain pastures.

At last, the Giant of Guflina dared to face the beast. The dragon emerged from its cave and lunged at the giant, snorting with fury. It struck him heavily across the shoulders and attempted to bury its powerful claws in his flesh and strangle him.

The giant endured the attack. With a sudden movement, he seized the dragon by the neck and drove it against the rocky cliff with both hands. He squeezed with such force that the dragon’s bones cracked, and its throat released a terrible howl that echoed across the mountains.

The miners rushed to the scene and found the dragon lying dead upon the ground. A great cheer rose through the Alpine valleys. With the monster slain, the mountain folk could once again drive their herds safely to the high pastures.

Sources

“Guflina.” SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen aus Liechtenstein. Reproduced by SAGEN.at.
https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/liechtenstein/seger/guflina.html

Dragon of Bleika

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Tradition: Liechtenstein Mythology
Alternative Names: Dragon of the Bleika
Category: Dragon

The Myth

In the Bleika, a tract of land north of the church of Triesenberg covered with beech forest and meadows, a dragon is said to lie hidden beneath the earth.

The dragon will remain there until the stones of the chapels at Litze and St. Wolfgang at Meierhof have all fallen from their places. When not a single stone remains upon another, the dragon will break free, and the entire Bleika will slide down into the valley as a gigantic landslide.

Sources

“Bleika.” SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen aus Liechtenstein. Reproduced by SAGEN.at.
https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/liechtenstein/seger/bleika.html

Lindworm of Laubwinkel

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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

Lindworm of Balzers

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Tradition: Liechtenstein Mythology
Alternative Names: The Lindworm of Mals, Mariahilf Lindworm
Category: Dragon

The Myth

Long ago, a terrible Lindworm roamed a swamp near the village of Mals, close to Balzers, causing great harm to the local inhabitants. The villagers tried every means they could think of to keep the monster away or drive it from the area, but nothing worked.

Unable to defeat the beast by natural means, the villagers turned to supernatural help. They held a nine-day devotion in honor of the Virgin Mary and made a solemn vow: if the dragon disappeared, they would build a chapel in her honor.

Their prayers were answered. The Lindworm suddenly vanished and was never seen again.

In gratitude, the villagers built the pilgrimage church of Mariahilf, which was gradually enlarged over time. The memory of the monster remains part of the site: a dragon’s head made of sheet metal sits atop the church tower, while several large holes high in the nearby rock face are still known locally as the “dragon holes.”

Sources

“Die Drachenlöcher.” SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen aus Liechtenstein. Reproduced by SAGEN.at.
https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/liechtenstein/drachenloecher.htm