Tradition / Region: Slovenia (Gottschee / Kočevje)
Alternative names: Bilde Jochd, Bildai Jogkd
Category: Ghost

The Myth

The Wild Hunt of Gottschee is a terrifying phantom procession said to roam the forests and fields during the night. Long before it is seen, people hear its approach: the howling of dogs, the cries of strange animals, and the sound of distant gunfire. Witnesses speak of bears, hares, and foxes fleeing ahead of the hunt, followed by packs of hounds and finally by the ghostly hunters themselves.

The Hunt moves like a whirlwind across the countryside. Those unfortunate enough to stand in its path risk being torn apart or killed. To survive an encounter, people traditionally crossed their hands or lay down inside wagon tracks until the terrible procession had passed.

Stories tell of a man returning home late at night with wine loaded on his horse. His relatives warned him not to travel, but he ignored their advice and set out. Near midnight, villagers later found his horse standing alone, still carrying the wine but missing its tail. Searching the forest, they discovered the man lying dead upon the road, his face blackened and the horse’s severed tail clenched tightly in his hand. It was said that the Wild Hunt had killed him. A cross was later erected at the place where his body was found.

Another tradition explains the nature of the phantom riders. They were once hunters who preferred chasing game to attending Mass and hunted even on Sundays while church services were being held. After death, they were condemned to ride forever through the darkness, accompanied by their hounds and the sounds of the chase.

Crosses were often raised at places where the Wild Hunt was known to pass, and travelers avoided lonely roads at night, fearing the ghostly hunters whose punishment would never end.

Sources

SAGEN.at. (n.d.). Die Wilde Jagd in der Gottschee. In SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen. Retrieved June 16, 2026, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/slowenien/wildejagd.html