Rübezahl, Lord of the Mountains
In the Giant Mountains of central Europe, a moody mountain spirit called Rübezahl controls the weather and plays tricks on travellers.
What was reported
Rübezahl, known in Polish as Liczyrzepa and in Czech as Krakonoš, is the spirit of the Giant Mountains on the border of Poland and the Czech Republic. He can take many shapes, from a giant to a monk to an old man, and controls the mountain weather, sending sudden storms and fog.
He is kind to the honest and poor, but punishes the rude and greedy. One story says he got his name, meaning 'turnip counter', when a princess he had captured tricked him into counting turnips while she escaped.
Explanations offered
Rübezahl is a folklore figure who reflects the real dangers of mountain weather. He is a beloved symbol of the region, appearing in statues, shop signs and children's stories on both sides of the border.
- When
- Told for centuries
- Where
- Karkonosze (Krkonoše), Poland–Czech Republic
- Witnesses
- Mountain communities
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.