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Austrian culture: Five mythical creatures to look for across Austria

Going hiking in Austria this summer? Legend says you might run across some folklore creatures from helpful spirits to shaggy, horned devils.

Published: 30 July 2024 14:32 CEST
Austrian culture: Five mythical creatures to look for across Austria
Long, long ago, legends say, a dragon was killed in the very heart of Klagenfurt, where the Lindwurmbrunnen stands today. Photo: RoubeOG / Pixabay

Here are five creatures that Austrian myth and legend suggest you could meet on your next hike.

Salige
What: Helpful spirits in human female form
Where: Tyrol and Carinthia

Let’s begin with a fairly benign being.

According to Tyrolean and Carinthian legend (as well as in neighbouring Italy), the Salige are helpful spirits who appear as maidens in white.

Making their home along the banks of the River Drau, the Salige are said to help communities experiencing hard times or direct lost travellers home.

Artistic depictions of these helpful spirits—particularly since the beginning of the 19th century—have depicted them as naked or near-naked in diaphanous flowing gowns.

Some depictions have also showcased their supposed ability to transform into other creatures, particularly white doves.

The Salige tradition is very old, perhaps dating back to the Bronze Age or earlier when reverence for mountain spirits constituted the religious tradition of tribal groups throughout the area.

Sennentuntschi
What: Animated straw dolls hellbent on revenge
Where: Vorarlberg, Tyrol and Carinthia

The next creature on the list is a slightly more malicious entity.

Myths across southern Austria’s mountain regions tell of lonely shepherds who created a straw doll for, shall we say, ‘entertainment’ during their long summer sojourns.

Inevitably, as these legends go, the straw doll comes to life as a Sennentuntschi, an entity that punishes the shepherds for their sins. This often happens in a quite spectacularly gruesome fashion, such as taking their skin.

In fact, a recent horror film set in neighbouring Switzerland told a variation of the legend to box office success.

The idea of a doll seeking revenge for supposed sexual sins has deep roots in mediaeval Catholic morality, with a healthy dose of earlier pagan tradition, in which idols figured prominently.

Lindwurm
What: A really big dragon
Where: Carinthia – Klagenfurt, specifically

The legend of the Lindwurm is big business in the Carinthian capital. In the centre of town, you’ll find the Lindwurmbrunnen, which supposedly marks the site where a mighty dragon was brought down.

While there are many variations to the story, most tell that sometime in the far, far distant past, the dragon terrorised the shores of the Wörthersee, stealing cattle and terrorising the townsfolk.

Eventually, a bull on a chain was used to bait the monster, and a vicious battle ensued, ending in the dragon’s death. Depending on who you believe, St George was even involved in the fracas.

While this is a common legend across much of central Europe, the discovery of a woolly rhinoceros skull in a nearby quarry in the 14th century captured the local imagination.

The people of Klagenfurt interpreted this as the dragon’s skull and pointed to it as proof, attracting attention – and visitors – to the city.

By the 16th century, when the fountain was built, the lindworm was an essential part of the city’s identity, even featuring on its coat of arms.

While Klagenfurt is reportedly completely dragon-free these days, we’ll nevertheless suggest that you keep an eye out for hiking around the Wörthersee. 

Habergeiß
What: Three-legged billygoat with feathers
Where: Austria-wide, particularly around Salzburg

If you’re hiking through farmland, particularly near fields of wheat or corn, keep an eye out for Habergeiß, demonic entities who lurk within the stalks, seeking children to kidnap.

The first you’ll know of their presence is a strange, high-pitched bleating that is distinctly unnerving, it is said. Other legends suggest that the calls are somehow inviting and cause children to venture into the crop, never to be seen again.

While there’s much online debate about whether the Habergeiß is a callback to the pagan worship of nature spirits, many agree that tales of the creatures were a great way to keep children away from crops where they could damage them or injure themselves.

The Habergeiß is also a feature of Christmas traditions, most prominently around the Salzburg region, where it accompanies figures such as the last creature on our list.

Krampus
What: A shaggy, horned devil
Where: Austria-wide

No discussion of Austria’s mythical creatures is complete without including the Krampus, a horned demonic being who counters the benevolent St Nicholas.

The Krampus carries a whip or a stick, which it uses to beat or tease naughty children, and a sack for carrying them off to parts unknown.

Krampus appears around Christmas time, accompanying St Nicholas on his visits to children, and in some cases participating in parades throughout Austria to usher in the season.

Most scholars that the Krampus first began to appear as a figure to frighten children in the 17th century, when plays were used to instruct and encourage good behaviour.

However, there are definitely links to an older pagan tradition of mountain spirits and fertility gods, which existed in alpine country for thousands of years.

That said, if you’re approached by a smelly, hairy, towering figure on the streets in the colder months, odds are that you’ve met Krampus, so it’s a good idea to be polite and wish them well.

Do you know any mythical Austrian creatures that we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments!

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Wolves to bears: Where in Austria could you come across predators?

Mountains, forests, and lakes—Austria is known for its beautiful nature, but be aware, it is a space also shared with a rich variety of wildlife.

Published: 4 September 2024 16:09 CEST
Wolves to bears: Where in Austria could you come across predators?

Austria has amazing nature ready for you to discover. But while doing so, even though it is very unlikely, you might come across some unexpected company.

In the Alpine region, this company could be lynxes, wolves, or golden eagles. In the country’s forests and lowlands, it could instead be the red fox. In forested and rural areas, you might find the badger, and in the mountains, especially close to Slovenia, you might even encounter bears—all playing crucial roles in maintaining ecological balance.

Here is what you need to know about some of Austria’s wildlife predators.

Wolves

Since the early 1990s, wolves have returned to Austria after being driven to near extinction by intensive hunting and systematic extermination.

Wolves in Austria are European grey wolves, easily recognised by their medium to large size, lean build, and thick, dense coat in shades of grey, brown, and beige, which helps them blend in with their surroundings.

Wolves are not so picky when it comes to their choice of habitat, as long as certain basic criteria are met. They prefer regions that offer them a lot of food, shelter and space for territorial formation. 

In Austria, these conditions are mainly found in large, continuous forest areas and natural habitats. Therefore, wolves are mainly found in Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Styria.

If you are hiking in these regions, you usually do not need to fear.  The Kora Foundation suggests that wolves are shy creatures who generally try to avoid human contact. In fact, the last fatality caused by a wolf anywhere in Europe occurred in Spain over fifty years ago. 

Wolf walking around in a forest. Photo by Szabolcs Toth on Unsplash

Lynxes

It is not very likely that you will encounter a Lynx while exploring Austria’s nature, but it is also not impossible.

Once, lynxes were commonly seen in Austria, but by the end of the 19th century, they were hunted to extinction, with the last one killed in Bregenzerwald in 1918.

Now, over 100 years later, lynxes are slowly returning to Austria.

The country is now home to two transboundary lynx populations: one in the Western Alps, with some lynxes migrating from Switzerland, and another in the Bohemian Forest, shared with Bavaria and the Czech Republic, where about 23 lynxes can be found.

In addition, a small and isolated population of lynxes is reported to live in the National Park Kalkalpen.

The lynx is easily recognised by its tufted ears, short tail, and spotted coat. It is usually the size of a larger dog, with a broad face and large, padded paws.

Although Lynx usually stay away from humans, they might attack if they feel threatened by your presence.

European Lynx is slowly coming back to Austrian territory. Photo by kenny goossen on Unsplash

READ ALSO: Why Vienna is a haven for wild animals – and where you can find them

Golden Eagles

In the Austrian Alps, there are around 260-360 golden eagles. These birds like open to semi-open landscapes where they can hunt prey such as marmots or alpine hares.

The golden eagle is a large bird of prey with dark brown feathers and a distinctive golden-brown colour on the back of its neck and head. It is a symbol of strength and power in Austrian culture and is found on the country’s coat of arms.

Typical places in Austria where you can spot the bird are in mountainous areas and national parks such as Hohe Tauern, Gesäuse National Park, and the Alps.

If you encounter an eagle, you normally have nothing to be afraid of. They tend to avoid human contact but could possibly become defensive if, for example, you approach their nests or disturb them in some way.

It is not uncommon to see golden eagles in the Austrian Alps. Photo by Jevgeni Fil on Unsplash

Red foxes

Red foxes are quite common in Austria and can be found in all provinces.

Austria’s red foxes have a reddish-orange coat with a white belly and a bushy tail tipped with white. They are slenderly built, have pointed faces, and large, upright, black-tipped ears.

They live in the lowlands and the Alps up to 2,500 meters above sea level. They are known for being incredibly adaptable and can live in most sorts of environments, including urban areas.

In Austria, they are often found in different towns and villages, where they go to search for food.

Since they often live so close to us, it is a good thing that they are not dangerous. Red foxes tend to be shy and avoid people, but it is still a good idea to avoid feeding or petting them, just to be sure.

Red foxes also like visiting Austria’s more urban areas. Photo by Scott Walsh on Unsplash

READ ALSO: Four Austrian national parks worth paying a visit

Badgers

Like the red foxes, badgers can be found in all of Austria’s provinces, from the lowlands to the Alps.

The badger has a stocky body with short legs, a broad head, and distinctive black-and-white stripes running from its nose to the back of its head.

It prefers living in forests and river valleys but can also do well in areas where forests meet grasslands or farmland. It is also not afraid of urban areas and often enjoys parks and gardens in city suburbs, where it easily finds food.

Badger products were widely used in the past. Badger meat, including ham, was considered a delicacy. The fat from badgers was applied in creams to help with rheumatism, and badger hair was used in different kinds of brushes.

Badgers are generally not dangerous, but they can become aggressive if threatened or cornered, so keeping a distance might be a good idea.

Badgers can be seen in all Austria’s provinces. Photo by Vincent van Zalinge on Unsplash

Bears

Following the tragic death of a jogger caused by a female bear in early April 2023 in Trentino, Italy, concerns about bear attacks have risen also in Austria.

However, there is an extremely small chance of encountering a bear on your next Austrian hike. 

Bears in Austria are extremely uncommon sights, the bear population in Austria primarily consists of brown bears migrating from Slovenia and also, occasionally, from Trentino in Italy.
 
Austria is estimated to be the temporary home to between five and eight male brown bears, and those expected to be found in the southern regions, specifically the Karawanken, Carnic Alps, and Gailtal Alps, in Carinthia and East Tyrol.
 
Even if bears can be dangerous, they are generally not aggressive unless provoked or if they feel their cubs or food sources are in danger.
 

A brown bear relaxing in the grass. Photo by Elizabeth Meyers on Unsplash
 
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