Legends and myths of the Kłodzko Land are the soul of this land, an invisible web of stories that surrounds every peak, valley, castle ruin, and cave entrance. It’s much more than just bedtime stories told by the fireplace. It’s the echoes of ancient beliefs, historical fears, human dreams of wealth, and attempts to tame the harsh, powerful nature. As you wander the local trails, and the mist weaves through the ancient forests of the Śnieżnik Massif, you can almost feel the stones, trees, and streams whispering these ancient stories.
As the hosts of “Gołąbek”, living in the heart of this magical land, we have collected these stories for you. We want to be your guides through a world that exists right next to ours – a world of the Mountain Spirit, hidden treasures, restless souls, and places where the line between reality and dream becomes extremely thin. We invite you to read the most complete list of legends of the Kłodzko Land, which will ignite your imagination and forever change the way you look at the Sudetes.
The Mountain Spirit, Ruler of the Sudetes: The Power and Caprices of Liczyrzepa
You cannot begin the story of the mythology of the Sudetes without bowing to their most important ruler. Liczyrzepa (in the German tradition Rübezahl, Czech Krakonoš, and in Polish also known as Karkonosz or Mountain Spirit) is a powerful, mythical being whose kingdom stretches across the entire Sudetes, and its influence is clearly felt in the Kłodzko Land.
Who is Karkonosz / Rübezahl / Liczyrzepa?
He is an extremely complex character – a spirit of nature, a guardian of mountain treasures, and a master of weather. His nature is twofold: he can be just and generous to good, humble people, bestowing them with gold or showing them the way. But woe to those who are greedy, proud, and do not respect his mountains. For them, he becomes merciless – he sends storms, blizzards, leads them astray in the dense fog, and turns them into stone. He can take on various forms – an old man with a staff, a monk, or even an animal, to test the travelers he meets.
His Traces in the Stołowe Mountains and the Śnieżnik Massif
Although his main seat is in the Karkonosze, his presence is strongly felt throughout the region. It is his anger that is attributed to the creation of the Błędne Skały (Errant Rocks), which were supposed to be a petrified city, and the powerful massif of Szczeliniec Wielki is considered his throne. Sudden changes in the weather in the Śnieżnik Massif, violent storms, and fogs enveloping the peaks are, according to ancient beliefs, nothing more than evidence of the presence and changing mood of the Mountain Spirit.
Gold Rush and War Secrets: Tales of Hidden Treasures
For centuries, the Kłodzko Land has ignited the imagination of treasure hunters. Its complex geology, rich in mineral deposits, and turbulent history have become fodder for countless legends of hidden wealth.
The Gold of Wrocław: Does the Treasure of the Third Reich Rest in the Sudetes?
This is the most famous and most contemporary legend about treasure. At the end of World War II, in the face of the approaching Red Army, the Germans were to evacuate bank deposits, works of art, and private valuables from Festung Breslau (Wrocław). Convoys of trucks were to head south, to the safe Sudetes mountains. Legend has it that many of them never reached their destination. They were to be hidden in secret, underground Riese complexes in the Sowie Mountains, in old mines in the Złoty Stok area, as well as in castles and palaces of the Kłodzko Land. Although historians approach these stories with reservation, the legend of the “golden train” and hidden treasures of the Third Reich still lives on and attracts adventurers to this area every year.
Walloonians and Their Secret Books: The First Treasure Hunters
Long before the “Wrocław gold” rush, in the Middle Ages, mysterious seekers from Wallonia (present-day Belgium) and northern Italy came to the Sudetes. They were masters of mining and metallurgy. They traveled the mountains in search of gold, silver, and precious stones. They recorded their discoveries, locations of rich veins, and secret entrances to adits in encrypted notebooks, the so-called “Walloonian books”. These manuscripts, full of mysterious signs, symbols, and clues, became the Holy Grail for later generations of treasure hunters.
Alchemists and Adits Full of Gold in the Złote Mountains
The town of Złoty Stok, located on the edge of the Kłodzko Land, has for centuries been one of the most important centers for the extraction of gold and arsenic in Silesia.
Legend has it that the greatest alchemists worked in its mines, trying to discover the philosopher’s stone and a method of transmuting metals into gold. One story tells of the alchemist Hans Schärffenberg, who was to have discovered the secret of immortality, but paid for it with eternal imprisonment in one of the mines. Today, when visiting the Gold Mine in Złoty Stok, you can hear these dark stories and see the underground waterfall that supposedly flows along veins of pure gold.
Dark Tales from Castles and Wastelands: Ghosts, Spells, and Dangerous Places
Every self-respecting castle in the Kłodzko Land has its own ghost. These restless souls are often victims of tragic love, betrayal, or wartime conflagration.
The Curse of the Castle on the Rock in Trzebieszowice: The most famous legend of the castle tells of the beautiful Ney, the exotic fiancée of one of the former owners, who practiced black magic. When she discovered his secrets, she put a curse on him. In retaliation, he condemned her to eternal solitude – every lover of hers was to die tragically. Her spirit is said to still wander the chambers today, seeking solace.
The White Lady of the Castle in Międzylesie: This is a classic tale of the ghost of a woman who appears in the castle walls, often foreshadowing misfortune or important events. Her identity is uncertain – some see her as a victim of murder, others as the spirit of the wife of one of the owners, who died of longing.
Witch Trials: The region’s history also has its dark chapters. In the 17th century, during the Counter-Reformation and the Thirty Years’ War, a wave of witch hunts swept through Europe. One of the main centers of trials in Silesia was Nysa, but accusations of witchcraft and contact with the devil also occurred in the towns of the Kłodzko Land. Places such as Łysa Góra (Bald Mountain) or some passes were considered places of witches’ sabbaths, which made them dangerous places, which pious people avoided after dark.
“Gołąbek” – Your Base for Exploring the World of Myths and Legends
Discovering the Kłodzko Land through the prism of its legends is an extraordinary adventure. To fully immerse yourself in this magical atmosphere, you need time and a suitable base. “Gołąbek” in Stronie Śląskie, located in the heart of the region, is the perfect starting point. From here, it is close to the Śnieżnik Massif, where the Nysa Kłodzka River is born and you can feel the presence of the Mountain Spirit. It is a perfect place to set off on a day trip to Złoty Stok, Błędne Skały (Errant Rocks) or to visit haunted castles. After a day full of impressions, in the peace and quiet of our haven, you will be able to relive the stories you have heard and plan further trips into a world where everything is possible.
