Before you stands the Krakonoš Bust. He is a figure of legend. The Giant Mountains share their very own giant. He is known as Krakonoš in Czech. In German, he is known as Rübezahl.
Margit Bartosova grew up in these mountains. She is full of stories. The Giant Mountains were almost entirely German-speaking until 1945. After the Second World War, most German speakers were expelled. They took their traditions and legends. Some stayed behind. Margit’s family was half Czech. She remembers much from the mountains.
Legend says that Krakonoš lives on the bleak plains. He is often shown as bearded. He smokes a pipe. He has power to do good and evil in the mountains. His German name means “the one who counts turnips”. He once kidnapped Princess Emma. He took her to his lair. To stop her from escaping, he told her to count his turnips.
Miloslav Bartos is a Krakonoš expert. He has worked in the Krkonoše Museum for forty years. He knows much about the legend. Most people agree that Krakonoš is nature personified. Settlers faced sudden weather changes. These changes were hard to explain. Miloslav experienced this himself. He was near the Elbe River with his son. It was a glorious summer day. Suddenly, it hailed for half an hour. Then the sun reappeared.
Vrchlabi means upper Elbe. It is the first town on the River Elbe. The river starts in the mountains. Here, the Elbe is a stream. It eventually flows into the North Sea.
The first depiction of Krakonoš was on a map. Martin Helwig published it in 1561. The map showed Silesia. A figure with antlers and a staff was next to the Sněžka Mountain. Krakonoš changes forms. He can be a hunter. He can be a miner or monk. He can be various animals.
Krakonoš remembers different ethnicities. Some see him like the Celtic Cernunn. Others see a fairy-tale creature. Be good to him.
The Arriving of Krakonoš Festival welcomes spring. It is celebrated in the Krkonoše Mountains. It began over 70 years ago. The festival takes place in mid-March. This is around the Spring equinox.
Krakonoš appeared in folklore around the 15th or 16th century. At first, he was the Lord of wind. He punished those who harmed his mountains. Later, he became a guardian of nature. He protected against poachers. In early depictions, he had a rooster head with antlers. He had hooved arms and a lion tail. Today, he is an old man with a long beard. Birds nest in his hat. He wears a green coat. He carries a staff to ward off poachers.
Among Czechs, Krakonoš is known from Krkonošské Pohádky. Krakonoš fights against the noble Trauntumberk. The noble is greedy and wants to destroy nature. Krakonoš protects the mountains.
Every year, Krakonoš celebrates the start of spring. He tells people to be kind to nature. He entertains children with stories. He drinks the best beer. Then he leaves to guard the mountains.
This bust commemorates a figure who embodies the spirit of the mountains. Remember Krakonoš. Respect nature.