“Ein Kobold gut bin ich bekannt” whispers the inscription on the Stuttgarter Hutzelmännlein statue. This mischievous little fellow is more than just a bronze figure. He’s a character from a beloved Swabian fairytale by Eduard Mörike.
The Hutzelmännlein is a kobold a kind of sprite. He’s known throughout Stuttgart and beyond. He’s deeply woven into the city’s cultural fabric. Mörike wrote the story during his time as a teacher at the Königin-Katharina-Stift. The tale first appeared in print in 1853.
The story follows Seppe a young shoemaker’s apprentice. He leaves Stuttgart for travels across the Swabian Alb. Before departing the Hutzelmännlein appears. He gifts Seppe two pairs of magical shoes and a loaf of Hutzelbrot. This magical bread never runs out as long as Seppe leaves a little bit uneaten each day.
Seppe forgets which shoe belongs to which pair. This causes him considerable trouble. He leaves the extra pair on a bridge. A young woman Vroni finds them. She too has problems with the mismatched shoes. She believes they are a gift from her saint Veronika.
The Hutzelmännlein also tasked Seppe with finding a small lead weight. This weight was hidden near Blaubeuren’s Blautopf spring. The spring is home to the water nymph Lau. She couldn’t bear children until she laughed five times. A helpful innkeeper and her family befriended Lau. Their laughter broke the curse. Seppe’s journey eventually leads him to the lead weight.
Meanwhile back in Stuttgart the shoemaker Bläse is visited by the Hutzelmännlein. The mischievous sprite throws all of Bläse’s supplies into a pond as a prank. Bläse only regains his peace when he restores the misplaced shoes to their owners.
Seppe’s travels are full of misadventures and humorous encounters. He narrowly escapes a woman who supposedly killed her two previous husbands. He eventually returns to Stuttgart. The Hutzelmännlein reappears. He praises Seppe for completing his task. A grand Fasnet celebration unfolds. Vroni and Seppe reunite. Their magic shoes find each other. The story ends with their engagement.
The Stuttgarter Hutzelmännlein statue stands as a testament to this charming story. It is a reminder of Stuttgart’s rich cultural heritage. It’s a place where the whimsical and the real intertwine. It’s a charming reminder of the magical tales that shape a city’s identity.