The Dragon of the Kahlenberg

Vienna · Austria · Forest

A bloodthirsty dragon lay in its lair on the hill and struck at everything living, until the Viennese trapped it in planks and smothered it in smoke.

In the 12th century a bloodthirsty dragon is said to have had its lair on the Kahlenberg. It lay blinking in the sun before its cave, scented anything living the moment it stirred, and shot at its prey the next instant. When hungry it broke into byres or fell upon people walking home in the dark. A determined Viennese came up with the plan. The men nailed together a long narrow crate, open at both ends, but with the front hole so tight that the beast could only push its head through. They lowered the crate on ropes from a rise, chained it to tree trunks in front of the cave and tethered a calf as bait. The dragon crawled in, stuck fast — and choked in the smoke when they set fire to brushwood over the crate. Its hide was nailed to the vintner's house.

FAQ

Where is The Dragon of the Kahlenberg located?

The Dragon of the Kahlenberg is in Wien, Austria.

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• The White Lady of Hernals Vienna · Church
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• Doctor Faust and the Little Red Man Vienna · Pub
• The Witch's Mill in Hütteldorf Vienna · Mill
• The Water Sprite of the Ottakring Brook Vienna · Natural site
• The White Lady of the Theresianum Vienna · Palace
• The Devil's Mill on the Wienerberg Vienna · Mill

Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.