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Sennentuntschi: The Terrifying Swiss Legend of the Shepherd’s Doll Come to Life

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One of the horrid creatures from the alps is the seemingly innocent Sennentuntschi doll. Being made by male herders alone in the mountains, she has to endure their abuse and use until she comes to life and comes for revenge. 

Deep in the Alpine regions of Switzerland, where snow blankets peaks and silence hangs heavy over remote pastures, an eerie legend has haunted shepherds for centuries. It is the tale of the Sennentuntschi — a grotesque doll made in loneliness, animated by desire, and punished by horror. 

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Switzerland

It sometimes goes by Hausäli or Sennpoppa. In Lichtenstein it is called “The Guschg Herdsmen’s Doll”.  As one of the alps most chilling pieces of folklore, the Sennentuntschi tale is a potent blend of rural isolation, taboo, and supernatural revenge.

Horror in the Alps: In the seemingly serene alp huts around in the alpine region, it is said that a horrible monster can be created by the lonely herders.

Origins of the Legend of the Sennentuntschi

The Sennentuntschi legend seems to have originated in the Swiss Alps, particularly among the German-speaking regions such as Graubünden, Valais, and the Appenzell. Weissenboden, below the Kinzig Pass in the Schächen Valley, is one of the Alpine regions where the “Sennentuntschi” is said to have started.

It does however exist as far as the Bernese Alps to Carinthia, from Liechtenstein to Upper Bavaria and in Styria. 

Sennentuntschi Doll: An authentic Sennentuntschi doll exists and is preserved in the Rhätisches Museum in Chur, Switzerland. This 40 cm tall figure, made of wood, cloth, and hair, was acquired from the hamlet of Masciadon in the Calanca Valley in 1986.

The oldest known written version is the 1839 Romantic poem “Die Drei Melker” but it is mostly a tale passed down through oral tradition, believed to date back to at least the 18th century. Some claim that it could be even older, possibly even rooted in even older pagan superstitions about nature spirits and demonic visitations.

The story was most commonly told among Sennen that are Alpine herdsmen or shepherds who spent long, lonely months in mountain huts (called Alphütten) during the summer months, herding cattle in high pastures. Their isolation and hardship birthed the legend as a kind of moral tale, but with distinctly horrific undertones.

The Core of the Myth: Loneliness, Creation, and Retribution

In its most common form, the tale begins with three lonely herdsmen in the alps, tending their cattle in the day and their nights in their huts, often drunk or despairing from months of solitude and sexual deprivation. In their madness or mischief, they decide to create a woman out of household objects and animal remains like typically straw, rags, wood, and bones. They dress the figure in traditional clothing, give her a grotesque face made of stitched leather or carved wood, and mockingly name her Sennentuntschi.

But what begins as a joke turns dark. According to legend, after one of the men performs a mock ritual, sometimes the act of naming her, sometimes invoking the Devil himself and the doll comes to life as they talk to her, feed her and take her to bed.

She appears human, even beautiful, but does not speak. At first, the men are overjoyed, treating her as a companion and servant. But quickly, the relationship becomes exploitative. They abuse her, physically and sexually, until their fantasy turns into a waking nightmare. 

She suddenly starts to speak, talking about all the evil things they have done to her. One by one, the men begin to die by freak accidents, illness, or suicide. Eventually, the last man is found raving mad, or dead, and the hut abandoned. 

In some versions she stays with them all summer, enduring their abuse and helping them tending to the cattle. When they are to descend from the mountain, she asks one of them to stay with her, often the one who abused her the most. When the two herdsmen turn to the hut, they see her spread the peeled skin from their friend on the roof as she laughs. 

The woman is never found, but the villagers whisper that Sennentuntschi returned to the mountains, leaving destruction in her wake or that she was never human at all, but a demon or forest spirit exacting revenge for the men’s depravity.

The Modern Revival: Sennentuntschi (2010) Film

The legend was revived and reinterpreted for modern audiences in the 2010 Swiss horror film Sennentuntschi, directed by Michael Steiner. The film blends folklore with psychological horror and crime thriller elements, set in the 1970s in a remote village in the Alps.

In this version, a mysterious, mute woman appears in a conservative mountain community shortly after the local priest is found dead. As suspicion and hysteria rise, the villagers accuse the woman of being a demon or witch. The film weaves in the traditional legend of the shepherds and the doll, blurring the line between folklore and reality.

The Lingering Legacy

To this day, Sennentuntschi remains a deeply unsettling piece of Swiss cultural heritage. While not as well-known internationally as Krampus or other Alpine folk monsters, she is perhaps more horrifying precisely because of her human origins. She is not a beast or goblin, but a creation of human loneliness, cruelty, and guilt — a specter born not from hell, but from the minds of men lost to the mountains.

Read More: The Dark Side of Christmas: The Haunting Legend of Krampus and Krampusnacht

In Swiss mountain regions, hikers still hear the tale from grandparents and village storytellers. Some claim the abandoned huts in the Alps are haunted. Others say that if you mistreat the land or its spirits, Sennentuntschi will return, silent and vengeful, to collect what’s owed.

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References:

Sagen und Legenden der Schweiz (Legends and Folktales of Switzerland), collected by Otto Sutermeister

Sennentuntschi (2010), Michael Steiner, Film

Sennentuntschi: A dark legend from the Alps

Sennentuntschi – Wikipedia

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The Aufhocker: The Heavy Vampiric Spirit of Germany

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Feeling like a sudden and invisible burden, the life force of wary travellers were long subjected to the terror of the Aufhocker. A creature between the vampire, werewolf and goblin spirits, the legend of the empty road were long haunted by something heavy. 

Across the old forests of central Europe, travelers once spoke of a terror that stalked lonely paths after dusk. In German folklore this entity is known as the aufhocker, a creature of fear and fatigue. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Germany

The name aufhocker comes from German words meaning “to squat upon” or “to climb upon.” It is sometimes known as a Huckauf as well. Although the term appears in various regional traditions, the aufhocker’s most chilling aspect is its similarity to vampire lore. This is not the vampire that drinks blood from the neck. It is a predator that feeds on life force through relentless pursuit and physical contact.

A Footstep Followed

In folktales, the creature often appears at night along forest paths, river crossings, and isolated roads. A lone traveler walking home late in the dark might see nothing until a presence is suddenly at their shoulder. The aufhocker does not simply appear in view. It arrives with footsteps that echo the traveler’s own steps, as though it steps into the world by attaching itself to a living person.

Once it has latched on, it stays on the victim’s back. Physical weight, relentless pressure, increasing fear. Some descriptions say the creature physically climbs upon the victim and refuses to move, resting its full weight on the traveler. Others depict it as invisible yet oppressive, like someone riding piggyback only the victim can feel.

The Statue in Hildesheim, Lower Saxony: “Junge, lat die Appels stahn,/ süs packet deck dei Huckup an / Dei Huckup is en starken Wicht,/ hölt mit dei Stehldeifs bös Gericht.” (Boy, stop stealing apples,/ otherwise the thief will catch you,/ the thief is a strong imp,/ who will hold a wicked court against a thief like you.)

The result is the same. The victim becomes exhausted, panicked, and unable to escape. In some stories the victim falls or collapses from fatigue. In others, the pressure fractures resolve and spirit, leaving the person in a state of lasting terror or sickness. The person perched on the wanderer remains seated until the wanderer is released by the oncoming light, a prayer, or the ringing of bells.

The Werewolf Link

But what exactly is the Aufhocker, what does it look like? Some claim it is more like a shapeshifting goblin, a werewolf type of creature. It is also sometimes seen as a gigantic demonic dog. These characteristics are similar to that of the Black Dog in British folklore and the Kludde in Belgian tradition. Sometimes, the creatures are also said to be a black horse, luring people on their backs before throwing them in a swamp or water. 

Prevalent in mid-western Germany, the Rhineland, and adjacent Dutch and Flemish regions, the Aufhocker legend reflects localized beliefs tied to historical werewolf trials from the 16th century, where such back-riding behaviors may have substituted earlier spirit-riding traditions. 

In western Germany, the Aufhocker merges with the werewolf to form the Stüpp, a dangerous monster that leaps at people and has them carry it around until the victim dies of exhaustion. So, could it be more of a werewolf than a vampire adjecent legend then? 

The Vampiric Creature

Other variations of the legend would claim it is much closer to our modern understanding of the vampire. The parallels with vampire tradition become clear when the aufhocker is viewed as a hunter of life rather than a consumer of blood. Where the classical vampire drains the physical body, the aufhocker drains strength, breath, and will. It attaches itself as parasitic shadow. It thrives in darkness rather than daylight. 

Descriptions vary by region, but the theme remains constant. Some variations describe the creature as a shapeshifter or phantom form, while others combine it with local vampire traditions where the undead go out at night to feed and that it appears to travelers as a corpse they approach to examine. When the lonesome traveller is closes enough, it latches onto its prey. 

Other Vampiric Creature from German Folklore:In German folklore, a Nachzehrer, literally a creature that consumes from the afterlife in German, is a type of Wiedergänger (revenant), which was believed to be able to drag the living after it into death, either through malice or through the desire to be closer to its loved ones through various means. A nachzehrer was thought to be able to drain their victim’s life-force remotely. This could involve devouring their own funeral shrouds and clothing – thought to be a very common sign of a nachzehrer. Many would claim that the Aufhocker is some sort of Wiederganger.

Scholars interpret the Aufhocker as a regional variant of broader European back-riding spirits such as the more vampiric Mare for instanve. Although the werewolf stories really took off in the 16th century, there have been tales about the heavy weight of something dragging you down like an Aufhocker since the twelfth century. 

And in some version it is just that, a spirit, bodiless and invisible to the naked eye of the wary traveller. 

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References:

Aufhocker – Wikipedia

http://centre-for-english-traditional-heritage.org/TraditionToday4/TT4_SmithJ_Dobbies.pdf

Der Aufhocker – Arbeitskreis für Vergleichende Mythologie e. V.

Nachzehrer – Wikipedia

Wiedergänger – Wikipedia

Aufhocker – Wikipedia 

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Most Haunted Places in Germany

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From haunted castles, local legends inside of the forests and the ghosts from the second world war: to strangest local legends. Here is a closer look at the most haunted places in Germany.

Germany is a land rich in history, culture, and folklore, where ancient castles loom over misty forests and quaint villages hide secrets that have echoing tales of the past. From the eerie echoes of tragic events to the ghostly figures said to wander through time, these haunted locations offer a glimpse into the supernatural.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Germany

Whether you’re a seasoned ghost hunter or a curious traveler, exploring these haunted places can be both thrilling and chilling. In this listicle, we will journey through some of the most haunted spots across Germany, uncovering the stories of restless spirits and the mysteries that continue to captivate the imagination. Prepare yourself for a spine-tingling adventure as we delve into the spectral realms that lay hidden beneath the surface of this enchanting country.

The Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany– A Realm of Dark Fairy Tales

The most Haunted Black Forest in Germany: The haunting beauty of the Black Forest illuminated by the full moon, a landscape steeped in legend and mystery.

The Black Forest (Schwarzwald) is often the first thing people think about when talking about the haunted places around Germany. The forest is actually a huge area that goes from southwest in Germany, down the Rhine Valley to the west, almost reaching the border to France and Switzerland, covering over 6000 km2

Read the whole story: The Haunted Black Forest of Fairy Tales

It has also become synonymous with the Brothers Grimm’s tales, but beyond the stories lies a landscape steeped in legend and mystery. Whispers tell of a headless horseman galloping through the dense, shadowy woods under the cover of moonlight, his ghostly presence echoing through the trees and sending shivers down the spines of those who dare to venture close. Additionally, an evil king, shrouded in darkness and deceit, is said to lure women to his underwater lair, hidden deep within the heart of the forest. This lair, adorned with treasures of untold riches and secrets long forgotten, is said to be guarded by magical creatures and is rumored to be a part of a deeper enchantment that binds the forest and its legends together.

Haus Fühlingen – The Haunted Manor in Cologne

Haus Fühlingen, an abandoned manor in Cologne, Germany, once belonged to the affluent Oppenheim family before falling into ruin after being sold in 1907. During World War II, the Nazis turned it into a farm for forced laborers, where a young Polish laborer, Edward Margol, was wrongfully executed and is said to haunt the estate. In 1962, a former Nazi judge also hanged himself in the house, leading to speculation about a connection between the two tragedies.

Over the years, Haus Fühlingen has become known for its ghostly occurrences, attracting ghost hunters and thrill-seekers who report strange phenomena. Plans for renovation into luxury apartments have been proposed since 2008, but the future of the manor remains uncertain as it may be considered for demolition.

Read the whole story: The Ghosts within Haus Fühlingen

Schlosshotel Waldlust – The Haunted Hotel of the Black Forest

Once a luxurious retreat in Freudenstadt, Schlosshotel Waldlust now stands abandoned, its grandeur faded in the middle of the infamous Black Forest. The tragic murder of its manager, Adi, in 1949, marked the beginning of its descent into darkness. The hotel staff started to notice strange things, the glass was shaking as if it was an earthquake, and they saw a woman with a white veil wandering the halls. They also heard a baby crying in the night, even though there was no one there. 

Schlosshotel Waldlust finally closed in 2005, and is now almost only used for those that want to take a peek at what a haunted and abandoned hotel looks like. 

Read the whole story: The Haunted Schlosshotel Waldlust

Reichenstein Castle – The Headless Ghost of Hohenfels

Perched above the Rhine, Reichenstein Castle is haunted by the remorseful spirit of Dietrich von Hohenfels. He was a robber baron who lived in the castle at the end of the 1200s. This would all come to an end when the House of Habsburg would rise to power and rule the Holy Roman Empire for generations to come. Executed alongside his sons for their crimes, his headless apparition is said to wander the castle, eternally seeking redemption. 

Today it is said that the ghost of Dietrich von Hohenfels is heard rather than seen inside of the castle and the guests visiting are said to feel like they are never truly alone. Other unexplained things like windows and doors opening and closing without there being anyone there. 

Read the whole story: The Headless Ghost of Reichenstein Castle

Waldniel-Hostert School – Echoes of a Dark Past

This former Nazi institute in North Rhine-Westphalia bears the weight of a grim history. As part of the child euthanasia program, countless lives were lost within its walls. The program ended up killing more than 200 000 people. While they renovated the school they uncovered human remains of the patients who had died and were killed when the Nazis ran their institute. 

There are many stories about the haunted stuff happening at the school that transitioned into an international school for years. They say the children who died in the program are heard weeping from the corridors where they wander restlessly, fearful of the horrendous end they met with. 

Read the whole story: The Hauntings The Waldniel Hostert School

Bundesstraße 215 – The Haunted Highway

Stretching between Hanover and Hamburg, this road is notorious for its high accident rate. Drivers report encounters with a mysterious Woman in White, believed to be a spectral presence warning—or causing—these tragic events. 

Read the whole story: The Haunted Road of Bundesstraße 215

Eltz Castle – The Warrior Countess

Eltz Castle, in the hills above the Moselle River, is said to be guarded by the spirit of a noble countess. The castle has belonged to the House of Eltz who have lived there since the 1100s and is one of the few castles that have never been destroyed and rebuilt. Countess Agnes of Eltz was the daughter of the 15th count of the Eltz Castle at the time. When she refused and embarrassed a man she was intended to marry. She died defending her castle when he return for revenge on her family.

She can be seen by the entrance of the Eltz Castle to this day, still wearing her suit of armor. It is also said that a phantom horseman is also riding outside of the gates, and the knight of Braunsberg is still seeking forgiveness for what he did. 

Read the whole story: The Warrior Countess Ghost of Eltz Castle

The Family Curse Haunting the House of Hohenzollern

Haunted places of Germany: The House of Hohenzollern, a historic German castle, is said to be haunted by a Lady in White, linked to the family’s tragedies.

The House of Hohenzollern, an ancient and noble family in Germany, is said to be haunted by a Lady in White, a ghostly figure appearing as an omen of death. The legend attributes sightings of this apparition to significant family members, particularly a young prince who encounters her before his demise. Historically, the haunting is linked to Kunigunde von Orlamünde, a woman driven to madness by love, who tragically murdered her children to pursue a relationship and sought penance as a nun.

The presence of the White Lady has been observed throughout the centuries, often leading to misfortune, as evidenced by numerous accounts of family members witnessing her before their deaths. The family’s power waned after World War I, with the haunting legend persisting—a reminder of the past intertwined with German folklore.

Read the whole story: The Haunting of The House of Hohenzollern

Frankenstein Castle – Ghosts and Dragon’s dens

The Haunted Castle in Germany: Frankenstein Castle, an ancient ruin in Odenwald, Germany, shrouded in myths and legends, features stunning architecture and lush surroundings.

Frankenstein Castle, located on a hilltop in Odenwald, Germany, is an ancient ruin steeped in myths and legends. Built before 1252 by Lord Conrad Reiz, it served as a home to the Frankenstein family for over 400 years, witnessing significant historical events, including opposition to the Reformation. By the 18th century, it had become a hospital before falling into ruin, with only the restored towers remaining.

The castle is surrounded by legends, such as stories of hidden treasure and the mystical properties of nearby Mount Ilbes, said to be a gathering place for witches. Felsenmeer, a rocky site nearby, is believed to be tied to the death of Siegfried from the Nibelungenlied. Although Mary Shelley may have drawn inspiration from the castle for her 1818 novel “Frankenstein,” no direct evidence links her to it.

An alchemist named Johann Konrad Dippel, who claimed to possess an “Elixir of Life,” was rumored to have lived at the castle and conducted questionable experiments. Local legends also tell of a dragon terrorizing neighboring villagers until a knight named Lord George defeated it, sacrificing his life in the process. The castle remains a site of fascination, embodying the intersection of history, mythology, and the supernatural.

Read the whole story: The Myths and Legends of Frankenstein Castle

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The Alp: Night Terrors of German Folklore

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Sitting on your chest, crushing you in your sleep, The Alp of Germanic Folklore was said to be a vampiric entity after people’s life force. But where did this creature come from?

In the dark hours between dusk and dawn, when restless dreams twist and turn through the minds of sleepers, a sinister being from old German folklore is said to descend upon its victims. Known as the Alp, this malevolent supernatural creature doesn’t haunt abandoned castles or misty graveyards — instead, it invades the fragile realm of sleep itself, leaving terror and suffocation in its wake.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Germany

A figure of nightmares dating back to medieval Europe, the Alp exists in the shadowy intersection between spirit, demon, and vampire. Sometimes a seductive human, a butterfly, a pig in a magical hat, it has long served as a terrifying explanation for the most intimate of fears: what comes for us when we are most vulnerable, in our beds, under the cover of night.

The Alp And Mare: An Alp is typically male, while the mara and mart appear to be more feminine versions of the same creature. The Alp, in many cases, is considered a demon, but there have been some instances in which the Alp is created from the spirits of recently dead relatives, more akin to a spirit or ghost.

A Creature of the Night

But what was an Alp? There are so many variations of this legend, but mostly it’s a male entity, often the spirit of a recently deceased man. It is also seen in connection to the Germanic Elf, or the otherworldly or underworld creatures. 

It could also be the spirit of a woman who died as a sinner and pregnant. It was also believed that she could create the Alp if she ate something unclean or something that had dwarf spit on it. She could also create an Alp if she did inappropriate gestures during pregnancy or frightened a dog or horse during it. 

Unlike the towering monsters of other myths, the Alp is an insidious tormentor, striking unseen and unfelt until its victim is gripped by an unnatural terror in the midst of sleep. It’s traditionally described as a malevolent spirit or goblin-like being, often invisible, though sometimes appearing in grotesque, human-like forms or even taking on the shape of a cat, dog, snake, or butterfly.

Shapeshifter: The Alp may change into a cat, pig, dog, snake or a small white butterfly and can fly like a bird and ride a horse. The Alp always wears a hat, known as a Tarnkappe which is simply a hat or veil that gives the Alp magic powers and the ability to turn invisible while worn. The hat is visible no matter what shape the Alp takes. An Alp who has lost this hat will offer a great reward for its safe return. The Alp also possesses an “evil eye” whose gaze will inflict illness and misfortune. Removing or damaging this eye also removes the Alp’s malicious intentions.

The Alp’s most feared ability, however, is its power to induce terrifying sleep paralysis — what folklore once called a “nightmare” (the term originally referring not to a bad dream, but to the demon itself).

Victims would wake to find themselves unable to move or cry out, an invisible weight pressing down on their chest as a suffocating dread filled the room. They might hear the Alp’s breath, feel its claw-like fingers at their throat, or see shadowy shapes moving just beyond the edge of reason.

An Appetite for Blood and Breath

The Alp was believed to feed on both the life essence and the blood of its victims, not unlike a vampire. It was said to drink the milk of nursing women and, disturbingly, sometimes the blood from their nipples. Livestock were not safe either — cows found mysteriously drained of milk were often blamed on the Alp’s nocturnal visits.

Another chilling feature of the Alp legend is its association with dreams themselves. The creature was thought to control a sleeper’s dreams, turning them dark and violent, manipulating the victim’s mind as it fed upon their fear.

Nightmare: A haunting depiction of the Alp, a malevolent creature from German folklore, tormenting a sleeping woman in her bed. the German word Alpdruck (literally ‘elf-oppression’) means ‘nightmare’. There is also evidence associating elves with illness, specifically epilepsy. In the early modern period, elves are described in Northern Germany as doing the evil bidding of witches; Martin Luther believed his mother to have been afflicted in this way.

Its favorite targets were said to be those in states of emotional turmoil, the ill, and the vulnerable. It would even sometimes fixate on specific individuals, tormenting them night after night, sometimes also sexually, like a Succubus and Incubus.

Defending Against the Alp

German folklore offered a variety of protective measures against the Alp’s predations. One common method involved placing a broomstick under the pillow, a shoe at the side of the bed with the toes pointing towards the door, or an iron horseshoe hung nearby — symbols meant to confuse or repel the spirit.

It was also believed that calling the Alp by its name could banish it, though given its invisibility and secretive nature, discovering the true identity of an Alp was often impossible.

From Dwarf to Demon: In Teutonic myth and folklore, Alp were considered friendly elf-like beings which lived in the mountains, but eventually turned more negative and malevolent. They were likened more to the moss people or mountain dwelling dwarfs until becoming closer to demonic.

Another curious belief held that binding one’s hair before sleep or keeping the bedroom door slightly ajar would prevent the creature from entering, as the Alp was a creature of rules and compulsions, easily deterred by simple tricks or obstacles.

Echoes in the Modern World

Many modern scholars and folklorists view tales of the Alp as early cultural interpretations of sleep paralysis, a phenomenon still experienced worldwide today. The suffocating weight, inability to move, hallucinated figures, and overwhelming terror described in Alp encounters mirror accounts of sleep paralysis episodes in astonishing detail.

Yet even with the benefit of modern science, the age-old fear persists. There’s something uniquely unsettling about the idea of being helpless within your own home, your own bed — and perhaps that’s why the legend of the Alp continues to cast a long, dark shadow in the collective memory of Europe.

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The Dark Side of Christmas: Hans Trapp — The Child Eating Scarecrow

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The children of Alsace are often reminded to watch out for Hans Trapp, a cursed Baron now dressing as a scarecrow, waiting for passing by children. Today now also said to be one of Santa’s helpers, punishing the bad children.

When the festive season rolls around, most of us are filled with joy, anticipation, and warmth as we prepare for Christmas. However, lurking in the shadows of holiday cheer, some tales remind us of the darker side of this time of year. Among these is the chilling legend of Hans Trapp, a figure from Alsatian folklore whose story is steeped in terror and moral warning. 

“Hans Trapp is coming for Christmas” parents in the Lorraine and Alsace regions on the German and French border can say. But he is not there to give presents, but beatings and is said to be a cannibal dressed up as a scarecrow, hungry for children.

The Christ child and Hans Trapp: The Christ Child is one of the good helpers to Santa Claus. Parts of Europea white-skinned, fresh-faced version of Jesus does the job of delivering presents. He often appears dressed in white—sometimes with wings. The Christ child can be anywhere from age two to twenty-two, and pretty much always blonde. Sometimes he’s not even the actual Jesus, but a young angel , heralding the arrival of Jesus. Here he is distributed gifts while Hans Trapp stuffed the naughties into a sack to eat later.

The Origins of Hans Trapp

The legend of Hans Trapp originates from the region of Alsace, which straddles the border between France and Germany. This area has a rich tapestry of folklore, where the lines between the real and the supernatural often blur. Hans Trapp is one such figure, deeply rooted in the region’s history and culture.

All the way north in the region you will find Wissembourg, now a border area, but back then, part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Hans Trapp, or Hans von Trotha, which was his actual name, was once a wealthy and powerful man, known for his insatiable greed and cruelty living at Berwartstein Castle, born in the mid 1400s. His riches were acquired through ruthless means, and he was feared and despised by those who lived in his dominion. According to legend, his malevolence grew so great that he dabbled in black magic and made a pact with the Devil to increase his wealth and power.

There are many stories, but what we do know is that he came into a fight with the Abbot of Wissembourg about land, and Hans Trapp decided to cut off their water supply in retaliation. He built a dam on top of the Wieslauter to stop its flow down to Wissembourg, flooding the abbot’s land. 

When they demanded he stop though, he destroyed the dam, causing a flooding, gushing down the mountain, flooding the town. 

Hans Trapp’s actions did not go unnoticed. But the Holy Roman Emperor did nothing to stop him. His heinous deeds and dark practices eventually drew the attention of the Church. The pope summoned him, but he refused. Instead he called the pope all sorts of immoral things. He was excommunicated by the church and banished from society, a punishment he hated. He was sent to French court instead during the Italian wars, dying in 1503 at his castle and his lineage died out around 40 years after his death.

The Burg Berwartstein: Berwartstein is a castle in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and where Hans von Trotha lived, the one that would mostly be remembered as Hans Trapp, scarecrow and child eater.

The Legacy of Hans Trapp

People started in the following years after his death to attribute horrible things to him, even changing his name to Tapp, where trappen is to make a noise while walking in order to chase away spirits. Soon he was turned into a devilish figure, a demon and a spook, always after revenge on those who wronged him. 

In the legend he is mostly talked about as a hermit, excommunicated to the woods, not to court. They tell about him living in the forest and building a shelter on the mountain of Geisberg in Bavaria in Germany, turning less and less human, living by luring children into his lair to eat them. One story tells that God himself turned him into a scarecrow because he devoured a young shepherd. 

Another version claimed it was Trapp who dressed up as a scarecrow to lure the children, stuffing his clothes with straw and hiding among the fields. As time went by after his exile, he turned mad, bitter and hungry for both revenge and flesh. With a grim visage and a sinister air, he would wait for his next victim.

One day, Hans Trapp set his sights on a young boy from a nearby village, only ten years old. He captured the child and took him back to his lair in the woods. As he prepared to cook and eat the boy, cooking him over the open fire, a divine intervention occurred. A bolt of lightning struck Hans Trapp down, killing him instantly and saving the child from a gruesome fate.

Le Hans Trapp: Man dressed up as the scarecrow man with the sack Christmas of 1953 in Wintzenheim (Alsace, France)

D’r Hans Trapp
Schoi, do kummt d’r Hans Trapp.
Ar het a scheni Zepfelkapp’
Un a Bart wiss wie a Schimmel.
Ar kummt vum schena Starnehimmel
Un bringt da Kinder a Ruada,
Wu net dien singe un bata.
Schoi, Hans Trapp, mir sin so klein
Un brav un folje d’heim.
Müesch net kumme mit dim Stacka,
Denn mir kenne singe un oi bata.

English Translation

The Hans Trapp
Look, there’s Hans Trapp.
He’s got a nice pointed hood
And a beard as white as a white horse.
He comes from the starry sky
He brings a rod to the children
Who neither sing nor pray.
Look, Hans Trapp, we are so small
We are wise and we follow the house.
You don’t need to come with your rod,
For we know how to sing and pray.

The Haunting of Christmas

Though Hans Trapp was destroyed, his evil spirit was not at rest. According to legend, he continues to roam the region, especially during the Christmas season as he became the helper of St. Nicholas to punish children. Some claim that St. Nicholas happened to walk past as Trapp was struck by lightning. He came with him and has since tried to redeem himself for his sins. Another version for why he is involved in the Christmas season is, well… Misbehaving children need a story. 

Read More: Check out all haunted legends from the Christmas Season

Much like Krampus, Hans Trapp is said to visit misbehaving children, but his presence is far more sinister. It is said he is riding his black horse on the countryside of northern Alsace looking for vengeance. On St. Nicholas’ Eve he takes part in the parade of the holy man in the region. He embodies the fearsome consequences of moral corruption and the dangers that lurk in the darkness.

Parents in Alsace would tell their children the story of Hans Trapp to instill good behavior and to keep them from wandering too far from home. The tale serves as a chilling reminder that while Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, it also has its shadows.

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References:

The Child-Eating Scarecrow Of Christmas | Mat Auryn 

Hans von Trotha – Wikipedia 

Folklore’s Scariest Creatures: Hans Trapp – Writing Werewolf 

Hans Trapp, the terror of the children of Alsace – French Moments 

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The Dark Side of Christmas: The Haunting Legend of Krampus and Krampusnacht

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By Santa’s side, you will sometimes find his evil companion, Krampus, finding children and punishing them if they have been bad. But who really is this monster, coming after you on Krampusnacht.

When we think of Christmas, images of jolly Santa Claus, reindeer, and brightly wrapped presents come to mind. Family gathers for meals by the Christmas tree and it is all around a jolly festivity. However, nestled within the festive cheer of December lies a darker, more sinister figure from Alpine folklore: Krampus. This half-goat, half-demon creature is said to haunt the Christmas season that starts early in December in some parts of Europe, offering a chilling contrast to the joyous celebrations.

Origins of Krampus from the European Alps

Krampus’ origins can be traced back to pre-Christian Alpine traditions, stretching through many European countries, where he was believed to be a pagan entity associated with winter and inspired by the mythological creature of Perchten or Straggele. The tradition of Krampus has often mostly been celebrated in Austria, Hungary and Germany, but there are also cases in the surrounding alpine countries.

Krampus is thought to come from either Bavarian: krampn, meaning “dead”, “rotten”, or from the German: kramp/krampen, meaning “claw”. Where does he come from? Some say that he is the son of Hel in Norse mythology, popularized by an American artist, and it also shares some things with satyrs and fauns from Greek mythology. Krampus is typically depicted with long, curved horns, a lolling tongue, and a body covered in fur. Chains and bells often hang from his body, symbolizing the binding of the Devil by the Christian Church.

As Christianity spread through Europe, Krampus was incorporated into Christian traditions, specifically as a counterpart to Saint Nicholas and this is really where his popularity and lore took off. Perhaps losing a bit of his pagan touch like a pan-like creature, morphing into something more devilish.  

While Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with gifts, Krampus punishes those who have been naughty, beating them with a stick, stuffing them in a sack and taking them away. A sort of St. Nicholas helper. This duality embodies the balance between reward and punishment, good and evil, that pervades much of folklore.

The Night of Krampus: Krampusnacht

On the night of December 5th, known as Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night, the demon emerges to roam the streets. In towns across Austria, Germany, and other parts of Europe, men dress up as Krampus and participate in parades known as Krampuslauf, or Krampus Run. During these events, the costumed figures terrorize onlookers with their ghastly appearances and playful, yet alarming antics.

This is based on the old legend of how the young men with their cow bells and sticks disperse the winter’s ghosts.

According to legend, Krampus carries a bundle of birch sticks to swat naughty children and a sack or basket on his back to cart off those he deems particularly bad. The threat of being caught by Krampus is meant to encourage good behavior among children, serving as a dark reminder of the consequences of misdeeds.

Read More: Check out all haunted legends from the Christmas Season

Although the tradition has started to pick up again, it wasn’t always like it. After the first world war they started to ban Krampus traditions and for a time, they almost disappeared entirely. 

Krampuslauf: From the Krampus run in 2010 where around 300 scary, dark figures strolled around the Grazer Krampuslauf and were accompanied by a heavy snowfall and numerous visitors through the Grazer Herrengasse.

The Modern Krampus

In recent years, Krampus has experienced a resurgence in popularity, crossing over into mainstream culture. Why? Is it how Europeans are connecting more with their pagan roots? Perhaps because of how modern society is diverting more and more from its classic christian and religious connotations? Perhaps throughout the years he has turned more devil-like than goat-like, especially in popular culture. 

Horror films, books, and television shows have introduced Krampus to new audiences, solidifying his role as a dark counterbalance to the merriment of Christmas. While many still celebrate Krampusnacht with traditional parades and festivities, the legend of Krampus has also sparked a fascination with the more macabre aspects of the holiday season.

Krampus Postcards: For a time it was very popular to send Christmas cards of Krampus, in his usual habitat where he was punishing children. There were also many grown up themes with having Krampus as a boyfriend and the likes.

A Throwback to Ancient Christmas Times

Krampus stands as a stark reminder that Christmas is not solely a time of joy and generosity. His haunting presence and the eerie stories that surround him add a layer of complexity to the festive season, blending ancient folklore with modern traditions. 

Whether viewed as a cautionary figure or a symbol of the darker side of human nature, Krampus continues to captivate and terrify, ensuring that the spirit of Christmas is never taken for granted. To appease him, it is said you should offer him some Schnapps. As the night of Krampusnacht approaches, remember to be on your best behavior, for you never know when the demon of Christmas might pay you a visit.

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References:

Who is Krampus? Explaining Santa Claus’s Scary Christmas Counterpart 

Krampus – Wikipedia 

The Origin of Krampus, Europe’s Evil Twist on Santa | Smithsonian 

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The Haunted Schlosshotel Waldlust

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A once glorious and state of the art hotel in the Black Forest in Germany, the Schlosshotel Waldlust is now an empty shell of what it used to be. Old and abandoned, the place is now known as a haunted hotel after the manager was killed in one of the rooms. 

Schlosshotel Waldlust is a haunted and abandoned hotel in Freudenstadt in the middle of the Black Forest in Germany. It certainly looks like a dark fairy tale building now, all dusty with decaying wallpaper and rustling in the old pipes. 

But it used to be a state of the art hotel of 140 rooms where celebrity guests, writers, actors and royals alike came to spend time in the fresh mountain air. It opened in 1902 with Art Nouveau decor specialized for spa and relaxing atmospheres and entertained guests for decades. 

The Murder in the Hotel

The one running the show at Schlosshotel Waldlust was Adele, or known as Adi who brought the guests to the hotel by throwing lavish and exclusive events. She is also a victim of the hotel and thought to haunt the place. 

After the war the family run hotel of Schlosshotel Waldlust saw a rapid decline in guests and revenue. The hotel had already fallen from its heyday earlier in the century.

Grand Hotel: When it opened it was a luxury hotel. Now there is only ruins and damp empty rooms of it left.

The exact details about what happened to Adi is unclear as there never were a record of an Adele as a hotel owner or as a guest, but she was brutally murdered in the world famous hotel in 1949, and the hotel was never the same as she would never check out and leave. 

The Haunted Hotel

After Adi died, the Schlosshotel Waldlust was used as a military hospital for years and many met their end in the former hotel. In the 1960s they tried to open the hotel again as a guesthouse with all the former glory, but something had changed. 

The hotel staff started to notice strange things, the glass was shaking as if it was an earthquake, and they saw a woman with a white veil wandering the halls. They also heard a baby crying in the night, even though there was no one there. 

Schlosshotel Waldlust finally closed in 2005, and is now almost only used for those that want to take a peek at what a haunted and abandoned hotel looks like. 

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The Myths and Legends of Frankenstein Castle

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The historic building of Frankenstein Castle is now mostly in ruins, but is still a place for myths and legends to live on and inspire new horror. 

On a stoney hilltop amidst the dark forest there at the spurs of the low mountain range of Odenwald in Germany is an old medieval castle called Frankenstein Castle. 

The place itself with its narrow valleys and dark trees contains many legends and is heavy with myths of the past. The same can be said for the castle on the hilltop that has weathered many storms, legends and ghosts since it was built. 

The Frankenstein Castle or Burg Frankenstein was built sometime before 1252, the year of the first historical record, by Lord Conrad Reiz of Breuberg. Already then the place was filled with myths and stories about other older castles that had once stood there. 

The castle went through many modernisations and so did the Frankenstein family living there for over 400 years. They saw many things change during their reign as lords and knights and during the Reformation they were strong opponents to the Lutherans, being devoted Roman Catholics. 

By the 18th century the castle was used as a hospital and refuge until it fell into ruins. The two iconic towers that are seen today are nothing more than a restoration from the mid 19th century. And an inaccurate version of that. 

Myths and Legends of the Frankenstein Castle

Many strange things have happened near this place. Like in the 18th century when fortune tellers made everyone believe that a treasure was hidden close to the castle in 1763. Everyone started digging for it until local authorities had to ban people from gold digging altogether. 

Close to the castle you will also find magnetic stones on Mount Ilbes were compases don’t work properly. Many say that there is witchcraft practice at these stones on special occasions like on summer solstice. It is said that Mount Ilbes is the second most important meeting place for witches in the country after Mount Brocken, and visitors are advised to not disturb any ongoing rituals. 

Another mythical thing close to the Frankenstein Castleis the Sea of Rocks known as Felsenmeer, and believed to be a place where Siegfried the dragonslayer was murdered in the epic poem Nibelungenlied. 

This is also a place where you can see legendary creatures like water spirits that change into a fox. 

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

The Frankenstein Castle may or may not have been inspired by this historic castle when she wrote her novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus in 1818. 

The meaning behind the name is the two words, Franks, a Germanic tribe, and Stein, meaning stone. And the name itself is actually a pretty common name for castles in this region. There is also the connection to Benjamin Franklin as an inspiration, so the name itself doesn’t necessarily prove anything. 

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Whether or not she really was inspired by the castle or the legends about the place is unclear. But there are myths about a scientist creating a monster with the help of lightening within the walls of Frankenstein Castle.

There is however no mention of the castle itself in the book and many researchers doubt Shelley’s connection to the castle as she herself never went. It is possible that she heard stories about it as the legends were quite notorious when she visited Germany. 

The biggest connection is the rumors surrounding one of the alchemists living in Frankenstein castle that the rumors said he also created a monster. 

The Alchemist and the Elixir of Life

Once there was a man named Johann Konrad Dippel (1673-1734) who was born in the castle. This man would later become a professional alchemist and he created an oil said to contain the ‘Elixir of Life’ meant to grant eternal life. 

The animal oil, which is known as Dippel’s Oil is a dark, tar like liquid with a horrible smell from distillation of bones. It was used mostly as an animal and insect repellent. In World War II it was used to make wells undrinkable.  Dippel tried to buy the castle in exchange for the elixir of life, but was turned down. 

Fountain of youth: Near castle Frankenstein you will find the fountain of youth. // Source: Pascal Rehfeldt

During his stay at Frankenstein castle there were many rumors going on about the man. He supposedly sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for secret knowledge. They also said he did not only practice alchemy, but also anatomy, a practice strictly forbidden more so than the magic of alchemy.

They said he performed experiments on dead bodies he dug up and took back to the castle. The local cleric warned his parish that Dippel created a monster that he brought to life with the help of a bolt of lightning. 

Although none of these experiments have been proven there are local people claiming to this day that this happened within the castle walls.  

This is not the only connection the place has with eternal life though, as it is said the place is also where you can find the fountain of youth. According to legend, on the first full-moon night after Walpurgis Night, which is on the night of April 30. Old women from the villages closeby went to test their courage. Those who succeeded would become as young as she had been on her wedding night. 

Lord George and the Dragon

According to legend, there lived a dragon in the garden of the Frankenstein Castle near the well in the 1200s. The villagers in the neighboring village Nieder Beerbach lived in fear from this monster who snuck into the village at night to eat them and their children in their sleep. 

The Gardens of the Castle: Nature is slowly taking over the castle. According to myth, there was a dragon near the well in the Frankenstein Castle garden// Source: Frank Vincentz

One day a knight named Lord George came by and the people were desperate for his help, which he promised. 

The very next day he put on his armor and got his shield and sword. He rode up to the Frankenstein Castle gardens, straight to the well where the dragon was resting in the sun. 

The battle that ensued lasted for hours, and Lord George nearly gave up from exhaustion while the dragon spat fire and steam. But Lord George managed at last to pierce the underbelly of the dragon with his sword, giving him a killing blow. But just as the dragon was dying, he clung to the knight with his poisonous tail and stung the knight, leaving them both to die. 

The villagers were relieved and happy though and gave the knight an honorable burial for his sacrifice. They took him to the Church of Nieder Beerbach, in a valley east of the Frankenstein Castle, making a tomb for him. 

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The Hauntings The Waldniel Hostert School

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At the The Waldniel Hostert School, a former school and Nazi Institute bears a tragic story and the ghosts of so many of the mentally disabled children that were murdered during the War. 

Kent School, or as it was known back in the day, The Waldniel Institute was a school with a tragic backstory and is said to have left a haunted expression on the building. 

When The Waldniel Hostert School was operating as a secondary school for children of military personnel it was a boarding school as well as a day school. The school was open from 1963 to 1986 and one of several schools operated by the Service Children’s Education organization, catering to the children of the British Armed Forces. 

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Germany

At its peak The Waldniel Hostert School housed over 6000 students at one point. The gothic appearance of the school made the British nicknamed Colditz after the war camp in East Germany. 

From the students there were rumors about what had happened here before, as it was the site where the Nazis murdered countless of mentally disabled children as a part of their racial purification program. 

And among the rumors, they started talking about seeing and hearing those unfortunate children in the form of ghosts, still lingering within the compound of their old school.

The Horror School

Before The Waldniel Hostert School was a school it was a monastery operated by monks since the 14th century. 

The school was first a Franciscan priory called St. Josefsheim was built in 1913 by the Order of the Franciscans of the Holy Cross. Here they housed mentally handicapped children and around 600 mentally and physically disabled people lived in the monastery. 

In 1937, it closed its doors and the last of the brothers left the house on 23rd May, and it would no longer be the safe haven for the disabled as it had been up to then.

From then on the The Waldniel Hostert School was operated by the Nazis. They called it The Waldniel Institute. The nationalists had a different philosophy about whose life was worth anything than the Franciscan monks had, and the mentally handicapped were far down on that list. 

In 1939 there was a law that every disabled newborn had to be reported to the government. And during the war they put a race purification program to rid themselves of these children. The program ended up killing more than 200 000 people and St Josefsheim, now The Waldniel Institute, was not spared.

The Waldniel Institute was a place that was part of their child euthanasia programme and at least 30 children were murdered within its walls, and more than 500 patients were reported dying. The rest of the over 1000 people living there were transported to other institutions where many of them met their death as well.  

After the war, the building was given back to the brotherhood, but they sold it to the Allies as they no longer could operate as they had used to. 

The Waldniel Hostert School After the War

The Allies took over the country and The Waldniel Institute where these horrific crimes had been committed. They removed the traces of the program and turned it into a secondary school for their children that would end up being Kent School. 

While they renovated the school they uncovered human remains of the patients who had died and were killed when the Nazis ran their institute. 

There are many stories about the haunted stuff happening at the school. They say the children are heard weeping from the corridors where they wander restlessly, fearful of the horrendous end they met with. 

At the end of the Cold War The Waldniel Hostert School closed its door for good in 1993 and handed the building back to the German authorities.

Today The Waldniel Hostert School is privately owned, but abandoned. 

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Featured Picture: Christian Stol/wikimedia

Kent School St. Josefsheim – Abandoned and Lost Places

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The Murder Monk in Franziskaner-Klosterkirche

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In the ruins of the Franziskaner-Klosterkirche in Berlin, there is a legend of a murderous monk haunting the place, after he ended up murdering his own son. 

The old ruins of the once great Franziskaner-Klosterkirche was a Franciscan monastery since the 1200s and was before its destruction the most important medieval building in Berlin. 

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Franziskaner-Klosterkirche was bombed to ruins by the allies during the last day of the second world war in 1945. It was probably one of the oldest buildings in the city. Still today it is a part of the city landscape though, just by the Alexanderplatz in the city center of Berlin. 

The Runaway Knight Roderich

But the monks of Franziskaner-Klosterkirche have been gone for years and the only ones living there now are ghosts. The most famous ghost in the ruins of the monastery was once a knight named Roderich. He became a monk when he was running away from the father of his one night stand. The father was enraged as he had dishonored his daughter and was after him. 

Franziskaner-Klosterkirche: The monastery was also called Graues Kloster (The Gray Monastery) and was in use even after the reformation and used as a school. This is from a postcard around 1910.

On the run, the knight turned monk broke his leg and kept walking with a limp. From then on everyone called Roderich the limping monk, and he was not a popular one. 

Because of his injury and his unfortunate circumstances isolated in the monastery, Roderich grew bitter over the long years. He didn’t get along with the other monks either and paid two criminals to murder one of the other monks in the monastery. He blamed the murder on some Knights Templar who ended up being executed for it. 

The Murderous Monk in Franziskaner-Klosterkirche

Another monk was sent to the Franziskaner-Klosterkirche called Bernhard. He entered because of the grief he had of his miserable love that turned out badly. He loved and wanted to marry a woman, but as the cruel fate would have it, it turned out she was his sister, and he was unable to go on outside of the monastery. 

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Bernhard was a skeptical person though and had his own theory of the murder of the monk Roderich had killed in Franziskaner-Klosterkirche. When Bernard met Roderich he told him that he didn’t believe that the Knights Templar was behind the murder of their fellow monk brother. 

This was the nail in the coffin for Bernhard and Roderich locked him up in a dark cellar of the monastery to cover his crime when he was found out, ending up killing him so he wouldn’t spill his secret. 

The Ultimate Sin

While this is going on, the two criminals Roderich hired came clean and confessed to what really happened when they murdered the monk and it was in fact Roderich that was behind it all. The anger and rage against Roderich grew and an angry mob stormed the monastery, searching for Roderich to put things right. 

The angry mob found him kneeling in the cellar next to the dead body of Bernhard. After he had killed Bernhard, Roderich went through Bernhards stuff and found a letter from Bernard’s mother. This was a woman who Roderich knew intimately and it was Roderich’s former lover telling him that Roderich in fact was the father of Bernhard. 

Overcome with grief and regret he confessed at once and was killed on the spot without a trial. 

Since then, Roderich has been haunting the Franziskaner-Klosterkirche, even after it all turned to ruins. He can be heard wailing in the night from the outside of the monastery, unable to atone for his sins of killing his own son in cold blood to cover his own tracks. 

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Franziskanerkloster in Berlin: Ruine ist Schauplatz einer düsteren Legende