Fairytales

Three legends from Altmünster

Altmünster is the oldest town on Traunsee, about which many tales have been woven. Some can be traced back to historical events. Most of them, however, are fictitious and belong to the realm of fairy tales.

There are three legends about Altmünster itself, which was first recorded in 1236 as a very old parish.

The first says that this ancient place was originally inhabited by fishermen on the banks of today's Urthl, meaning the original part. Their pagan idol temple stood on Kollmannsberg, on the so-called Errer. The pious hermit Hieronymus destroyed the temple and the church still stands in its place today. That's why it's called "Hieronymusleiten" or "Animosleiten".

Another legend tells that Emperor Charlemagne brought the first clergy to Traunsee. And that they had to travel long distances to preach, even as far as Salzburg. There is a historical truth in this legend: Altmünster was then a large parish that covered all of Salzkammergut.

The third legend describes the place as a powerful heathen town, which is said to have stretched between Aurachtal and Traunsee, Hocheck and Adlersberg. The brick and masonry, which is sometimes found underground, supposedly dates from this period. On the site of today's parish church and on Kollmannsberg is said to have stood a temple of the god Erex. The apostle Paul converted the inhabitants of the area and smashed the idols. In another story, which makes reference to the first legend, it was destroyed by Hieronymus, who lived on Kollmannsberg.

Today there is still a Hieronymusleiten and three houses that bear variations of the name Erex. The pagan town itself was either swallowed up by the lake or, according to another legend, simply deserted.

In addition to these founding legends, in which paganism is replaced by Christianity, are other stories that deal with water spirits and devils. Their origins can, in part, be traced back to Greek mythology.