The legends of Pinzgau: storytelling traditions, storytelling modes, and storytellers
Oral traditions in Salzburg, inscribed 2026
The legends of Pinzgau have long formed an integral part of the region’s storytelling tradition. Passed down orally over generations in the Pinzgau dialect, they are deeply connected to the ever-present mountainous landscape and the cultural identity of the people of Pinzgau.
View Gallery
These legends originated within village storytelling communities and can be traced back to at least the 1930s. They are closely linked to alpine topography, local place names, historical forms of economic activity (pack‑animal trade, mining, and alpine pastoral farming), and regional customs. In this way, they inseparably unite language, the art of storytelling, and local knowledge, offering valuable insights into the social and mythological world of the people of Pinzgau and their living environment.
Many of these stories originate from distinctive features of the landscape, such as the headwaters of the Rivers Salzach and Saalach, the Krimml Waterfalls, or the Lamprechtsofen, regarded as one of the deepest caves in Europe. Likewise, the Großvenediger—one of Austria’s highest peaks—lies at the heart of numerous legends. To this day, these tales are safeguarded by individual storytellers in the Pinzgau region, most of whom come from the very villages in which the legends are set. Among them are stories such as ‘The Treasure in the Krimml Waterfall’ or ‘The Tatzlwurm on the Saalalm’, the Tatzlwurm being a lizard-like creature with the head of a cat. The legends are told in the Pinzgau dialect, whose expressive qualities are integral to their impact. Beyond the narratives themselves, the storytellers possess deep knowledge of variations, historical contexts, beliefs, and detailed information about the respective settings. Today, however, only a small number of these storytellers remain.
To preserve and safeguard these legends for the future, they are being systematically documented in an audio archive, which will be made accessible in the long term through the Austrian Media Library. In addition, storytelling sessions, legend walks, as well as educational programmes in schools and museums engage audiences of all ages. These initiatives aim to promote the active transmission of the legends.
Downloads
- [Translate to English:] Bewerbungsmappe 738 KB (pdf)
- [Translate to English:] Expertise Gautsch 1 MB (pdf)
- [Translate to English:] Expertise Mauser 329 KB (pdf)
Tags
ID: 2155
