The Bächle with dragon power
A special landmark of the Black Forest metropolis of Freiburg is the Bächle. These 9-kilometer-long above-ground and underground water channels were first mentioned in documents in 1246 and are spread throughout Freiburg’s old town. According to legend, the Bächle are said to possess dragon power. This is because a dragon is said to have once lived in a cave in the Galtern Valley, tyrannizing the citizens of medieval Freiburg with its terrible toothache. The people of Freiburg promised the dragon that they would free it from its hellish toothache if, in return, it would let them live in peace from then on. The pact was sealed by both sides, and the people of Freiburg mobilized all their horses and oxen, which they harnessed with a strong rope around the dragon’s aching tooth. With combined forces, the animals pulled on the tooth until it was finally extracted. As they did so, the dragon shed tears of pain, which flowed into the Bächle. The dragon kept his promise and left the people of Freiburg in peace. From then on, he lived in his cave in the forest, where he preyed on the farmers’ livestock. Since neither arrows nor swords could wound him, it was assumed that the dragon was a transformed spirit atoning for a grave sin. Therefore, a chapel was built where a candle was lit for the dragon every Sunday. When it burned, no animal fell victim to the dragon. But if they forgot to light it, the farmers would find a dead or sick animal the next day. Such is the legend of the dragon, whose dragon power is said to flow in the Bächle to this day.
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