Wörtherseemandl
The Wörtherseemandl is a legendary figure in Carinthia and, according to legend, is what caused the creation of the Wörthersee .
legend
Thousands of years ago, there was a rich city on the area that is now Lake Wörthersee. Trade with distant lands brought wealth to the inhabitants, but gradually made them virtuous. Money and consumption were put above everything and nobody believed in God anymore.
On a Christmas Eve, the citizens gathered in the large ballroom in the town hall for a Christmas dinner. The town church rang for Christmas mass, but it never occurred to anyone to leave the festival. Suddenly the doors to the ballroom opened and a little bearded man entered. He advised the celebrating people that anyone who wants to live should attend the Christmas mass. His warning earned only laughter and insults. Thereupon the little man left the hall grumpy.
At midnight the doors opened again and the little man entered the ballroom for the second time. He carried a small barrel under his arm and again exhorted the celebrants to fulfill their duties as Christians. When the citizens began to mock again, the little man shouted angrily: “You don't want it any other way, and death and destruction will come upon you and your sinful city!”. It broke through the bung of the barrel and masses of water poured out. The ballroom was quickly under water. Nobody could close the barrel and the little man suddenly disappeared.
The people - although they regretted their actions - drowned in the floods. The water completely covered the city and large parts of the country. Today the body of water is known as the Wörthersee and the admonishing little man is known as the Wörtherseemandl ( Mandl is dialect and means little man ).
Todays situation
In Carinthia , the Wörtherseemandl is as well known among the population as the Lindwurm . In the city of Klagenfurt there is a monument to the Wörthersee almond by the fountain in Kramergasse (artist: Heinz Goll , 1962). The bronze figure is one of the sights in Klagenfurt.