Karpniki Castle and its nature by Michał SiarekKarpniki Castle
The Legends
Lower Silesia is a region full of mysteries and untamed nature. In the past, local people tried to make sense of the surrounding world by means of legends and fairytales. The story of Liczyrzepa is one of them.
Two women in turnip field (1885) by Karl HagemeisterAlte Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
The Damsel
Emma was a young and beautiful daughter of one of the local princes. One day, she went with her friends to the mountains to bathe in a mountain creek.
Daughters of the River by Alex ZappaThe Gold Mine in Złoty Stok
The Spirit of the Karkonosze Mountains
When she dived into the creek, the Spirit of the Mountains took his chance and kidnapped her.
He was madly in love with Emma for some time already and had been plotting on how to get hold of her.
Karpniki Castle and the sun in the mountains of Lower Silesia by Michał SiarekKarpniki Castle
The Spirit of the Mountains took on a human form and locked Emma in his castle. All this was to no avail, as she didn't fall in love with him.
Still Life with Vegetables (1826) by James PealeThe Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
The Turnips
He was heartbroken to see Emma sad and despondent so he gave her a basket full of magic turnips.
By Paul SchutzerLIFE Photo Collection
Each turnip was able to change into a companion, a servant, a friend. However, the turnips were withering away quickly and so the magical people were dying.
Puzzle Purse Valentine Card (1790)The Postal Museum
Prince Racibor 💔
To make matters worse, Emma missed her real love, young prince Racibor. She plotted a scheme and complained to the Spirit of the Mountains that she needs more turnips. It was winter and they were really scarce.
White Flowers in a Vase White Flowers in a Vase (ca. 1884–1904) by Zacharie AstrucThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
Emma tricked the Spirit of the Mountains and said that she will want the magic turnips to turn into their wedding procession.
Liczyrzepa believed this. He got excited about this idea, went to the filed and started to count how many turnips there were left.
Botanical oval platter with turnip leaf Botanical oval platter with turnip leaf (ca. 1755) by Chelsea Porcelain ManufactoryThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
Liczyrzepa
That's how he go his nickname. In Polish 'Liczyrzepa' literally means 'the one who counts turnips'.
There are many variants of this curious nickname in different languages: such as: Rzepiór, Rzepolicz, Rübezahl, or Rýbrcoul.
Other variations focus on the mountains of Karkonosze, such as: Karkonosz, Krakonoš, Krkonoš - meaning 'The Spirit of Karkonosze Mountains.
The town of Zloty Stok by Alex ZappaThe Gold Mine in Złoty Stok
Racibórz
When Liczyrzepa was counting the turnips, Emma managed to escape with Racibor. They got married and settled in a place that they would call Racibórz from the name of Racibor.
Karpniki Castle and the sun in the mountains of Lower Silesia by Michał SiarekKarpniki Castle
Śnieżka Mountain
Liczyrzepa, out of despair retrieved from life and hide himself on the mountain peak of Śnieżka.
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