Surprising legends of the Hungarian dragons

Everybody knows of dragons. But did you know Hungary also boasts quite a few of them?

It’s common knowledge that a dragon can fly, spit fire and likes to hoard treasure. That’s the traditional view of these mythological beasts. However, the Hungarian dragons had their own unique quirks. Arriving in whirlwinds, they weren’t ones to hide their anger issues. Thunderstorms? Oh, just the sounds of their raging, no biggie. They were agents of chaos, and once the Christians gained influence, they quickly became viewed as the helpers of Satan. Villains for centuries, these dragons were no bedtime story material. Thus, it was advisable to steer clear of them as much as possible. Luckily, the numerous Hungarian folk stories gave some pointers of where these dragons liked to dwell. Let’s dive into the tales of these fire-breathing monsters, shall we?

The dragon of the Bakony, also known as the Balaton legend

Once upon a time, there was a 24-headed dragon living in the dark, dense forests of the Bakony, terrorising the locals on a daily basis. It had a insatiable appetite for innocent young beauties, and the terrified locals helplessly let it snack on their daughters and wives. When the dragon set its sights on Balaton’s bride, the Bakony’s strongest lad, he wasn’t having it. He was determined to keep his beloved safe, so the couple hid in the forest to outsmart the beast. The dragon huffed and puffed angrily while scratching the earth with its razor-sharp claws, resulting in a new spring that erupted from beneath. Within a day, it miraculously swelled into a deep lake. In a heroic battle with the menace, Balaton went of chopping off heads after heads. On the last day, when Balaton managed to cut the last head off, he was mortally wounded and died along his foe. In his honour, the locals named the deep lake after him, and to this day, it’s called Lake Balaton.

The dragon of the swamp of Ecsed, also known as the legend of the Báthori family

Báthori coat of arms

Back in the times of yore, in the murky swamps of Ecsed, there dwelled a dragon so deep in the water that even the bravest knights dared not venture. The locals were terrorised, and no rope could fathom the depths where the creature lurked. Enter Vid, a valiant knight hailing from the Gutkeled clan, who decided to take matters into his own hands and put an end to the scaly menace.

With mace in hand, Vid descended into the eerie swamp, ready to face the dragon’s tyranny. A fierce battle ensued, echoing through the swampy abyss. Against all odds, Vid emerged victorious, proudly claiming three teeth from the defeated dragon. These trophies found their place in the illustrious coat of arms of the Báthori family, forever commemorating the heroics that rid Ecsed of its fearsome aquatic overlord.

The dragon of the Mecsek, or the legend of the Dragonwell

Dragonwell in Mecsek

To this day, there is still a mystery surrounding the lovely Dragonwell of the Mecsek. Legend has it when the Mecsek was scarcely inhabited, a menacing dragon enjoyed tormenting the locals. Luckily, the frightful days were cut short, not by a gallant knight, but by its own inept hunting skills. On the third day of its unsuccessful hunt, the dragon had lost most of its power and crawled into its cave, where it fell into a deep sleep. While the dragon was in oblivion, there came a terrible storm that was so great it moved mountains. That’s how the entrance of the dragon’s cave got blocked by a huge boulder, trapping the starving beast inside. Now, every time the dragon awakes, it bathes in the cave’s rock pool, unleashing a torrent of freshwater that transforms into the famed Dragonwell. Scientists have tried studying the phases of this water source with little success, writes origo.hu. Surprisingly, the Dragonwell’s water levels seem indifferent to the weather, hinting at a peculiar individual behaviour.

As the Dragonwell continues to defy explanation, its enigmatic nature persists, leaving us to marvel at the magical intersection of myth and reality in the heart of the Mecsek.