Kaiser Ferdinand Bridge over the Ohre River in Loket (Czech Republic) painted by Franz Josef Sandmann

In the former prison cells and torture chamber of the Loket Castle there is a small statue of Gottstein, a gnome-like creature that sports a long, golden beard and holds a club behind his back. A plaque proclaims him the ruler of the Loket cliffs, rocks and underworld. According to a legend, if a person touches the top of Gottstein’s beard, leaves some money and wishes for something good, the wish will come true. However, if a person touches the club behind his back or thinks about something mean, that person will feel Gottstein’s wrath within one year.

Legend about the Loket Castle