Basilisk – Historical Spots in Vienna

On the morning of June 12th,1212 cries of fear were heard on Schönlaterngasse. The baker’s daughter had gone to fetch fresh water but was struck by a nauseating smell coming from the bottom of the well. A brave man named Heinrich was lowered down to investigate but was pulled back up nearly dead, saying he saw a creature horrible beyond imagination. A wise man passing by explained that it was a Basilisk, grown from a chicken’s egg that had been hatched by a toad, and that the only way to kill the creature was for it to see its own reflection. Young Hans, who was hopelessly in love with the baker’s daughter, grabbed a mirror and volunteered to go down and deal with the Basilisk. Sure enough, the monster to one look at itself, and died. Hans and the baker’s daughter were married shortly after but poor Heinrich never recovered, a victim of the evil Basilisk.

There is some truth to this story because the fumes that emerged from below ground in those days were sometimes bad enough to make you sick…or worse.