The White Lady

In his book Messenger of Old Czech Stories, J. Beckovský writes under the year 1594 that Petr Vok of Rožmberk lived at Bechyně Castle in his youth. The White Lady appeared here, as at all residences of the Rožmberk family. “…This White Lady often took him from his room and from his nurse’s arms and carried him elsewhere, but at her pleasure she always brought him back unharmed and returned him to the nurse, by this deed admonishing her to watch over the child diligently. When the White Lady came into the room among the maids, she often remained sitting with them for several hours, never saying a word. Walking about the castle in the evening, she carried a lighted candle to see by; thus many strangers arriving at the castle, guests, and even some heedless members of the household often approached her and lit their candles from hers. Sometimes, when she entered a room, she sat down in a chair as if utterly weary after a long journey, breathed heavily and sighed sorrowfully, sometimes saying these words: ‘Oh, how many distant places I have walked through today!’”

FROM LEGEND TO STORY

Bechyně: the White Lady whose candle lit the candles of the living

She neither slams doors nor pursues anyone. The White Lady of Bechyně watches over a child, sits among the maids and carries a candle through the castle at night. Her very calm is what makes her extraordinary.

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