Silver medal Legends of the Czech Châteaux - Vranov nad Dyjí and the fairy queen proof

The series titled Legends of Czech Castles is full of myths, mysteries, and fairy tales. The third silver coin from the Czech Mint commemorates the legend of the Fairy Queen of Vranov nad Dyjí.

On a rocky promontory above the right bank of the Dyje River stands Vranov Castle, where, long ago, a knight, his wife, and their two young daughters lived. The girls often played in the valley below the castle, but one day they wandered off. They wandered, cried, and searched in vain for the way home. Fortunately, they came upon a spring, where a beautiful woman with golden hair and a gem on her forehead appeared to them. She comforted the children and showed them the way home. She was the fairy queen named Felicia, who lived with her companions by a clear forest spring. People told legends about her beauty and magical powers, but very few had ever seen her. Soon, however, the knight himself managed to see her, having been led to the spring by a hunted stag. This time, it was not a friendly encounter - a sullen Felicie ordered the lord of the castle to stop hunting the forest animals under her protection. The passionate hunter hesitated, but eventually obeyed and did not regret it. From then on, the Fairy Queen helped him and gave him good advice. Life at Vranov was happy, but then tragedy struck despite the fairy’s warning, the lady of the castle set out with her husband for Znojmo, fell into an abyss, and perished. The devastated knight begged the fairy for help, and she decided to become his new wife and care for his children. However, she stipulated that she would spend her nights outside the castle, and the knight had to swear that he would not search for her. They lived happily for a long time, but one day curiosity got the better of him. One night, the knight went to the spring, where he saw Felicia dancing in the midst of her companions. She had never been so beautiful, and so, overcome with longing, he cried out her name. The fairies vanished in an instant, and only their queen remained. With tears in her eyes, she bid the knight farewell and vanished. The people of Vranov never forgot her even on his deathbed, the lord of the castle whispered her name, and his daughter later had a chapel adorned with figures of dancing nymphs built above the spring…

The obverse side of the commemorative medal, designed by academic sculptor Majka Wichnerová, depicts the fairy queen comforting the knight’s lost children, while her companions dance in the background. On the reverse side, you will find a view of the castle, which towers on a rocky promontory above the river. The composition is completed by the inscriptions VRANOV NAD DYJÍ CASTLE and QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES.

This issue, which loosely follows the “Legends of Czech Castles” series, is being released in a limited edition of just 300 pieces.