The bachelor's thesis deals with folk narratives surrounding Old Castle in Celje, which used to
be in possession of the counts of Celje during the 14th and 15th century. Today it presents a
popular tourist attraction. The thesis positions legends as the discussed folklore genre, as it
concerns the majority of the collected local narratives. The thesis begins with an exploration
of legends about castles in Slovenia. Through this the author attempts to illuminate the main
motives found in such narratives. She explores motives about treasures, haunted castles,
underground pathways, the snake curse, fairies and dwarves. She then examines legends about
Old Castle of Celje, which have already been printed in the middle and end of the 19th century
and early 20th century. After that she presents and analyses her own fieldwork, during which
she collected 23 legends and eight memorates. Through comparison the author analyses the
differences and similarities between the published legends and legends that are orally
transmitted today, during which she considers their carriers and meaning. They tell stories
about ghostly experiences, the counts visitation of girls in a nearby settlement, a leather
bridge, the castles underground pathways, a tragic love story, castle treasure, stealing of castle
stones and the counts hunting castle in Laško. The author analyses how folk narratives are
incorporated into the local tourist promotion regarding the castle. She was also interested in
finding out whether the legends influence the local identity of the city and its inhabitants.
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