Bartli is illusive. Will you be able to spot him? He is distinguishable with his long beard, red trousers and green jumper comes out of his hut from mid-June to October. He's a little shy, but is always welcoming. It is up to you to find him in one of his favourite hang-out-spots. Maybe you find him with his aunt Tiidi who lives in a small wooden hut next to the mighty Brummbach waterfall? Or he could be working in the Gemstone Cave looking for precious gems? Or he could be at the Dwarf Kings Castle close to the top of the mountain?
Bartli's Story
Who's Barli?
The Mountain King
Bartli is a dwarf who lives in Braunwald. He was born in the mountains so he knows everything about forests and its trees and herbs as well as the beautiful animals that live there. Bartli the Dwarf is the guardian of a precious stone - the Dwarfen Crystal. The crystal helps sick or injured animals. It is Bartli's duty to look after the animals in the mountains. The job was appointed to him by the Dwarf King, who resides in his castle on the top of a rocky plateau. At the end of the summer there is a festival for the full moon. All the dwarves gather together at the castle. There is music and lots of dancing.
The Cave
Bartli is happy everyday, because he finds joy in the beauty of nature. When he is not looking for healing herbs in the forest he often goes to Gemstone Cave to look for rare crystals. Some of them he brings back to his own hut, or to this aunt Tiidi, but the most beautiful ones always go to the King in the castle.
Tiidi's Garden
In the summer when it is really hot even in the mountains Bartli often visits his aunt Tiidi at the waterfall. It is an excellent spot to cool down and splash around in the River Playground. Tiidi always knows the best spots for herbs and she is also very good at mending Bartlis trousers, which he rips quite frequently at his work in the forest and in the caves.
Preparing for winter
Before the festival, at the end of summer, Bartli prepares for winter. He collects leaves for his bed. After the celebrations, he goes home quickly, before the moon disappears behind the mountain, to get cosy and warm in the bed of leaves. He hibernates, sleeping all through autumn and winter. Usually he meets his aunt Tiidi and his other dwarf friends at Dwarf Tower before that.
Where's Bartli's beard?
Occasionally, dwarfs enjoy the celebration a little too much, and stay up very late. If a dwarf is not back to their dwelling before the moon goes behind the mountain, their full beard falls off. A little fairy sprite, then collects all the fallen beards and hangs them in the fir trees.
If this ever happens, the dwarfs work for the Dwarf King in the mines or up the mountain. They hammer at the rocks looking for precious stones.
