You sometimes hear it said in the country, “as rich as the Mötteli,” or “he has the Mötteli fortune”; and many don’t really know why. Now listen! Do you know Martis-Tobel and the old walls? They belong to a castle in the Schaugehofer Ried near Goldach; that was Castle Rappenstein and it belonged to the Mötteli. Two brothers from St. Gallen, who became rich through trade, lived there; one was called Hans, and the other Rudolf. They were prominent men! They bought the Rappenstein estate and had it granted by the emperor, with the right to take the name “Rappenstein, called Mötteli”; and this happened in the year 1483, although it was originally called Sulzberg. It’s one of the few remnants left from the castles that the Appenzellers destroyed, and ever since then, it’s been called Möttelischloss, even to this day.

There are many stories about it. One says a treasure is buried there, guarded by two maidens who remain forever young and beautiful; and if someone knocks at midnight, a terrifying dog barks, and chains rattle; if you don’t get scared and knock again, the two maidens appear in white, beautiful dresses and pretty red shoes, but they are both chained and cry and beg urgently to be kissed. That would free them, and there is no other way to break the curse and obtain the treasure. But it’s a terrible condition, truly, and no one has dared to do it, and no one has had the courage. The dog is a monstrous creature; he always stands beside the maidens, and whoever sees him dares not approach! If only someone had kissed them long ago, the maidens would have cast off their chains and been free by now! But no one has yet had the heart; so they must return to their place and continue their wailing and begging for mercy, guarding the treasure for centuries.

What do you think of this story? The lesson we can learn is: nothing in this world lasts forever. You can talk about the Mötteli’s money; but where would you go to find it?
J. Merz. (Sutermeister, Schwizerdütsch.)

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Kuoni: The Mötteli family did not own Castle Rappenstein, as it was destroyed by the Appenzellers in 1405; the Möttelis acquired the castle estate and its ruins around 1420. The present-day Möttelischloss was formerly called Sulzberg.

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Rappenstenstein oder die reichen Mötteli

Me hört dick emol sägen im Land, “so reich wie der Mötteli”, oder “er het Möttelis Guet”; ond wössed lötzel worum. Iez loset! Martis-Tobel wössed er ond die alte Mure? Die send dei vom e Schloss im Schaugehofer Ried a der Goldech; das ist ‘s Schloss Rappestäh gsee ond het dem Mötteli ghört. Zwee Brüeder send gsee z’ Sant Galle, die send im Handel rich worde; an het ghätze Hans ond Ruodolf der ander; stattli Manne send’s gsee! Die Hand de Rappestäh kauft, ond hend’s vom Kaiser verlobt gha, ihren Namme z’schribe vom Schloss “Rappestäh, genannt Mötteli”; ond das ist gsee, me het zält 1483, ond het’s zerst Sulzberg ghässe; ‘s ist no elä öberblebe onder alle dene Schlossere, wo d’ Appezeller ruiniert hend, ond het nohwärts Möttelischloss bis hütige Tags all no ghässe.

Vo dem sät me-n-allerhand. So sei en Schah do vergrabe ond wer verwacht vo zwo Jumpfere, die blibed all jung ond all höbsch; ond klopft men om Metternacht a, so belled schröckeli en Hond, ond rasslet schuli mit Chettle; wenn men em denn halt nöd förcht, und kloket me wieder, so chünd die zwo Jumpfere doher ime wnsse, schöne Gwand, ond schöni, roli Schüeli hend s’ a, send aber beidi an Chettle ond schreied ond bitted bewegli ond hätted gern, me wor’s chösse; das bring ehne d’ Freiheit zweg, ond söss sei ken anders Mittel, dass si erlöst werid, ond chöm me de Schatz söss nüd ober. Das ist en böse Beding, jo wohrli, ond ken het’s no gwoget, ond ken het’s Güraschi no gha. Der Hond ist e schrecklis Otier; er stoht all nebe de Jumpfere, ond wer e gsiet, dar si nüd rode! Wenn’s ‘s Chössen eläh war, i denk, die Jümpferli wärid scho lang de Chettlen abcho ond frei! ‘s het aber no niemet ‘s Herz gha; drom müend sie ahden au zrock, ond wieder an Platz, wo si gsee send, ond tuend wider bleeren ond Hüne, dass si en Stä möcht verbarmen, und wider wache bim Schatz, ond das scho Johrhonderti lang.

Was denket er jez vo der Gschicht? Lerna cha me doros: s’ ist nüz i der Welt, das Bstand het. Vo ‘s Müttelis Geld cha me schwätze; wo wemm mer’s aber go suoche?
J. Merz. (Sutermeister, Schwizerdütsch.)

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Schloss Rappenstein haben die Mötteli nicht besessen, da es 1405 von den Appenzellern zerstört worden; die Mötteli haben um 1420 das Schlossgut und die Ruine erworben. Das heutige Möttelischloss hiess ehemals Sulzberg.