The home of fire-breathing dragons deep in the Bavarian forest

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Dragons have long been a familiar character in German folklore. But no where have they been more treasured than in the small German town of Furth im Wald, located deep in the Bavarian Forest.

"You can find dragons everywhere," Mayor Sandro Bauer told CGTN Europe. "Whether they are on the houses or paintings. They are also in the products of everyday life, for example; there is dragon ham, dragon pizza, there's also a beer that we call dragon's blood, so the dragon is omnipresent throughout the year."

Yet what the town, dubbed Dragon City, is best known for is their annual "Drachenstich" - Germany's longest running folk play.

Originating more than 500 years ago from a Catholic tradition, the community has reenacted a play that tells the story of a dragon that turns from the protector of the town to the people's greatest enemy, inclusive of a great battle and of course love.

Yet what attracts thousands of tourists from across Germany, Austria and the Czech republic is the play's starring character - Furth im Wald's eleven ton resident dragon, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest four-legged screaming robot.

"It is 16 meters long and has a wingspan of 12 meters," described Mayor Bauer. "It of course has many special effects and functions that a dragon like this also needs for the festival. It can roar very loudly. It can breathe fire and where there is fire there is also smoke which comes out of his mouth."

Fanni, as the dragon has been called, also has elaborate facial expressions and is brought to life by four remote operators working simultaneously, each controlling a specific body part or special effect.

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Not only has the dragon in Dragon City's historic "Drachenstich" evolved from a costume worn by two actors into this engineering marvel, but so too has his representation added Mayor Bauer.

"After the Second World War, the dragon became the symbol of evil and deprivation, which these border states had to suffer during the war. Of course, that lost its meaning after the border was opened in 1989 and so the dragon took on a new meaning, the evil that is caused by terrorism, by extremist religions and that is now the new story. It was introduced in 2006 and has been continually refined since."

Dragons have long been present in German folklore and mysticism, having evolved from venomous serpents into the four-legged, flying creatures most well known today. Some of Germany's most famous dragons include Fafnir, who was killed by Prince Siegfried, in a popular children's story have spread across Europe.

Even some of today's most popular dragons originated in Germany, such as the models used on the worldwide hit TV show Game of Thrones.

"Absolutely dragons still have their popularity, said Mayor Bauer. "You can see that with the children who are very enthusiastic about dragons. The dragon is also brought into our living rooms and cinemas every day. That's when you realise that they are still very topical because of the mystical and legendary nature of them."

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