(uplifting music) - [Narrator] Storytelling is the heartbeat of human imagination, enigmatic narratives that intertwine with the landscapes that shape them.

Forged by rugged mountains and deep forests, our stories blur the line between reality and the supernatural.

Through these tales, we see our ancestors' struggles with nature, their dreams carried by the wind, their fears borne from the shadows of the land.

Legends of spirits, gods, and mythical beings rise from rivers and valleys, offering moral lessons, while dark creatures of the night are tied to the secrets of the earth beneath our feet.

Most stories fade with time.

Those that remain become folklore.

(dramatic music) (dramatic music continues) (gentle music) Tales of divinities shape the world around us, as the supernatural weaves through the fabric of our history, from sacred statues to ancestral spirits guiding families and fiery goddesses forging new land.

For generations, folklore has been our pathway to understanding forces beyond our control.

Yet much of human history has focused on dominating the world we inhabit.

When we forget the powers that dwell in the land, sea, and sky, the supernatural pushes back, reminding us of forces greater than ourselves.

Still, humanity continues to progress, but the past is never far away.

Even our largest cities hold the echoes of ancient stories, shaping the present with the whispers of gods.

(gentle upbeat music) Amid its gleaming skyscrapers, neon-lit streets, and colourful cherry blossoms, Tokyo is a hub of technology.

It's also home to ancient shrines where folklore and traditions have endured for hundreds of years.

There is one in particular where legends speak of hidden forces within its grounds.

Sensoji Temple is one of the country's oldest and most revered Buddhist temples.

The temple was founded in 645 AD.

Welcoming visitors is the Thunder Gate, or Kaminarimon, with its towering lantern and statues of the god of wind, Fujin, and god of thunder, Raijin, who stand at the entrance.

(gentle music) (crowd chattering) They welcome pilgrims into a space where history, religion, and folklore converge.

Smoke billows into the air throughout the grounds from the Jokoro.

Visitors gather around the giant incense burner as it wafts its fragrance smoke over their bodies in hopes of receiving blessings.

According to folklore, the smoke heals ailments and purifies the soul, with some believing the more smoke directed towards the body, the more likely it is to be healed.

Inside the temple, people draw on small pieces of paper.

The ritual, known as omikuji, provides believers with a glimpse into the future via great blessings or great curses.

If the prediction is bad, it's custom to fold the paper and attach it to a pine tree or a wall of metal wires alongside other bad fortunes.

It's thought this custom is a pun on the word for pine tree and the word to wait, which are similar in Japanese.

The thought is that bad luck will wait by the tree rather than attach itself to the bearer.

If the fortune is good, however, the bearer can also tie it to the tree or wires so that the fortune has a greater effect, or they can keep it for luck.

But it's inside the temple where one of the most enigmatic treasures of Sensoji sits, the statue of Kannon, the revered Buddhist goddess of mercy.

Its presence is shrouded in mystery.

According to legend, in 628 AD, two fishermen cast their nets into the Sumida River, only to pull the mysterious statue from its depths.

Though they returned it to the river many times, the sacred figure continued to resurface, a sign it held the divine power of a bodhisattva, enlightened beings who choose to postpone Buddhahood to help others achieve enlightenment.

Kannon's persistent reappearance in the Sumida River was thought to symbolise her unwavering commitment to helping the people of Japan.

The story of Kannon is deeply embedded in Japanese culture, inspiring countless artworks, prayers, and festivals.

The legend has transcended mere folklore to become an integral part of Japanese spiritual life, drawing millions of visitors to Sensoji each year.

Kannon is sometimes depicted with many arms, traditionally represented holding various instruments or with an eye on each palm.

The thousand-armed Kannon grew in popularity in Japan as a bodhisattva capable of preventing and curing physical ailments such as blindness.

The statue in Sensoji draws visitors from across the world in search of her elusive, miraculous power.

Today, the statue seen by the public is a replica.

The true relic is hidden, safeguarded by priests to protect its sanctity.

Sensoji Temple stands as a reminder that the spirit of Japan's history breathes through every shrine, gate, and sacred flame.

Even in modern Tokyo, Kannon and the mystique of her folklore remain vital, providing a sense of cultural identity connected to tradition and faith.

In this city of contrasts, modern life is shaped by centuries-old beliefs and superstitions.

It's a metropolis constantly reinventing itself.

But across the sea, a village with just 127 households is the keeper of stories just as rich, where centuries-old traditions form a living museum where the ancient past is never far away.

Situated on a peninsula in the Pacific Ocean, separated from China by the Yellow Sea, South Korea is a land of kimchi, culture, and K-pop.

Myths, legends, and spirits have shaped Korean culture for generations, giving rise to a richness of stories and traditions.

Tucked away in the Andong region sits Hahoe.

It's a village with its roots deeply connected to the Joseon Dynasty, which ran from 1392 to 1910.

Hahoe holds the region's stories, each tied to the land and the unseen who guard the village and its people.

One myth in particular resonates with Koreans, a timeless love story of loyalty and destiny.

During the earlier Goryeo Dynasty of 918 to 1392, there lived a skilled craftsman named Heo, whose village had long endured a series of misfortunes with no clear cause.

One night, Heo had a dream in which a mountain deity told him the misfortunes would cease if the villagers performed a dance wearing masks crafted by Heo himself.

But the deity instructed Heo to refrain from any human contact until the masks were completed.

Deeply affected by the dream, Heo told his lover, Kim, not to see him anymore and secured his workshop with a rope before beginning his task.

After 100 days of tireless work, Heo neared completion, but Kim could no longer bear to wait.

She peeked into the workshop just as Heo was carving the final mask.

Upon seeing her, Heo collapsed, coughing blood.

He died, and the mask was left unfinished.

Consumed by guilt, Kim took her own life too.

And to protect the village from her vengeful spirit, she was honoured as a guardian deity, transforming sorrow into a protective force for the community.

Despite the profound sacrifice, this story shows how their love for each other transcends tragedy and loss.

Remembering Heo as a mask-maker, this folklore is honoured through the Hahoe Byeolsingut mask dance.

Vibrant and satirical, masked dancers embody various characters, including monks, noblemen, and servants, to critique Korea's social classes and Buddhist hypocrisy.

The centuries-old tradition is a captivating blend of music and dance, offering a unique window into Korea's cultural history.

It harks back to the tragic love story of Heo and Kim.

But others look forward to happier destinies.

A 600-year-old Zelkova wish tree is believed to be the dwelling place of Samsin, the goddess of childbirth and prosperity.

People visit the shrine to pray for health, prosperity, and romance.

They tie wishes to the tree, hoping to find true love or strengthen their relationships.

It's a vital cultural link to Korean heritage that embodies their history, traditional arts, and community values on sacred lands.

But how those lands are formed remains just as important to our cultural narratives.

(gentle music) (waves crashing) In the heart of the vast Pacific, a string of lush islands rise like deities from the sea.

Hawaii is a paradise, shaped from molten lava in a dance of creation that still echoes across the region.

But was it nature that forged its dramatic oceanic landscape, or was it something or someone else?

(dramatic music) Mount Kilauea, which means spewing or much spreading, is an active volcano that hasn't just shaped the land.

It's shaped culture and mythology, too, making it sacred to the island's indigenous inhabitants.

According to Kilauea's mythology, Pele, the goddess of fire, lives deep within the caldera of the volcano.

Pele is a multifaceted goddess, both revered and feared, both a destroyer and a creator.

She can transform into various beings, an old woman or a beautiful girl, testing people's hospitality and kindness.

And her moods are reflected in the volcano's eruptions.

One legend tells of Pele falling in love with a young chief, Lohi'au, and sending her sister, Hi'iaka, to fetch him.

But when Hi'iaka took too long to return with the chief, jealousy consumed Pele, and she unleashed her fury, believing Lohi'au and her sister had betrayed her.

(dramatic music continues) She sent destructive lava flows towards Lohi'au's home on Kauai.

Hawaii's dramatic landscape has been blamed on Pele's fiery rage.

A turbulent battle with another sister, Namakaokahai, the goddess of the sea, took place across Hawaii's islands, leaving behind the craters and volcanic peaks the region is renowned for.

Locals believe offerings should be left for Pele, particularly to avoid misfortune when travelling nearby.

Some even say that taking lava rocks away from Kilauea angers the goddess, bringing bad luck until they're returned.

(dramatic music) Kilauea's landscape is not only marked by eruptions but by underground lava tubes, hidden tunnels formed by flowing lava, which cools on the surface while the molten rock continues to move beneath.

(dramatic music continues) These labyrinthine passages stretch deep under the earth, with some large enough to walk through, revealing a subterranean world shaped by fire.

Artefacts have been found within these dark caves, left behind by native Hawaiians who revered the volcano as a sacred site.

Stone carvings, wooden tools, and remnants of ancient rituals offer a glimpse into the lives of those who lived in reverence of Kilauea's explosive power.

Lava tubes were central in some ceremonies and burials.

Carefully wrapped bones of important people would be placed in the caves for burial.

The national park protects these sacred caves, forbidding visitors from entering.

(gentle music) Even today, the myths of Pele and Mount Kilauea endure.

The volcano's eruptions, its steaming vents, its rumbling earth is more than a geological phenomenon.

As long as Kilauea continues to breathe, the tales of Pele's fire will burn brightly in locals' hearts, and the hardened scars of her anger will create the land underfoot.

But it's a different story when it's cobblestones underfoot and gargoyles above your head.

In Rouen, France, those cobblestones provide the way between timber houses, leaning on one another with the weariness of time.

(regal music) And rising above it all is the Cathedral Notre-Dame de Rouen.

Its spires push intricate stone carvings into the sky, standing as both a monument to centuries of devoted ritual and a backdrop to some of France's darkest legends.

(ominous music) Folklore says these stone creatures can come to life to ward off evil and can communicate when wind or rain passes through their mouths.

The gothic masterpiece has borne witness to the turbulence of French history.

It's a place where the holy and the haunted intertwine, and the keeper of the heart of Richard the Lionheart.

Preserved in a tomb within the cathedral, legends speak pilgrims who travelled from distant lands to pray before this and other relics, believing they possessed the power to grant miracles.

But it was in 1431 that Rouen entered France's folklore forever, when a woman accused of heresy was burned at the stake, and the cathedral became a silent witness to her fate.

Claiming to be acting under divine guidance, Joan of Arc was a military leader who transcended gender roles and gained recognition as a saviour of France.

She was considered a heretic for claiming divine visions, wearing male military clothes, and defying church authority.

She was accused of blasphemy, witchcraft, and a challenge to the political and religious order of the time.

She was convicted and sentenced to death, burned at the stake for her crimes.

Legend says that after her death, mysterious flames were seen around the cathedral as if her spirit haunted the place where her courage was extinguished.

Remarkably, just across from where Joan of Arc was burned, France's oldest restaurant, La Couronne, welcomes diners for traditional French fare.

La Couronne's long history began in 1345 when it was first established as an inn.

This makes it one of the oldest continuously operating auberges in all of Europe.

But what makes it truly remarkable is that people were most likely eating at La Couronne as they watched Joan of Arc be burned alive.

Her life and tragic death is a testament to standing up for what you believe is right, even if the path is fraught with personal sacrifice.

Like Joan of Arc's unwavering faith, the mythos of Notre-Dame de Rouen endures.

(gentle dramatic music) Its dark legends draw visitors, scholars, and truth seekers to explore its towering arches.

Preservation efforts ensure the stones and cryptic carvings that make up this Gothic marvel continue to speak curious tales to all who pass through its doors.

But cathedrals are not the only keepers of dark tales.

Castles, too, are ancient fortresses with mysterious tales of apparitions and the supernatural that haunt their storied walls.

When people talk about castles, they're typically talking about Europe, but there's just as many stories to be told about the castles of Japan.

(gentle dramatic music) Himeji, in the Hyogo Prefecture, is a city of over half a million people.

But for all its 21st century modernity, it's a place defined by myths of Japan's ancient samurai.

For the past 700 years, one of Japan's best examples of feudal architecture has towered over the city, Himeji Castle.

Never overtaken in battle, the Japanese believe it possesses an almost magical protection.

(gentle music) With white walls gleaming like the wings of a heron poised to soar, beneath its breathtaking exterior lies a tale steeped in shadow and intrigue.

Built by the warlord Akamatsu Norimura in 1333, the hilltop fort was meant to be a bastion of power.

Over the centuries, it evolved into a labyrinthine stronghold with towering walls and treacherous paths designed to bewilder and ensnare even the bravest invaders.

There are myths of hidden passages and tunnels throughout the castle, though they're yet to be discovered.

More than a mere fortress, Himeji has survived through fire and blood.

Its double moats and stone walls up to 26 metres high whispered promises of invincibility.

Yet the castle's true protection seemed to be something beyond earthly defences.

A bomb dropped in World War II should have turned it to dust, but it did not explode, leaving the white heron untouched amidst the ruins of the surrounding city.

Legend clings to these stones.

The samurai who once bled for its honour are said to still walk the grounds, their spirits forever vigilant.

(bird caws) And among the beauty, darkness lingers, with whispers of haunted wells and hidden ghosts, a tale deeply imbued in Japanese folklore.

(gentle dramatic music) The Curse of the Castle tells the tragic fate of Okiku, a servant falsely accused by a jealous samurai of losing a priceless plate from a treasured collection of 10 plates belonging to her master.

After being tortured and ultimately killed, her lifeless body was thrown into a well on the castle grounds.

Her restless spirit is said to emerge from the well every night, counting the plates aloud, but never reaching ten.

After counting to nine, she would let out a bloodcurdling scream and disappear back into the well, wailing and counting dishes, eternally in despair for the injustice that sealed her fate.

Themes of injustice and vengeance are deeply embedded in Japanese folklore.

The legend of Okiku warns against mistreating others, abusing power, and letting obsession override respect and humanity.

Modern adaptations highlight the ongoing issue of power abuse and exploitation in the workplace and serve as a reminder of the need for accountability and justice.

These ethereal legends imbue Himeji Castle with an eerie mystique that means visitors are drawn to it for its architectural splendour but leave with a chilling sense of its supernatural presence, a timeless reminder that even the most exquisite structures hold secrets of war, loss, and the restless dead.

But not all fortresses are manmade.

Nature can also be a guardian force, protecting those who seek solace within its ancient forests.

(gentle music) Beneath emerald mountains and alongside serene rivers lies a place where time stands still and myths of princesses and spirits of celestial beings linger.

(gentle intriguing music) As Japan's capital for over 1,000 years, Kyoto is known for its over 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines.

But in the city's outskirts, there's one temple that operates as a gateway to a place where it's natural beauty that captures the imagination.

(serene music) The Tenryuji Temple was built in 1339 by the shogun Ashikaga Takauji in honour of Emperor Go-Daigo, who had recently died.

Although they were once allies, Takauji turned against the emperor in a power struggle for control of Japan.

The temple was constructed to appease Go-Daigo's spirit.

But he is not the only spirit in these parts.

Through the temple and beyond its torii gates lies the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.

Bamboo is important to Japanese culture.

It has long been used in buildings and furniture, worked into baskets, food vessels, and tools, musical instruments, and even consumed as food.

But Arashiyama is said to be a dwelling for beings that weave through the bamboo, unseen but ever-present.

Legends tell of lost souls wandering the forest paths, guiding those who walk beneath the green canopy to reflect upon the fleeting nature of life.

(serene music continues) The thick grove acts as a natural barrier, sheltering those within from malevolent forces.

It is said that the forest's towering stalks connect the Earth to the heavens, forming a living gateway to the divine.

The legend of Princess Kaguya tells the story of an ancient bamboo cutter who finds a glowing stalk in the forest, and inside, a tiny, radiant girl.

He and his wife adopt her, naming her Kaguya-hime.

She grows into a woman of astonishing beauty, attracting suitors from far and wide, including the emperor.

But Kaguya isn't interested in marrying any of them.

As her sorrow deepens, Kaguya reveals her true identity.

She is from the moon and must return home.

On a full moon night, celestial beings descend to take her away.

Heartbroken, she leaves behind her adoptive parents, vanishing forever into the heavens.

The princess's story is one of self-realization as she grappled with her dual identity as both a celestial being and a beloved daughter.

It still serves as a metaphoric reminder that nothing is permanent, and all things must come to an end.

To this day, some believe that the bamboo still glows softly at night as if touched by Kaguya's supernatural light, making Arashiyama a place where the line between nature and folklore is enchantingly thin.

While mysteries etched in nature invite stories of magic, those discovered in the rubble of ruins conjure images of cultures long gone.

By the Adriatic and Ionian Seas in southeastern Europe, there lies one of the most enigmatic sites in the Mediterranean, the Butrint Ruins.

(peaceful music) Origins of Butrint in Vlorë County, Albania, are rooted in legend.

It's a place shrouded in the mythical journey of Aeneas, the Trojan hero who fled Troy as it burned to find a new homeland.

Aeneas passed through Butrint during his travels, and it was here that he encountered the Trojan prophet Helenus, who foretold Aeneas' fate to found a new city, Rome.

This connection to Aeneas gives Butrint an aura of ancient prophecy, making it not just a ruin but a window into the origins of modern civilization.

A bustling city throughout the ages of the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Venetians, Butrint was abandoned numerous times due to disasters.

Earthquakes shattered its foundations, floods engulfed its streets, and invaders stormed its walls, leaving trails of destruction in their wake.

But legend says that each attempt to rebuild and revive the city was met with another inexplicable disaster.

The city was cursed.

This cycle of prosperity and ruin fueled a growing sense of dread, a fear that clung to the city like a shroud.

Locals wondered if it was something they had done, a vengeful god, or simply the cruel hand of destiny.

(gentle music) Yet within this cursed city, a paradox emerged.

Butrint was renowned as a place of healing.

Remnants of ancient springs believed to hold healing powers are found among its ruins.

Pilgrims travelled from far and wide to partake in the spring's reputed powers.

(gentle upbeat music) Terrapins, significant due to their symbolic association with protection and longevity, thrive in the waters due to its unique ecological environment, which combines fresh water and salt water marshes.

These creatures represent the enduring balance of the natural and historical world that characterises the area.

According to local folklore, these waters were touched by the divine and can cure illnesses and offer spiritual purification.

The myths surrounding the Butrint Ruins enrich its dual narrative, the curse of supernatural destruction and the gift of healing.

(gentle music) But while supernatural forces invoke fear, natural forces can hold just as much power, unpredictable, untamed, and awe-inspiring.

(thoughtful music) Reaching the summit of Earth's highest mountains is to confront nature's grandest obstacles.

Yet the tenacity of our species compels us to rise against the mountain's might and stand victorious, viewing the land stretched out below.

There's no greater peaks than where the Earth and sky converge, where every horizon reveals the silhouette of these towering giants, guarded by mysterious deities.

Nepal sits between India to the south and Tibet to the north.

(dramatic music) It's home to nearly 30 million people and the highest mountain in the world.

Known as Sagarmatha in Nepal and Chomolungma in Tibet, to most, the formidable mountain is simply known as Everest.

Hundreds of people have lost their lives attempting to reach its summit, its notoriety not enough to sway them from their tragic efforts.

Kathmandu's Sherpa people believe Everest is home to powerful spirits and commands deep respect from all who seek to climb it.

(dramatic music continues) They view the mountain as sacred, and disrespecting it through reckless climbing or not making offerings can anger its spirits, resulting in avalanches, storms, or worse.

Many Sherpas still perform blessings and ceremonies before embarking on a climb, seeking the mountain's favour for a safe journey.

In Tibetan culture, Chomolungma is revered as the goddess of the world, a divine protector who watches over the land.

Legends speak of her as a fierce guardian deity, cloaked in snow and mist, who judges those who tread upon her slopes.

And with up to 800 climbers ascending each year, there is no shortage of people prepared to be judged.

Tibetans tell of Chomolungma as a powerful force, permitting those pure of heart to ascend but denying anyone who climbs for selfish glory.

Mystical beings are also believed to dwell within Everest's crevices.

Yetis are human-like snow creatures who are thought to live in remote mountainous regions.

Though the name Yeti evokes a sense of wonder, its translation from the local Sherpa language is surprisingly mundane.

It translates as that thing there, but Westerners falsely translated it as meaning something far more evocative, the Abominable Snowman.

Legend described it as a massive ape-like figure standing six to nine feet tall, its shaggy fur helping it blend into its harsh environment.

Interest in the Yeti surged in 1951 when British explorer Eric Shipton photographed a mysterious footprint on Everest resembling that of a human.

The photo sparked global fascination and fueled the mystery that still invokes intrigue around the world.

But the Yeti's origins date long before Shipton's enigmatic photograph.

The legend evolved from local folklore, encounters with the natural world, and stories passed down through generations, aimed at terrifying children to keep them from wandering into the wild.

Despite reported footprints and sightings, the existence of the Yeti remains unproven.

Some think sightings of a Himalayan brown bear standing upright may have fueled the myth, but the rich folklore surrounding Mount Everest and its mysterious guardian continues to influence climbers today.

Rituals, blessings, and deep cultural respect are part of the ascent.

The narratives also shape how climbers interact with the environment, fostering a sense of stewardship and reverence for the land.

While Everest holds spirits in its icy embrace, another colossal peak is home to a very different kind of creature.

In a land of pristine lakes, a rich mixture of cultures, languages, and picture-perfect towns, darker legends prevail.

Lucerne, Switzerland, exudes charm.

Its mediaeval bridges, fresco buildings, and bustling town squares exist under the ever-looming presence of Mount Pilatus.

At more than 2,000 metres above sea level, Pilatus dominates the horizon.

Today, the ascent is as easy as climbing aboard a cable car, sitting back, and watching the world fall away below.

(gentle dramatic music) But it's the legend of where that mist originates that is just as tantalising as the mountain itself, dragon's breath.

According to local folklore, Mount Pilatus was once home to dragons that roamed its crags and caves.

One legend tells of a humble farmer, Stempflin, who stumbled upon a dragon's lair.

So shocked and frightened by the encounter, Stempflin fainted.

But when he awoke, he found a dragon stone by his side.

To Stempflin's surprise, the dragon stone healed all his ills and his family's too.

The farmer's tale was so remarkable, by 1509, the dragon stone was legally declared to have healing powers, forever linking the mountain to the realm of magic.

But not all dragons were benevolent.

The tale of Landamann Winkelried speaks of a fierce battle atop Pilatus, where he vanquished a monstrous dragon.

During the battle, Winkelried entwined sharp brambles around a spear and drove it into the dragon's gaping mouth before finishing the creature off with his sword.

But according to folklore, a single drop of its venomous blood splashed onto his hand.

That drop, along with the dragon's toxic last breath, caused Winkelried's blood to freeze in his veins, leading to his death as well.

But amidst the fear, there's a flicker of warmth in the story of the cooper who fell into a dragon's cave.

The dragons sheltered him through the harsh winter, their fiery breath a source of warmth and comfort.

When spring arrived, the dragons guided him back home, forever entwining the mountain with tales of unexpected kindness.

Today, Mount Pilatus stands as a sentinel shrouded in myth and mist, dragon tales and dragon breath, symbols of power, peril, and compassion that echo through the Swiss Alps and the ages.

Folklore captivates the human imagination, and one genre in particular floats through time like an ethereal spectre.

Tales of haunted houses, restless spirits, and haunting souls speak to our fascination with life's mysteries, drawing us into shadowy corners.

(animal howling) But perhaps even more terrifying than the myths of the dead are those of the undead.

(fire crackles) Nestled in the heart of Eastern Europe, Romania is a country of stark contrasts.

(dramatic music) Mediaeval villages and landscapes straight out of a fairytale, with one region well known for its dark tales of vampires, Transylvania.

(thunder claps) (dramatic music) (wolf howls) Wolves howl into the night, and quirky locals speak of far more sinister entities lurking in the forest.

Perched atop a rocky hill is the crown jewel of this haunting terrain, Bran Castle.

Its towering Gothic spires pierce the mist, shrouded in an atmosphere ripped from the pages of a storybook.

And inside, 57 rooms spread across four floors, secret passages, and narrow, winding staircases adds to the castle's spooky, mediaeval feel.

In the country's long winter, the castle throws a long shadow, but not as long as the shadow Count Dracula casts over Transylvania's cultural identity.

While Bran Castle has come to be known as Dracula's Castle, it wasn't Romanian folklore that immortalised it.

It was the work of Irish author Bram Stoker.

Stoker's "Dracula" follows solicitor Jonathan Harker on his travels to Transylvania for business.

He stays in the Count's castle and makes the chilling discovery his host is a vampire.

(gentle dramatic music) "Dracula" is most likely inspired by strigoi, undead spirits and shapeshifters that rise from their graves to drink the blood of the living.

These creatures have stalked the nightmares of Romanian villages for generations, and Bran Castle's looming presence continues to fuel the legend.

Stoker penned his tale of a Transylvanian nobleman turned vampire based on a real historical figure, Vlad III, also known as Vlad Dracular or Vlad the Impaler.

The 15th-century ruler of Wallachia, in modern-day southern Romania, was infamous for impaling enemies on wooden stakes, the very weapon folklore tells us can kill a vampire when driven through its heart.

Vlad's legendary cruelty created the perfect backdrop for Stoker's nightmarish villain.

Bran Castle itself has legends to match its ominous reputation.

Some say it's cursed.

Others believe the undead souls of peasants who witnessed atrocities still roam the castle halls.

This mediaeval superstition has endured over centuries, tying Bran Castle to the ghostly tales that haunt Romania to this day.

Though the connection to "Dracula" may be fiction, Bran Castle has maintained its Gothic appearance for centuries, allowing its bloodstained history and eerie location to perpetuate its legend.

(whimsical music) Most of humanity's greatest folkloric tales are works of pure imagination, addressing universal truths about the human experience and the struggle between good and evil.

In the 21st century, some of these ancient heroic fables have even become blockbuster movies.

(crowd chattering) But there is one incredible story written in the 20th century that instead invented a world of folklore and myth all of its own, and it's made its way into our own physical reality in one of the most pure and dramatic landscapes on Earth, New Zealand.

Here, in the quiet town of Matamata, the boundary between reality and the fantastic world of JRR Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy completely vanishes.

"Lord of the Rings" is a modern-day folk tale filled with its own myths, legends, and law.

In Middle Earth, a land threatened by the darkness of god-like sorcerer Sauron, "Lord of the Rings" tells the story of a young, hairy-footed halfling hobbit named Frodo, who embarks on a perilous journey to destroy a powerful ring created by the sorcerer.

Joined by brave companions, they face deadly foes, forge alliances, and battle evil to save Middle Earth from ruin.

After enduring countless near-death trials and battles, Frodo reaches Mount Doom, where the ring's power nearly overwhelms him.

But with help from his friends, the ring is finally cast into the fiery depths, ending Sauron's reign of terror.

Once peaceful farmland, this verdant corner of the South Pacific has been transformed into the living embodiment of Middle Earth.

Chosen by filmmaker Peter Jackson to bring Tolkien's mythical world to life, the hills of Matamata were reshaped into the iconic village of Hobbiton.

The story incorporates themes of heroism, sacrifice, and the fall of powerful civilizations.

These ideas resonate across time and cultures, making Tolkien's tale feel like it belongs to an age-old tradition.

It cleverly uses familiar creatures and tropes to build its imaginative world.

Elves and dwarves are inspired by Norse mythology, embodying themes of ancient wisdom and craftsmanship.

The ring itself reflects magical objects granting immense power at a cost, akin to tales like "The Nibelungenlied."

Epic quests and heroic battles resonate with mediaeval folklore, where Middle Earth characters like Aragorn represent the mythic king in exile trope.

Tolkien's work blends these myths with original world-building, creating a rich, layered folklore.

(uplifting music) But Tolkien's stories also emphasise the profound relationship between the hobbits and their environment.

Wandering through the lush hills of this real-life Hobbiton, it's easy to get lost in your own bond with nature, experiencing firsthand the allure of an idyllic world, where the landscape is as much a character as the hobbits who inhabit it.

Because "The Lord of the Rings" is such a towering work of imagination, the ability to explore parts of his world in real life makes for a totally new way to experience the power that folktales have to inspire us and guide us.

Hobbiton stands as a bridge between reality and imagination, offering a reminder that sometimes even the real world can offer the magic of a timeless story.

Folklore invites us to see the world through a different lens, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the landscapes and environment around us become places of meaning.

Through our stories, we explore the unseen, celebrate our shared humanity, and remind ourselves of the stories that get to the core of who we are and why we're here.

Folklore connects us to our ancestors.

It bridges the past and present, and it reminds us of the power of imagination and belief.

(spirited music) (spirited music continues)