The Spirit of Lake Pavin: A Ghost Tale
If any one is bold enough to cast a stone into the black gulf beyond the clear borders…the waves rise higher and higher, and presently a tempest bursts forth of hideous violence…and the villagers below tremble; for they know that the Spirit of Lake Pavin has been insulted, and is taking his revenge. -Louisa Stuart […]
Literary Notes on Auvergne Sculptures: The “Faun” of Ponteix
Those of you who know me know of my passion for fountain grotesques and mascarons, which I see as contemporary genii locorum (“spirits of the place”). When we look into their stony, goblinesque eyes, we are — if only for a moment — drawn upwards into the world of imagination. New thoughts then rush into […]
Occult Auvergne: A Werewolf in Puy-de-Dôme
What happens when you see a werewolf in Puy-de-Dôme? Here’s a fascinating account from a 19th-century travel memoir.
Werewolves in Auvergne: A Priest Speaks Out
Auvergne boasts some of the oldest werewolf legends in Europe. Here’s what a 19th-century priest had to say about werewolves in Auvergne.
Lake Pavin: The Most Haunted Lake in France
Described for centuries as a lake that can raise hailstorms and tornadoes at will, Lake Pavin is arguably the most haunted lake in France.
Hidden Clermont-Ferrand: The Lepaytre School of Sorcery
Clermont-Ferrand is a university town through and through. But did you know that the city once had its own school of sorcery?
The Great Devil: Auvergne’s Real-Life Dracula
In the 1600s, Auvergne’s real-life Dracula committed a series of gruesome kidnappings, murders, and other crimes throughout Cantal.
Occult Auvergne: Werewolves in Livradois-Forez
In Livradois-Forez, like other parts of Auvergne, werewolves were once an integral part of the occult landscape.
Occult Auvergne: A Visit to the Musée des Croyances Populaires
The Musée des Croyances Populaires is museum that focuses on the old but long-abiding occult practices, folklore, and traditions of Auvergne.
The Devil of Châteaugay: A Dark History
Did a “devil” once haunt of the castle of Châteaugay? Here’s everything you need to know about the village’s secret history of occultism.
