Legends and fantastic tales

Cogne is a place of fanciful and legendary stories. Timeless stories that take inspiration from the landscape or from real events and make the imagination soar.

How do I know? Because I'm a fairy creature too ─ a spirit that inhabits these places, perhaps, or maybe the strength of imagination.
Or perhaps I'm a spiteful manteillon who enjoys disturbing the "Cogneins".

Don't you know me?
Well... all you need to know is that my powers are great and that you can recognize me because I cover my body with a long black cloak. If, by chance, tonight someone pulls out your blanket while you sleep, it could be me... who knows! 

But back to us, I was telling you about legends whose origin is lost in time.
The oral heritage of the Alps is vast and invaluable, and Cogne is no exception. Note that there is a path dedicated to us, fantastic creatures. It is called the clearing of legends, a path that connects Crétaz to Épinel and crosses the places that inspired some of these tales.

Would you like to hear one? Here's the one of Derbé.
Once upon a time, there was a tree that was said to walk. Yes, you heard that right. During the night, it followed people who lingered in taverns and terrorized them! Imagine the feeling of meeting a talking tree! And at night, for that matter. One night, a gamekeeper was so frightened that he shot the tree. At that point, something amazing happened: the tree began to moan and bleed. And so it was discovered that it was the village priest who, versed in the magical arts, transformed himself to surprise the faithful who indulged in vices.