Île Barbe

Lyonnais · France · Ruin

On the monastery island in the Saône, the ghost of Alix de Theizé reputedly haunted her fellow nuns – an isle linked to druid rites and hidden treasure.

Île Barbe, in the Saône north of central Lyon, carries the ruins of one of Gaul's oldest monasteries, and the legends around it are many and dark. Tradition holds that in pre-Christian times the island served the druids' sacrificial rites, and witches were later said to lurk in its thickets. Best known is the tale of Alix de Theizé, a nun whose spirit after death haunted the abbey and even possessed her former sisters in faith. Legends also speak of treasures hidden on the island – the Grail itself has been suggested – earning the islet its reputation as Lyon's most mysterious place.

FAQ

Where is Île Barbe located?

Île Barbe is in Lyonnais, France.

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Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.

Image: Romainbehar / CC0 — Wikimedia Commons