Lac Pavin
Auvergne · France · Natural site
In the black depths of this round crater lake, a sinful drowned town is said to rest – and casting a stone wakes the bells and the storm.
The almost perfectly circular crater lake of Pavin in Auvergne – its name traced to the Latin pavens, 'the terrifying' – has always been surrounded by fearful awe. Legend says the lake swallowed the old, sinful town of Besse in a single night as God's punishment, and in calm weather the church steeple is said to glimmer in the depths. Throwing a stone into the water was believed to summon storms, and at midnight on New Year's Eve the drowned church bells can allegedly be heard ringing from below. Another tradition has the Devil himself weeping the lake full, and a rock by the shore is still called the Devil's chair.
FAQ
Where is Lac Pavin located?
Lac Pavin is in Auvergne, France.
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Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.
Image: Tangopaso · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons