6 mythical creatures of European folklore you didn't know about

European folklore is a mysterious world where reality is intertwined with myths. Legends about mysterious creatures for centuries have fed the imagination of people, awakening both fear and admiration. But what lies behind these stories? Were they real animals, unusual natural phenomena or just a fiction born of the imagination of our ancestors? All these questions we will consider in our article.

The Beast of Gévaudan

The Beast of Gévaudan is the animal responsible for a series of attacks on humans between 30 June 1764 and 19 June 1767. These attacks, most of which were fatal, occurred mainly in the north of the former Gévaudan region of France, where cattle were raised. A few cases were reported in southern Auvergne, northern Vivar, Rouergue and southern Vele.

The Gévaudan monster quickly went beyond a news item, mobilising numerous royal troops and giving rise to all sorts of rumours and beliefs, both about its nature - contemporaries believed it to be a wolf, an exotic animal, a sorcerer or even a werewolf, in more recent times also a serial killer - and about the reasons for its attacks on humans, from divine punishment to the theory of an animal trained to kill.

Wolpertinger

The Wolpertinger is a fictional animal from the Bavarian Alps and forests. It is most often mentioned to capitalise on the gullibility of urban tourists. Legend has it that this small, chimera-like creature feeds on lost tourists. Its description varies from region to region, but most commonly it is said to have wings, horns, fangs and a cock's comb.

The Wolpertinger has been known in Bavarian legends since the 16th century, but its first appearances date back to the 19th century, when taxidermists exhibited stuffed animals. These taxidermy montages, intended for relatives and illustrating local lore, then spread as a hoax for tourists. According to locals, the animal is a hybrid of hare and roe deer, fox and duck, marten and pheasant; since Wolpertingers crossbreed with each other, each individual is a unique blend of all these animals.

Corrigan

The Corrigan is a legendary creature from Brittany, comparable to a goblin. They can be benevolent or malevolent depending on the circumstances. The creatures can be extremely generous, but are also capable of terrible revenge. Corrigans belong to a small people - spirits that take the form of dwarves. Their appearance is varied: they may have luxuriant hair and glowing red eyes with which they are believed to bewitch mortals, or they may be described as small and hairy, wearing flat hats with velvet ribbons, and girls wearing purple bonnets. Pierre Dubois describes them as horned dwarfs from one to two cubits high, with goat feet, iron hooves and cat claws. In the tales, they most often inhabit caves, tumuli or dolmens, but can also dwell in springs, fountains and marshes in Brittany.

Carcol

The Carcol is a monstrous snail that is part of French folklore and is characteristic of the town of Hastings. Mentions of this creature do not occur before the beginning of the 20th century. The town of Hastings is a bastide founded by the English in 1289 on a promontory. Taking advantage of its strategic position, sheltering from the attacks of the Hundred Years' War and being close to the united Goughs, the town soon developed a thriving river trade, became richer and larger and even rivalled its neighbour Peyregorad.

But legend has it that the tuk providing protection contains a cave inhabited by Carcol, a formidable and monstrous snail, which is said to have been the cause of the fear-driven inhabitants leaving and the city being deserted. This legend is confirmed by the rounded shape of the promontory, which resembles a snail's shell. The Revue de Gascogne newspaper of 1903 speaks of a monstrous snail that makes its home in a huge dark cave, and on top of it, according to tradition, the town of Hastings is built. According to the oldest locals, the hillside of Hastings is hollow inside. It is a disturbed earth; there is only a hard layer of earth bound by a framework of stones. 

Inside is a huge cave, which appears to be the lair of the fearsome Carcol, who has lived here for who knows how and since when. All that is certain is that the fearsome monster, a kind of long, slimy, hairy snake, suddenly appears out of the hole when a careless person enters, wraps its horrible tentacles around him, takes him into its shell and makes mincemeat of him.

Kelpie

The Kelpie is mentioned in several myths and legends in Scottish and Irish folklore, often seen as a fairy. The creature has equine, aquatic and humanoid features and usually lives in flowing water such as rivers, less commonly in lakes. It is often described as appearing in the form of a horse, but is said to be capable of taking on any human form. This guardian of the lakes, capable of shape-shifting for dark purposes, is very reminiscent of the Limnads, from whom its legend probably originated.

Stories about the Kelpie say that some of them are considered very dangerous because of their habit of seducing people into riding them and then drowning or even devouring them. It is said that the creature can also be caught by putting a bridle on them and keeping them away from water for long periods of time. The Kelpie is the most famous of the many water horse legends, and is also one of the most commonly mentioned Scottish water spirits. All legendary water horses are sometimes named after him.

Cheval Mallet

The Cheval Mallet is a fabulous, evil horse mentioned in French folklore from the Vendée and Poitou regions. It is believed that this animal appears in the evening or in the middle of the night in the form of a magnificent white or black horse, properly saddled and bridled, and tempts travellers exhausted by the long journey to climb on its back. There are many similar legends about the unfortunates who get on this horse. 

If a traveller sits on the horse, his journey will end in death in the morning. The rider may be trampled to death by his animal, thrown into a chasm or fountain, or into any watering hole. Strangely shaped hoofprints may be found near the body. Riders never return unless they have a ransom for the journey or a protective talisman, such as a St Benedict's medal. The Mallet horse is considered an instrument of the devil or even a form of Satan himself.

Conclusion

Each legend carries traces of the time in which it originated and the lessons that mankind has learnt from encountering the unknown. These stories remind us of the urge to unravel mysteries and how imagination helps us make sense of the world around us. Myths may not reveal all their secrets, but that's where their magic lies - they inspire us to seek answers and believe in miracles.