As you may know, behind Aeternum is a small business based in Brittany (in the south of Finistère to be precise). And it is well known that this region lives to the rhythm of legends, myths, and magical practices more or less known (Brocéliande, Merlin, the Fairy Viviane, the Alignments, and many others). Thus, to highlight our beautiful region, we will regularly publish little-known legends from Breton history.
This week, I invite you to discover the legend of the Old Goulue, which takes place at the Château de Trévarez (which I highly recommend you visit). In addition to the magnificent castle, you will stroll through an enchanting estate with many faces, like an ode to Nature.
It is said that on the estate, shrouded in mysterious mists, the ghost of the Marquise de Trévarez would return to haunt the dark corridors of her former castle. This place, once a symbol of magnificence and grandeur, would transform at nightfall into a theater of supernatural events.
The legend speaks of Ar Loncheghez Coz, or "the Old Goulue," a nickname given by locals to evoke her insatiable hunger for souls. This terrifying revenant sowed chaos in the castle, manifesting her presence through strange noises, moved objects, and flickering lights. Her aura was so powerful that the nearby inhabitants feared approaching this reputedly cursed home, afraid to meet her icy gaze that promised despair.
Faced with these disturbances, the rector of the parish of Laz, a man of faith and courage, decided to intervene. Armed with his prayers and unwavering determination, he went to the castle on a full moon night, when shadows seem darker and spirits more restless.
According to the story, during this spectral confrontation, the rector, through powerful incantations, managed to tame the spirit of the marquise. He transformed her into a small Brittany spaniel, a creature with an innocent appearance but a melancholic gaze. He then entrusted the dog to his faithful servant, assigning him the task of taking it deep into the surrounding woods.
There, in a moonlight that seemed silvered, the rector drew a ritual circle around the little dog. He struck the animal three times with a consecrated wand, each blow resonating like the tolling of regained freedom. Without looking back, the priest walked away, leaving behind the whispers of the leaves and the breath of the wind that seemed to carry a prayer for the tormented soul of the marquise to finally find rest.
The legend concludes that from that moment on, the soul of the marquise was absorbed by the depths of the earth, locked away for eternity in a labyrinth of roots and stone, never to haunt the world of the living again... at least, that is the hope.
[bloctwist]
