History Legend2024-03-06T15:07:27+01:00

History
Legend

The Legend of CreveCœur

Toward the end of the XIth C or beginning of the XIIth C, there lived, at the bend of the river Orne, facing Menil-Jean, a noble lord, who had fallen for the charms of the lady of Menil-Jean castle.

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The Fairy’s Rock

All his attempts to woo her failing, he tried to understand why she resisted him, and searching for reasons, he discovered there was an evil fairy, set on impeding his amorous plans.

This fairy hid in the hollow of an ancient rock on the banks of the river, at the bottom of the small valley; this rock is still called the Fairy’s Rock.

Advised by the devil, whom she would meet, it seems, on another rock – the Devil’s Rock, even today! – hillside, high-up above the river, this evil fairy surely must have cast a spell over our gentleman.

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And then one day, wanting to finish with this devilry, our lord searched through the woods for the fairy; and seeing her, set off to catch her. But the hackney from the nearby mill, which she was riding, and was said to be blind, galloped off quickly into the thick woods, escaping the noble lord’s revenge.

The Fairy’s Rock

And then one day, wanting to finish with this devilry, our lord searched through the woods for the fairy; and seeing her, set off to catch her. But the hackney from the nearby mill, which she was riding, and was said to be blind, galloped off quickly into the thick woods, escaping the noble lord’s revenge.

The Deluge

In its crazed run, the blind beast arrived suddenly at a steep plateau, high above the rapid torrent, which flows some fifty meters below, roaring and rushed, like a true deluge.

Just then, warned by his instinct of the danger below, he stopped abruptly and with such force, that he left the imprint of his hoof on the stone bordering the precipice. Even today, one can still see this imprint on the stone, shaped like a round table, at the place named the Deluge.

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The Deluge

In its crazed run, the blind beast arrived suddenly at a steep plateau, high above the rapid torrent, which flows some fifty meters below, roaring and rushed, like a true deluge.

Just then, warned by his instinct of the danger below, he stopped abruptly and with such force, that he left the imprint of his hoof on the stone bordering the precipice. Even today, one can still see this imprint on the stone, shaped like a round table, at the place named the Deluge.

Jean Mesnil’s lady

What happened to the fairy at this critical moment? Was she thrown into the roaring river below or did she maybe faint from terror? No one knows! But one says, our noble sire, arriving at the spot to find only the hoof’s imprint on the stone, took aim with his bow and arrow toward the other side of the river; toward a place, called the Fairies’ table, where the fairies used to meet, hoping to reach the evil fairy.

Bur alas! Sitting amongst the fairies, whom she had seeked out for advice, was the lady of Menil-Jean: his arrow pierced her heart!

From that day, whether literally or figuratively speaking, the gentleman kept the name, Lord of Crevecoeur. It was subsequently passed on to his estate.

Chronology

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