The Chavonne's legend

The legend of Les Chavonnes tells that in the 17th century, the shepherds of the high alpine pastures of Les Diablerets warned Dame Isabeau of the imminent risk of looting by an invasion of threatening Valaisans.

Dame Isabeau, daughter of the Lord of Pontverre, lord of the castle located in the foothills of the Pic Chaussy, two walls of which are still visible today, fled from the pillage, fire and other misdeeds common in those barbaric times.

She took her prettiest dress and her jewellery box and, passing through La Forclaz, took refuge in the Chavonnes forest, on the shores of its lake, where she settled for ever. Dame Isabeau hid her jewel box by throwing it into the middle of the lake.

Legend has it that the spirits of the forest adopted her beauty and kindness and turned her into a fairy. She became a magical creature of the mountain pastures and became immortal. She still watches over her treasure and her friends the elves and other spirits. She magically gave life to a majestic white dragon, the monster of the Lac des Chavonnes, which eats up brigands and anyone who tries to retrieve the treasure. See it on full moon nights and enjoy its haunting song. The diamonds at the bottom of the water still glow in the light of the moon or the sun (in fact, rock encrusted with the brilliant mineral pyrite).

As proof of the truth of this story, and as a thank you to the shepherds for saving her from the barbarians of the time, the Lady Isabeau always symbolically offers a square metre of alpine land to young people arriving, for the most part in the Commune of Ormont-Dessus, who take on this action and thus transmit her beautiful story.