Many mysteries and legends are linked to the formation of Lake Geneva. However, one character often plays a central role in these legends: the giant Gargantua.
According to the people of Vaud, Gargantua dug the earth to make a giant drinking trough to quench his thirst. Legend has it that wine merchants of the time dreamt of filling it with white wine!
The people of Geneva believe that the formation of Lake Geneva was due to the sudden desire of the giant to take a bath. Without missing a beat, he started digging and digging. Each piece of earth was then dumped on the shore south of Geneva. The pile grew and grew, as the locals exclaimed "it's rising! it's rising! Now there's a beautiful legend about the creation of the Salève!
Lastly, much to the chagrin of swimming enthusiasts, the lake's immensity is said to be due to an urge on the part of the giant, who relieved himself while gazing longingly at the Voirons mountains.
A more poetic version of the origin of Lake Geneva comes from a celestial reorganisation within the committee of angels. At a time when mammoths were grazing on the hills, their mission was to watch over the Earth. Each valley was assigned a cherub, a kind of celestial policeman. The 4 cherubim responsible for guarding our region were suddenly transferred to the North. The one in charge of the Rhône valley was the biggest and strongest, but also the most emotional. His sadness at having to leave his beautiful region was so great that tears welled up in his eyes. He wept for days on end, until the Rhône began to overflow its banks. Little by little, the water level rose and rose until it formed a great expanse of water stretching from Bouveret to Geneva. The tears didn't stop flowing until the cherub flew north, leaving behind him the traces of his immense grief.
From the book "Légendes et histoires du Léman" (Legends and stories from Lake Geneva)
Photo credit: ©J. M. Zellweger
