The Legend of the Three Hermits

A legend... three lords, the pretty daughter of a lord from the next village... all in love... but alas, Father Bernard chose another path for them!

The Legend of the Three Hermits: The Lord of Roquefeuil, owner of the Château d'Algues, between Saint-Jean de Bruel and Nant, ruled over the Dourbie Valley and had three sons. This good man died young, leaving Guiral, Alban, and Supplice alone. Not far away, Berthe, the beautiful daughter of the Lord of Cantobre, was of marriageable age. She knew all three, but it was hard to choose! The young men went to the Abbot for help in their decision, and each of them, heeding God's voice, had to leave the castle, renounce Berthe, and live as a hermit in the surrounding mountains. As for Berthe, she withdrew to a women's monastery. Her beautiful blond hair was cut... But before parting, the three men agreed that each year, on the anniversary of the judgment, each of them would light a fire, the only way to show that they were still there and faithful to their vow. But little by little, the fires died out! The mountains took their names. Mount Guiral rises to 1367 meters in the Lingas massif; a cross still overlooks the valley. In 1885, 3000 pilgrims from the surrounding villages made their way to this place on Whit Monday. Saint Guiral is said to be known for his miracles. He healed the blind and the crippled, and was the protector of animals. Young women from the region implored Saint Guiral to find them husbands! Southwest of Nant, Mount Alban rises to 802 meters. A chapel was dedicated to this saint. Saint Alban healed the blind. The water from the cistern, located very close to the chapel, was believed to have healing properties for skin and eye problems. Saint Sulpice, for his part, was at the bottom of the valley, in the Trévezel gorges. He is said to have been swept away by a major flood. He became the patron saint of the waters. During periods of drought, the local population organized a procession on Whit Monday, between Nant and Saint-Sulpice, to pray for rain for the coming harvests. Like all legends, other versions exist. (Hiking on Mont Guiral, it's HERE)

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