Dear French Story Listeners,
I have a little confession. This week’s story has been sitting quietly in our files for a while… we simply forgot to publish it.
And yet, here it is, arriving today, November 2nd, le jour des Morts, the day after la Toussaint.
That is exactly the night the legend speaks of.
Sometimes things find their own perfect moment.
🎬 This week’s free video: Le lac de Saint-Point
The legend comes from Franche-Comté, a green and hilly region in eastern France, right on the border with Switzerland.
It’s a land of the Jura mountains, deep fir forests, clear lakes and rivers like the Doubs.
It’s also famous for its cheese (le comté, of course! 🧀) and for its long tradition of clockmaking.
Long ago, at the edge of one of those dark forests, stood Damvauthier, a rich and proud city.
One snowy winter night, a poor woman knocked on its doors with her baby in her arms… and by morning, there was a lake.
It is said that on this very night, you can still hear bells ringing from deep beneath the water. 🔔
Will you hear them too? Watch and listen to the story here.
How to listen
You don’t need to understand every word. Really.
Make yourself a warm drink, get comfortable, and let the pictures, the gestures and the story lead the way.
Listen to it once, all the way through, with your full attention.
The mind feeds on ideas.
A living idea, planted gently in a living mind, grows on its own.
And this legend is full of them: hospitality, pride, kindness to the stranger.
Afterwards, close your eyes for a moment and tell the story back, aloud, in your own words.
That’s narration.
Use as much French as comes naturally, and let English fill the gaps.
It might be to your children, your grandchildren, or simply to your cup of tea. ☕
Whatever you can tell back truly becomes yours.
📖 Members: the full transcript and vocabulary list are waiting for you here.
It’s lovely to read it after your narration and see how much you understood.
Alice 💕
P.S. Today’s legend reminds us how precious a warm welcome is. That’s exactly the spirit of Le Cercle de Bruno, where our members meet on Zoom every Fridayto read Bruno et la magie de l’amour together. It’s the newest book by Barry, a member of our community, and you’d be among its very first readers. Camera off is welcome, and the sessions are recorded. Come and join us!