The Tarasque
A dragon was said to terrorise the Rhône until a saint tamed it, and the town of Tarascon still parades its effigy.
What was reported
In the legend of Tarascon, in Provence, the Tarasque was a dragon-like creature with a lion's head, six short legs, a spiked shell like a turtle's and a scaly tail. It lived in the Rhône and attacked people and boats.
According to the 13th-century Golden Legend, Saint Martha found it, tamed it with hymns and holy water and led it back to the town. Since 1474 Tarascon has celebrated the Tarasque with a festival and a giant effigy paraded through the streets.
Explanations offered
Folklorists see the Tarasque as one of many dragon legends about chaos tamed by faith, and perhaps about the dangers of the river. The festival is part of UNESCO's list of Processional Giants and Dragons in Belgium and France.
- When
- Festival since 1474
- Where
- Tarascon, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
- Witnesses
- Provençal tradition
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.