The lovers of the Col d'Arlaz

Once upon a time, on the col d'Arlaz, there was a rich miller who had a very beautiful and generous daughter named Tusille. On long winter evenings, the inhabitants of the neighbouring villages would gather in the pejo of the mill, and while the women spun, the men carved wood and the elders told ancient legends. Once upon a time, on the col d'Arlaz, there was a rich miller who had a very beautiful and generous daughter named Tusille. On long winter evenings, the inhabitants of the neighbouring villages would gather in the pejo of the mill, and while the women spun, the men carved wood and the elders told ancient legends. One day a handsome young Swiss man named Victor arrived in the village. The boy was very poor, had no parents and lived in a small house in the middle of the forest. Since the ageing miller was no longer able to run the mill alone, he asked the young man to help him. Tusille and Victor fell madly in love with each other, with the blessing of the girl's mother. When the miller, however, realised the situation, he went into a rage because he wanted a rich groom for his daughter, so he threw Victor out of the mill. The boys continued to see each other secretly, but the young man was tormented by the fact that he could not marry his beloved because of his poverty. One day he was reminded of the ancient legend of the Pison, according to which the stream hides a treasure that can only be accessed during the ringing of bells on Christmas night. Tusille was afraid and did not want his love to run the risk of being trapped among the rocks. Victor was now decided and on Christmas Eve the two young people went to the Pison. When the bells rang, Victor made the sign of the cross three times and, after pushing the rock, stepped inside. In the darkness only the red eyes of the calf shone, enchanted by the sweet sound of the bells. Suddenly the wind blew out the young man's lantern and he fell, but went on anyway. Tusille still heard footsteps in the distance and urged the young man to hurry because time was running out, but Victor was too far away. When the ringing ended, the rock closed in without Victor being able to get out. Tusille did not resign herself and spent the whole night near the entrance to the treasure. The next morning she was found clinging to the rock lifeless. According to legend, during stormy nights, a voice can still be heard near the Pison, shouting Tusille's name mingling with the sound of the wind and flowing water. An attentive eye can also glimpse a desperate white silhouette clinging to the rock of the torrent.