As a mom and writer, I’ve always loved passing down stories from my childhood to my kids. However, living in France has introduced me to a whole new set of bedtime tales, and let’s just say… they’re quite far from the “happily ever after” stories that I grew up with!
Here’s a short list of some French horror stories we’ve encountered—brace yourself!
French Folktales That Will Leave You Asking, “Wait, What?”
1. Mr. Seguin’s Goat – La Chèvre de Monsieur Seguin by Alphonse Daudet
In a nutshell: Mr. Seguin had a beautiful white goat named Blanchette. She was special, unlike his previous goats, who had all met a tragic demise at the hands (or rather, jaws) of a wolf. When Blanchette wanted to venture up the mountain, Mr. Seguin warned her about the previous goats. But, of course, she ignored him, because why would anything bad happen to her?
Spoiler alert: She goes up the hill, and yes, the wolf eats her. End of story.
My reaction: The ending to this French horror story hits like a punch to the gut. I had to re-read it just to be sure I hadn’t missed something. Nope—Blanchette gets eaten, and that’s it. No magical save, no last-minute twist. I guess there’s supposed to be some kind of moral about heeding advice or avoiding temptation, but honestly, I was left more than a little shocked.
WTF Moment: The wolf actually eats the goat! In a children’s story! Not exactly the Disney ending I was expecting.
2. BlueBeard – Barbe Bleue by Charles Perrault
In a nutshell: A wealthy man with a string of mysteriously vanished wives marries the youngest daughter of a local man. He goes away on a business trip, leaving her with the keys to his castle with strict instructions not to open one particular door. But of course, her curiosity overtakes her and she opens that door to discover a blood-soaked room filled with the dismembered bodies of his previous wives. When Blue Beard returns to kill her for her disobedience, her brothers arrive – just in time to slay him and save the girl. She inherits his wealth and lives happily ever after.
My reaction: This is hands down one of the goriest French horror stories I’ve come across, especially for children. Sure, there’s a happy ending, but it’s wrapped in a dark, disturbing package. My vivid imagination didn’t help either. Thanks, France, for all the future therapy sessions.
WTF Moment: This story was written in 1697. What was going on in the world back then to inspire this tale? I’m going to be double-checking my door locks tonight, just saying.
3. Donkey’s Hide – Peau d’Ane by Charles Perrault
In a nutshell: My six-year old brought home this story, she’d learned at school! A king owns a magical donkey that poops gold and jewels. When his wife dies, she asks him to only remarry the most beautiful woman in the kingdom—which, unfortunately, leads him to want to marry his own daughter. (Yes, you read that right.) To escape, the daughter, guided by her godmother, asks for impossible gifts, including the hide of a magical donkey. Disguised in this donkey’s hide, she flees and eventually finds love through a series of Cinderella-like events.
My reaction: I was skeptical when my six-year-old recounted this story, and even more horrified when I confirmed that, yes, this is exactly what happens. It’s a twisted, bizarre tale, complete with incest, magical donkeys, and questionable father-daughter dynamics.
WTF Moment: The whole plot. But if I had to pick one, it’s the moment you realize the father-in-law is also the king who wanted to marry his daughter. Yikes.
4. The Beast of Gévaudan – La Bête du Gévaudan
In a nutshell: This is a real-life story that has become a part of French folklore. In the mid-18th century, a wolf-like creature was said to have terrorized the region of Gévaudan, killing over 100 people. Despite numerous hunts and reported captures, the killings continued. To this day, no one knows exactly what “the Beast” was—a wolf, a hyena, or something more supernatural?
WTF Moment: The fact that this isn’t just a folktale—it really happened! The mystery of what exactly the Beast was continues to baffle historians and locals alike.
5. Little Red Riding Hood – Le Petit Chaperon Rouge by Charles Perrault
In a nutshell: You probably know the story of Little Red Riding Hood, but the French version is particularly dark. A little girl ventures into the forest to visit her grandmother and encounters a wolf. The wolf eats the grandmother, disguises himself, and then eats Little Red Riding Hood too. No heroic woodsman in Perrault’s version—just a simple and rather grim conclusion.
WTF Moment: The wolf eats both grandmother and granddaughter without any kind of rescue. In Perrault’s version, it’s a straightforward (and creepy) cautionary tale about the dangers of talking to strangers.
6. Sleeping Beauty – La belle au bois dormant by Charles Perrault
In a nutshell: The original French version of Sleeping Beauty is a lot darker than the Disney adaptation. After the princess is awakened, she marries the prince, but the story doesn’t end there. The prince’s mother is an ogress who tries to eat the princess and her children. The ogress sets up an elaborate plot to cook them, but the prince arrives in time to stop her.
WTF Moment: Forget the prick of the spindle—how about the mother-in-law who tries to eat her grandchildren? The cannibalistic subplot really adds a whole new layer of horror to this French horror story.
French Horror Stories: In Conclusion
While rich and full of lessons, French folklore is not exactly sugar-coated (much like the culture). From goats being devoured to castles full of bloody secrets, these tales certainly keep you on your toes (and maybe up at night). If you’re looking to dive into some darker bedtime folklore, these French horror stories have you covered!
Would you tell these tales to your little ones?
