In How to Write a Unique Spooky Story, I wrote about how to write a unique spooky story by either creating your own monster, creature, or horror yourself or by finding a monster that is not well known. I advised finding a monster by researching myths and legends in other cultures to discover something that has a rich history surrounding it, but that is not considered modern. One of the countries that have some unique and old monsters is France.

Tarasque

The Tarasque was believed to have originated in Nerluc in Provence, France; this creature has the head of a lion, the back of a turtle, the legs of a bear, the chest of an ox, and a scorpion’s tail. The Tarasque was a killing machine that not only killed all that came across it in battle, but also destroyed the very land it walked on. According to legend, Saint Martha managed to tame the beast, only for the people of Nerluc to kill it in fear when it was brought to their town. In remorse, they named their town Tarasque.

Nain Rouge

The Nain Rouge is literally a red dwarf, the size of a child, has red skin, blood red eyes, rotting teeth, and wears fur boots that are either black or red. This creature might not be large, but it is a nasty harbinger of doom and a trickster. The Nain Rouge is believed to be seen prior to some of the most horrid tragedies that have ever occurred. Did the Nain Rouge cause these events or was its presence merely a warning of the horror to come?

Lou Carcolh

Lou Carcolh is a massive monster with long slimy tentacles that are miles long, the body of a serpent, and the shell of a snail. The Lou Carcolh lives underground until it is ready to snap up and paralyze its human prey before eating it whole, alive and conscious. The last thing its human victims see is its gaping mouth before they are swallowed up.

Loup-Garou

The Loup-Garou is a sub type of werewolf that can transform at will, no matter if there is a full moon in the sky or not. Once these Loups-Garous have assumed the form of a wolf, they achieve superhuman strength and speed while also retaining their human intellect. The monsters are much harder to kill than the traditional werewolf as they can become a wolf in the blink of an eye and, with their human intellect, they are able to both hunt and evade with startling accuracy.

Cheval Mallet

Cheval Mallet translates to mallet horse or evil horse and this creatures looks like a beautiful horse with an elegant set of tack. The Cheval Mallet appears on lonely roads and lures weary travelers onto its back only to ride away with them. Such travelers are never seen again. What does the Cheval Mallet do with its victims; are they eaten, absorbed, killed, or sent to a different dimension?

Beast of Gévaudan

The Beast of Gévaudan is one of the scariest monsters from French legend, not only because of its ferocious appearance, but because of the fact that it was documented in history as a man-eating wolf dog. It lived from1764 to 1767 and was described as having massive teeth and multiple huge tails. Hundreds of people were left with their throats ripped out and organs missing because of this beast. Its reign of terror across the country was only halted when King Louis XV sent professional hunters after it.