Tradition: Swiss Mythology
Alternative Names: The Giant Toad Beneath the Church
Category: Frog
The Myth
A gigantic toad lies beneath a church in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland. It rests upon an unfathomably deep body of water hidden beneath the building. The creature remains concealed underground, its enormous body supporting a mysterious and fragile balance beneath the church.
According to the legend, the church will collapse if the giant toad ever turns over. As long as it remains still, the building stands above it, but a single movement could bring the entire structure crashing down. The tale connects the hidden creature’s movements with the sudden destruction of the church and offers a mythical explanation for the trembling of the earth.
Sources
“Die Kröte (Sargans).” SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen aus der Schweiz (St. Gallen). https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/schweiz/st_gallen/kroete_sargans.html