Tradition: Luxembourg Mythology
Alternative Names: Lion Maiden, Lioness of Oak
Category: Lion
The Myth
Léwfrächen was a mysterious maiden who lived inside a thick, hollow oak tree near the village of Eich in Luxembourg. She kept a tame lion, which gave her the name Lion Maiden. The hollow tree, known as the Léwfrächeshielchen, stood beside an old path leading into the meadows along the Alzette River. The path became known as the Lion Maiden’s Path, preserving the memory of the strange woman and her feline companion.
The hollow oak was also associated with a will-o’-the-wisp that emerged from its trunk every evening, appearing as a mysterious light in the gathering darkness. The tree became so closely linked to the local landscape that some claimed the village of Eich itself took its name from the hollow oak. Little else is known about Léwfrächen, her lion, or the mysterious light that appeared from their unusual dwelling.
Sources
“Löwenfräulein.” SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/luxemburg/Loewenfraeulein_Eich.html