Europe might be famous for its castles and cathedrals, but hidden in its forests, lakes, and lonely mountains are stories of creatures far stranger. We’re talking cryptids — mysterious animals that defy scientific explanation but thrive in folklore, local gossip, and the occasional blurry photo.
Below, we spotlight seven of Europe’s lesser-known but still lingering cryptids. Each one has a distinct origin story, curious modern sightings, and an eerie place in local culture. If you’ve ever wondered whether Europe has its own “Nessies” and “Mothmen,” the answer is a resounding, squirming yes.
1. 🐍 Storsjöodjuret (aka “Storsie”)
Location: Lake Storsjön, Sweden
Sweden’s best-kept cryptid secret swims in the icy depths of Lake Storsjön. Known as Storsjöodjuret (pronounced Storsho-djur), or more casually, Storsie, this long, snake-like creature supposedly measures over 10 meters and features humps along its back — plus a head shaped like a cat or dog.
The legend? It slithered straight out of a 1635 manuscript, where trolls were brewing potions and accidentally spawned a “worm with a catlike head” that wrapped itself around an island. Since then, around 500 locals have claimed sightings, with roughly 200 formal testimonies stored in regional archives. In 2008, a film crew even captured infrared footage of something big and warm moving beneath the water’s surface. The Jamtli museum in Östersund now houses an interactive Storsie exhibit — including a playful “monster hull.”
- 👀 Sightings: Ongoing, with hundreds of local accounts on record.
- 🌀 Folklore roots: Troll magic, runestones, and centuries-old Scandinavian lore.
2. 🪱 Lagarfljótsormurinn
Location: Lake Lagarfljót, Iceland
Meet Iceland’s own monster: Lagarfljótsormurinn, or the “Lagarfljót Worm.” Its story dates back to 1345, when a girl placed a worm on a gold ring — and the creature grew so large it had to be thrown into the lake. There, it allegedly mutated into something much worse.
Fast-forward to modern times: In the 1980s, telephone cables laid across the lake were mysteriously severed 22 times in the same location, prompting rumors of the ormur. Then in 2012, a local farmer recorded video of something sinuous wriggling beneath the ice — a viral moment that prompted a symbolic government “recognition” of the worm’s existence in 2014. Skeptics point to gas pockets or drifting nets, but that hasn’t stopped Lagarfljót from becoming a cryptid celebrity.
- 👁️ Sightings: The 2012 video drew international attention; other reports are sporadic but persistent.
- 📜 Cultural clout: Deeply rooted in Icelandic sagas and taken seriously by locals.
3. 🐾 Tatzelwurm
Location: Alps (Austria, Switzerland, Northern Italy)
In the remote Alpine mountains, people whisper about the Tatzelwurm — a clawed worm-like beast that’s part snake, part cat, part mystery. Descriptions vary wildly, but the general consensus is a stumpy dragon-like creature: around 1–2 meters long, with two front legs, a lizardy or feline head, and no hind limbs. Some stories add venom and ear-piercing screeches to the mix.
The first recorded sighting popped up in 1779, though Alpine hunters had told stories long before. In 2009, an anonymous Italian caller phoned a local newspaper to report a reptilian animal near Lake Como. Was it a prank? Maybe. But Tatzelwurm remains a folkloric favorite — and some Swiss naturalists even defended its existence in the 19th century.
- 🔭 Sightings: Rare, but scattered from the 18th century to modern day.
- 🏔️ Cultural role: Known as the “Alps Dragon,” appearing in hunting journals and mountain myths.
4. 🦉 Owlman of Mawnan
Location: Mawnan, Cornwall, England
High above a church tower in Cornwall, something strange once flapped its wings. Witnesses called it the Owlman — a humanoid owl-like creature with red glowing eyes, long claws, and a wingspan large enough to cast a shadow over the village.
The first incident occurred in 1926, when two boys fled from what they claimed was a “giant bird.” But the story picked up steam in 1976, when two girls spotted a silver-grey owl with claws like blacksmith’s tongs flying over Mawnan church. More sightings followed in 1978, 1989, and 1995 — including letters from tourists who saw a five-foot “Birdman.” Paranormal researcher Tony “Doc” Shiels helped amplify the story, which has since become a cult legend (and yes, there’s even an Owlman tour you can take).
- 👣 Sightings: A handful, clustered around the 1970s–1990s.
- 🎨 Local impact: Inspired surrealist art and remains a staple of Cornwall’s spooky lore.
5. 🌊 Morgawr
Location: Falmouth Bay, Cornwall, UK
Cornwall isn’t content with just one monster — enter Morgawr, the sea serpent of Falmouth Bay. The name means “sea giant” in Cornish, and it’s described as a dark, multi-humped creature with seal-like skin and a long, undulating body.
The earliest reports stretch back to 1903 and 1906, when sailors described massive serpents in the bay. Things escalated in 1926, when fishermen supposedly caught a 20-foot beaked, furred sea creature in their nets — only for it to escape. Then came 1976, when Doc Shiels (yes, again) claimed photos of the beast and launched Morgawr into UK cryptid fame. While skeptics think it might be a misidentified basking shark or sea lion, Morgawr still makes waves among local enthusiasts.
- 🧜 Sightings: Over a century of maritime encounters, from fishermen to photographers.
- 🐚 Cultural niche: Celebrated as a British Nessie – Cornish lore gives it mythical gravitas.
6. 🐉 Brosnya (Brosno Dragon)
Location: Lake Brosno, Russia
Russia’s answer to Nessie is the Brosnya, a lake-dwelling reptilian creature said to lurk in the cold waters of Lake Brosno, near the town of Andreapol. According to medieval legend, the Brosnya surfaced to terrify Tatar invaders, swallowing them whole.
While recent evidence is slim, a 2002 UFO group conducted sonar scans of the lake and detected a strange, jelly-like mass (which was eventually dismissed as a natural gas effect). Some wild tales even claim WWII German planes were attacked by the creature — though no credible records support that. Still, Brosnya lives on in Russian folklore, folklore blogs, and the occasional murky lake photo.
- 🗺️ Sightings: Mostly historic or folkloric; the 2002 sonar scan was the last notable report.
- 🐉 Legend status: Locally famous, but still obscure outside Russia.
7. 🐊 Lariosauro
Location: Lake Como, Italy
Italy’s Lake Como is best known for villas and movie stars — but look closer, and you might spot the Lariosauro, a reptilian cryptid said to dwell in the lake’s depths. Reports began in 1949, when a fisherman described seeing a large aquatic beast. Then in 1957, a diver claimed to see a crocodile-headed creature nearly 330 feet below the surface.
Things got stranger: locals started reporting long eels, reptilian backs, and lake monsters into the 2000s. A local author even penned a book called Il Lariosauro chronicling the beast’s appearances. Interestingly, the legend gained scientific “support” when paleontologists discovered Lariosaurus, a prehistoric marine reptile, near the lake — leading some to speculate that Lariosauro is a living fossil (spoiler: probably not).
- 🐊 Sightings: Several from the mid-20th century to early 2000s.
- 🦴 Cultural intrigue: The real Lariosaurus fossil adds flair — and a neat museum exhibit.
Each of these cryptids may be a myth, a misidentification, or something science hasn’t caught up with — yet. But they all add richness to Europe’s modern folklore, blending ancient tales with eerie sightings and “what-if” questions.
