West Pomeranian

A stone in Kamienica Lake called "The Devil's". According to legend, the devil made a bet with a landowner that he would pave a stone causeway across the lake in exchange for his soul. Just as he was finishing the job and carrying the huge boulder, the landowner's coachman crowed like a rooster. The devil was terrified, dropped the stone and disappeared.

Information sources: Lysiak 1998, 32

A large boulder called the "Devil's Stone" was said to lie near the village of Bobrowniki. On its surface was supposed to be the imprint of a horse's hoof and a chicken's foot. Legend tells of a wager between a peasant from Bobrowniki and the devil. The devil was to build a causeway across the lake in exchange for his soul. He was already close to completing the work when a hen crowed and, having lost his power, dropped the boulder. The stone was smashed and used to build the sump of a well, about 70 meters deep.

Sources of information: Knoop 1924, 52; Lysiak 1998, 32

On the Rega River near Peczerzyn lay a boulder that, according to legend, was abandoned by the devil. The legend links it to a bet made by a peasant with the devil. In exchange for help in extracting a huge boulder from the river to build a house, the peasant promised his soul. When the devil effortlessly lifted the boulder, the peasant was frightened that he would have to give up his soul and crowed like a rooster. The devil, hearing this, threw the stone and ran away.

Information sources: Lysiak 1998, 29

An erratic boulder lying in a field southwest of the Debina village buildings. According to local tradition, the depressions on it were traces of a seat and a horse's leg belonging to the devil.
According to legend, the devil made a deal with the abbot of the Kolbach monastery that he would bring him fish (whitefish) from Italy within three days and make it in time for the morning drinking. In return, the abbot promised him thirty souls. The monks fanned out across the countryside to deceive the devil with premature drinking and deprive him of the promised payment. The devil arrived early and sat down on a stone under the Oak Tree to rest. Just then, thanks to one of the monks hidden in a nearby shed, a rooster began to crow. The devil, in anger, threw the whitefish into the nearby Miedwie Lake, where they live to this day. Traces of the devil's presence were left on the stone.
According to another version, the stone was supposed to be located in the castle park in Pezin. Perhaps it was this boulder that was first mentioned in 1517, as supposed to have 10 bowl-shaped depressions arranged in a single row, believed to be the footprints of giants or the devil (Knoop 1924, 11).

Sources of information: Knoop 1924, 105; Kajkowski 2008, 329; Lysiak 1998, 31

Near the village of Swielubie, in the valley of the Parsęta River, on a hill there was a boulder, believed to have an imprint of a human foot and a cat's paw, called the "Devil's Stone."

Sources of information: Chludzinski 2000, 239; Lysiak 1998, 26

St. James Archcathedral Basilica is said to have formerly had a large stone placed next to the organ with footprints imprinted on it. According to local beliefs, they were left there by the devil.

Sources of information: Haas 1898; Lysiak 1998, 25

Near the village of Mieszalka a stone was said to lie, according to local beliefs, with imprints of a shoe and foot with clearly marked toes and heel. They were supposed to have been left by the devil, who stopped on the stone. The boulder could not be found in the field.

Sources of information: Rogge 1927, 128; Lysiak 1998, 26; Kajkowski 2008, 328; field queries

By the road from Pecanin to Dabrowa, a huge stone was said to lie, on whose surface was visible "the imprint of a horse's leg, a cat's leg and a child." On New Year's night, the devil was said to have danced on it. The boulder could not be found in the field. Most likely destroyed.

Information sources: Rosenov 1921, 69; Lysiak 1998, 25; Kajkowski 2008, 328

An erratic boulder (or old grave stone?) known as the "Devil's Stone", lying in the cemetery near the sacristy of St. Mary's Church until about 1805. St. Mary's Church in Darlowo. According to tradition, there were supposed to be depressions on its surface in the shape of footprints. Legend has it that "in Catholic times" the mayor's daughter used to have trysts with the local priest in the cemetery. Once, as she waited on the stone for her beloved, a black figure appeared and grabbed her and carried her away in a wild, whirling dance. The next day, footprints and a horse's hoof were spotted on the surface of the stone, and from then on it was called the "dancing stone." The boulder was removed during the liquidation of the cemetery.

Information sources: Lysiak 1998, 24-25

"Devil's Stone" to lie in the forest near the village of Bialecino, at the intersection of the roads to Kryg and the road to the mill. The boulder was said to be 80 cm long, 50 cm wide and 1 m high. According to a local legend, the devil was supposed to dance with a virgin on this stone. The boulder could not be found in the field. In the village of Bialecino I have not recorded information about it.

Sources of information: Lysiak 1998, 24; field queries

The boulder is located on the road from Stargard to Pyrzyce, on the border of the fields of the villages of Ryszewo and Brzezina. It was known as the "Devil's Stone" because of the horseshoe-shaped mark on its surface. The stone was taken in 1817 during the widening of the road, with great opposition and fear from the surrounding population. An old rifle was said to have been discovered next to it, as well as a hundred horseshoes "stacked four at a time."

Information sources: Lysiak 1998, 23

Probably the same stone mentioned twice under the name Węgorzewo
(połchowskie meadows) - Połchowo. To the west of Węgorzyn, on the so-called "połchowskie meadows," a huge granite boulder about 2 meters high was said to lie
. On its upper surface there were fissures and depressions having the shape of "bird's claws". Local people called them "devil's footprints". According to legend, the stone was supposed to rotate in place every time a rooster crowed.

According to another legend, on St. John's Day the devil slept on a rock. The rock then became soft, so the devil's head, shoulders, arms, body and feet were imprinted on its surface. When the devil got sleepy he would disappear into a nearby swamp, hence it took the name "Devil's Wetland."

Information sources: Lysiak 1998, 21

The erratic boulder is 2.2 meters long and 1.2 meters wide. By the forest stream (Mlynski Strumień) near Pilchow there are two stones called "Devil's" by the local people. On the larger one, the upper surface shows depressions, with which is connected the legend of a shepherd who made a pact with the devil. He gave his soul in exchange for help in warding off the wolves decimating his flock, and at the same time hoped to fool the devil. When the devil demanded payment, the shepherd said he would wait by a large stone on Midsummer night. In doing so, the boulder had a certain miraculous property - on Midsummer Night it became soft. The shepherd lay down on the stone leaving the imprint of his body
and staff. When the devil arrived, he was convinced that a man was lying on the stone. He approached him, but at that moment the rooster crowed and the devil had to flee, breaking off a piece of the rock in anger.

Another legend recorded in the 19th century (for the first time in 1840) says that every Midsummer night the devil sleeps on it. At that time, the rock became soft and therefore the head, shoulders, arms, body and feet of the devil were imprinted on its surface. When the devil slept he disappeared (or possibly bathed) in a nearby swamp, hence it took the name "Devil's Wetland" or "Devil's Swamp." According to another legend, the stone was supposed to be an altar for seven brothers serving the devil, on which they offered sacrifices. Next to it were supposed to be seven smaller stones on which they sat, while the stream was called the "Stream of the Seven Brothers."

Another legend says that at the stone, three brothers killed a fourth in a fight over property. Then the devil appeared and trampled on the stone of the brother instigating the murder with such force that he reflected the marks of his hooves in the rock. Another legend tells of a border conflict between two shepherds. One of them tried to commit fraud, at which point the devil appeared, grabbed him and hurled him against a boulder, leaving footprints in the rock. The boulder was also said to have served as the boundary stone of the property of the Joannite monastery.

Sources of information Lysiak 1998, 21, 28; Maciejowska, Witkowski, Prorok, Witkowska, Baumert, Diabelski głaz koło Pilchowa, 2022 (e-publication https://www.naszewycieczki.pl/woj-zachodniopomorskie/41-ksiazki-i-innepublikacje/1111-e-publikacjadiabelski-glaz-bliskopilchowa-lasy-miejskieszczecina, accessed 20 March 2023)

Geographic coordinates: 53.492984, 14.508768

Location on Google maps