Encamp Opens Witch-Themed Mountain Shelter Highlighting Historic Persecutions

Encamp opened the Aixopluc de les Bruixes on Sunday along the Camí de les Pardines trail, halfway between the parish center and Engolasters Lake. The upgraded mountain shelter highlights the Engolasters witches legend alongside the historical trials of locals accused of witchcraft.

Minor Consul Xavier Fernàndez and Councillor Verònica Solsona unveiled an exterior totem topped with a black cat, a longstanding symbol of magic in popular lore. The totem includes a QR code linking to details on the persecutions. Inside, artist Àngel Calvente created a large mural inspired by the lake and folklore, drawing hikers into the area's collective myths.

Solsona described the design's intent: a dark interior to capture the legend's mystery, contrasted with the sunlit totem to illuminate the real medieval suffering of those accused, mostly women. The project revives a site previously marred by vandalism, turning it into an appealing stop that blends oral tales, documented records, and heritage to attract visitors.

Historian Pau Castell, an expert on Pyrenean witch hunts, helped provide context from Andorra's National Archive. Records show 34 Encamp residents—32 women and two men—faced accusations from 1450 to 1661. Neighbors blamed them for illnesses and livestock deaths. The Andorran Court of Corts handed down sentences such as banishment, property confiscation, execution by fire or hanging. At least seven were killed, while others fled or received lesser penalties. Castell noted such initiatives spread awareness beyond specialists.

The legend centers on Engolasters Lake as a Midsummer Night gathering spot for witches from Andorran valleys, Canigou, Puigmal, and Cadí. At midnight under moonlight, they danced around a goat-shaped devil, sharing spells amid music and cries. Local youths caught spying turned into black cats until dawn, then forgot the night. Folklore also links the lake's name to "engolir estels," where it swallows shooting stars on St. Lawrence's Night.

Calvente called the work a rewarding experience, fueled by passersby's interest during production. The shelter enhances tourism and learning on the busy Pardines path.