Major “holiday” is celebrated on the night of May 1st
Many travelers like to visit places with a mystical past. Although few people really believe in the existence of witches these days, tourists from different countries show a genuine interest in the sights associated with them.
Mount Brocken
Germany
In the German Harz is the highest the mountain of the region is the Brocken. It attracts many tourists because it is considered the place of the witches' coven.
The mountain has been known as such since the 16th century. The Brocken appears in many sagas and folk tales, but the most famous writer who mentioned the Brocken was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. He made the mountain a gathering place for witches during the celebration of Walpurgis Night in the first part of his Faust. Since 2006, a national park has been opened on the territory of the Harz.
Back to news | It is also very popular among tourists because of the numerous rumors about sorcerers, witches and shamans who sell their own products here.
In fact, on the market you can buy medicinal herbs, amulets, potions for any occasion and figurines with traditional symbols. At the same time, dried cubs and embryos of llamas, standing right there on the shelves, amaze the imagination. So while the witch market isn't all that mystical, it does give you a taste of the local flavor.
See also
- “This is some kind of magic!”: 7 countries where sorcerers and magicians practice forget about Salem. This American city became the site of a large-scale witch hunt that unfolded in 1692.
The witch's house is the only building that has survived to this day, which is directly related to the events that took place then. In the 1670s, Judge Jonathan Corwin moved into it, investigating cases of witchcraft in the area. According to legend, the interrogations of the accused took place within the walls of the house. Currently, there is a museum inside, and the building itself has been declared an architectural monument of the 17th century.
Witches' Well
Great Britain
In Edinburgh, Scotland, on the way to the ancient fortress on the Castle The rock has a discreet attraction associated with the persecution of women on suspicion of witchcraft. The Witches' Well is a cast-iron fountain with a memorial plaque.
It was installed at the end of the 19th century on the site where several hundred women were burned from the 15th to the 18th centuries. The creator of the monument was John Duncan, who sought to show that any phenomenon has two sides, as well as to reflect the balance between good and evil. Therefore, the fountain depicts the foxglove plant, which was used in medicine, but could become poisonous if the dosage was incorrect. There is also a snake, which can be associated with evil forces and witchcraft. On the bas-relief, you can also see two heads belonging to an old and a young witch.
Read also
- Hammer of witches: how the hunt for sorcerers and sorcerers arose, developed and ended< /ul>
Triora
Italy
Italy has its own Salem – Triora, which is often called the city of witches. In the 16th century, local women began to be accused of witchcraft after Triora was hit by crop failure and famine.
Inquisitors appeared in the city, and with them prisons and torture chambers. Many took advantage of the witch hunt as an opportunity to deal with enemies. The locals have not forgotten the events that took place and turned the city into a tourist attraction: it has many sculptures of witches, road signs with their image, as well as a museum and houses with bars on the windows where those accused of witchcraft were kept. Tourists are also shown the nearby La Kabutina – a place that is considered a gathering point and a witches' sabbath.
Witch Mountain
Lithuania
This mountain is located on the Curonian Spit, not far from Juodkrante. It has long been considered a sacred place and has been associated with the worship of the forces of nature, mysticism and witchcraft.
Currently, it houses many wooden sculptures depicting the Neringa witch and other creatures from local legends. Walking up the mountain is not too intimidating and will appeal to folklore lovers and young children.
Read also
- Bonfires and torture: how the Inquisition pronounced a death sentence on all residents of the Netherlands< /ul>
Siquijor
Philippines
Located in the center of the Philippine archipelago, the island of Siquijor is known as a habitat for sorcerers, witches and healers (healers). The mysterious glow that shrouded the island in the evening for decades contributed to the creation of an aura of mysticism around this place.
The glow is associated with millions of fireflies that used to live in island trees. Currently, their number has decreased, so Siquijor no longer “shines”.
Photo: Getty Images, Wikimedia Commons, Flickr
Material published in July 2019, partially updated in April 2023
Elena Borodina