Villefranche-de-Conflent Local Custom Tips by tompt

The legend of the witches

Once upon a time, long ago, when magic and sorcery were around, the witches lived in the caves of Conflent where they spent all winter.

At the end of winter they cleaned their brushes and left the caves to celebrate the arrival of spring with the villagers of Villefranche. Doing this, they brought the vilagers happiness, cheerfulness and prosperity during all the year.

It is in the Catalan tradition to give a close relation or a child, a witch as a sign of friendship. One suspends it either in the house, or in the room of the children to move away the bad spirits and to leave place with happiness.

If you walk around Villefranche you can buy witches on every streetcorner.