What stories and legends are associated with Tresserre in Catalonia

The Catalan Eden: The New Provence of the Pyrénées-Orientales.

Tresserre is a charming village in the Aspres, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales, close to Perpignan, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Spanish border. Its history dates back to the Middle Ages, when it developed around a cluster of modest homes. In the 13th century, Tresserre became a barony integrated into the Kingdom of Majorca, and remnants from this era can still be found behind the church, notably traces of the "palau," the former summer residence of the Kings of Majorca. The village was later annexed by King Louis XI in the 15th century, and then definitively attached to France by the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659.

Tresserre has always benefited from its fertile lands, emblematic of the Mediterranean trilogy: wheat, oil, and wine. Today, the village has just over 1,100 inhabitants and continues to attract with its quality of life and vibrant community spirit.

The History of Witches ("Bruixes") in Tresserre
Origins and Legends
In Catalan culture, the figure of the witch—the bruixa—has held an important place since the Middle Ages. Unlike the often negative Western image, Catalan bruixes are endowed with great powers but are not necessarily evil. They are even considered good luck: it is common to give a bruixa doll to a young couple for good fortune, or to hang one at the entrance of a house as a symbol of welcome and prosperity.

Local legends tell that the witches of Tresserre and the surrounding area would gather on St. John’s Eve to celebrate their sabbath, especially at a place called "la Perdre Blanche." This tradition fits into a broader historical context: between the 15th and 18th centuries, Catalonia saw many witch trials, and bruixes were often marginalized women, healers, or widows, accused of magical practices or possessing supernatural powers.

The Witch Festival: A Living Tradition
Since 1987, Tresserre has celebrated the Witch Festival ("la Fiesta de les Bruixes") every year at the end of October, near All Saints’ Day. This festival, created by members of the rural community center, has become a major event in the region. For three days, the village transforms: street performances, costumed parades, pyrotechnic shows, concerts, children’s workshops (broom making, magic potions), craft markets, and fire shows animate the old village’s streets.

After nightfall, the witches’ procession winds through the streets by moonlight during the "nit de les Bruixes," thus perpetuating the imagination and legends surrounding these fascinating figures. The village church proudly displays the symbol of the day, and the festival attracts young and old alike, who come to celebrate magic and enchantment in a festive, friendly atmosphere.

"Behind the frightening costumes, these are rather benevolent beings, for in Catalonia the witch is meant to be friendly: she protects animals and children who venture into the forest."

In Summary
Tresserre, a village steeped in history, is now renowned for its Witch Festival, which draws on Catalan legends and culture. Far from being purely evil, the bruixes are ambivalent figures, protectors, and bearers of tradition. Every autumn, magic and conviviality fill the village, highlighting the importance of intangible heritage and legends in local life.