Witch-Hunting in the Pyrénées: this is the title of this portfolio sent by Judith Prat. It is accompanied by this text:
My photographic report explores the historical significance of witch-hunting in the Pyrénées—the natural border between France and Spain.
Witch-hunting remains one of the darkest chapters in human history. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, a widespread social consensus across Europe viewed all women as potential witches. This belief led to the establishment of legal and social frameworks that legitimized thousands of executions—many by burning at the stake or hanging.
This project documents the witch hunts in the Pyrénées, where some of the earliest and most intense persecutions took place. Catalonia, Spain, was the first region in Europe to introduce laws condemning individuals for witchcraft. The small Spanish town of Laspaúles witnessed one of the largest mass executions of women in a single trial. In the 17th century, across the border in France, the Court of Bordeaux became convinced that women in the French Basque Country had made pacts with the devil, triggering an exceptionally brutal wave of persecution.
Through a visual narrative, this photographic work traces key historical events and locations, shedding light on the symbols, traditions, and stigmas that have persisted over time. Moreover, it establishes a connection between the women who were condemned and those who live in these regions today.
The project is based on historical documents, including preserved trial records and interrogations of the accused women. Each location featured in the report is directly linked to significant events from the witch hunts.
Ultimately, this work is both a journey through the history and geography of the Pyrénées and an exploration of the region’s enduring cultural memory—offering a fresh perspective on these mountains and their inhabitants.
Judith Prat
