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The remote village with the key to a dark European chapter

Catalonia, in north-east Spain, belongs to the “ground zero” of witch hunting in Europe. Witch trials and executions began there as early as 1424 and went on for over two centuries.

Pere Bigas Formatjé is a descendent of one the victims of Viladrau, a small village in central Catalonia, where 14 women were tried in 1617 and executed as witches in 1622. He and his cousin, Montse Albareda, are digging into the archives to find out the truth.

Meanwhile, the regional parliament just voted in favour of honouring the victims of witch hunt.

Video by Anna Pazos and Alba Munoz

Series producer Anna Bressanin