Andorran Witch Mythology

White Lady of Aubinyà

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Tradition / Region: Andorran Mythology
Alternate Names: —
Category: Witch

The Myth

The White Lady of Aubinyà is a mysterious and beautiful woman dressed entirely in white, associated with justice and supernatural punishment. She lived near the Aubinyà River and was known to warn those who abused power.

At the time, a bishop of Urgell ruled harshly over the Andorran people, taking heavy tributes and interfering in their freedoms. The White Lady warned him more than once to stop, but He ignored her and continued to oppress the people even more harshly.

One night, as the bishop and his entourage were returning after collecting tribute, they saw the Lady standing by the river, glowing in the moonlight. When the bishop approached her, she silently beckoned him closer and led him into the forest, where both disappeared and were never seen again.

After this, a violent wolf began terrorizing the area, attacking flocks and spreading fear. Eventually, the síndic of Andorra led a hunt and killed the beast.

Soon after, the síndic was plagued by terrifying dreams of fighting the wolf and fell into a fatal illness. As he lay dying, the White Lady appeared and revealed the truth: the wolf had been the bishop, transformed into a beast, and his death demanded a life in return.

The síndic died, and the Lady made clear that this was the price set by dark forces. From that moment on, no one dared to oppress the Andorran people again.

Sources

Valls, À., & Carol, R. (2023). Llegendes d’Andorra. In Encamp-Montellà: Anem Editors. p. 53.

Witch of Fener

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Tradition / Region: Andorran Mythology
Alternate Names: —
Category: Witch

The Myth

The Witch of Fener is a mysterious woman associated with a real historical disaster, whose survival under impossible circumstances led people to believe she possessed supernatural powers.

In 1865, during a violent storm, a landslide began forming above the hamlet of Fener. A servant noticed the ground cracking and warned the villagers, who quickly fled and watched from a distance as the mountain collapsed, completely destroying the village.

Among the fleeing villagers was a woman who suddenly turned back, determined to retrieve a bag of money she had left behind in her house. The others assumed she had perished in the landslide, buried beneath the rubble.

However, when the survivors reached Les Escaldes, they were shocked to find that she was already there, unharmed, and still holding the bag of money.

No one could explain how she escaped a disaster that destroyed everything in its path. From that moment on, she was regarded with suspicion and awe, and became known as the Witch of Fener, a figure believed to possess unnatural abilities or protection beyond human understanding.

Sources

Valls, À., & Carol, R. (2023). Llegendes d’Andorra. In Encamp-Montellà: Anem Editors p. 60.

La Padrina

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Tradition / Region: Andorran Mythology
Alternate Names: Godmother Witch
Category: Witch

The Myth

La Padrina is a powerful older woman with hidden magical abilities, appearing at first as an ordinary village godmother but capable of invoking supernatural punishment when faced with grave injustice.

During the time of the Carlist Wars, three deserter soldiers arrived in Andorra and were given shelter in a house where she lived with her granddaughter. Although they were initially grateful, the men soon revealed themselves to be violent and undisciplined, drinking heavily, causing disorder, and committing thefts.

One night, drunk and out of control, they demanded a supposed hidden treasure in the house and began destroying the home in search of it. They forced the young girl to join them, and the situation escalated into brutality, ending in her assault and murder.

Faced with this atrocity, the godmother revealed her true nature. In her grief and fury, she used her powers to exact immediate justice, transforming the three soldiers into stone.

These petrified figures are said to remain in the landscape as the “Xemeneies de les Fades,” serving as a permanent mark of punishment.

La Padrina represents a form of righteous supernatural justice, a figure who does not act until a moral boundary is crossed, but once it is, responds with absolute and irreversible power.

Sources

Valls, À., & Carol, R. (2023). Llegendes d’Andorra. In Encamp-Montellà: Anem Editors. p. 58.

Witches of Engolasters

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Tradition / Region: Andorran Mythology
Alternate Names: —
Category: Witch, Sheep

The Myth

The Witches of Engolasters are a collective of witches from across the Pyrenees who gather at Lake Engolasters on the night of the summer solstice to renew their pact with the devil. The lake itself is considered a deeply esoteric place, associated with mystery and supernatural forces, where even falling stars are believed to sink into its depths.

On the night of Saint John, witches travel from distant mountains and valleys to assemble at the lake. Before the sabbath begins, they gather special herbs used to create a magical drink that grants them the power to cast spells. During this preparation, the devil marks them, altering their nature and distinguishing them from ordinary women.

At midnight, under the moonlight, the sabbath begins. The witches form circles around the devil, who appears in the form of a goat and plays music that drives the ritual forward. The dance becomes increasingly wild and chaotic, accompanied by shouting, whistling, and the drinking of enchanted potions. During this time, the witches declare the curses they will cast over their lands in the coming year.

Young men sometimes attempt to spy on the gathering, climbing toward the lake with protective branches. However, they are often discovered before reaching it. The witches use enchantment against them, transforming them into black cats and drawing them into the ritual itself.

By morning, the lake returns to silence. Those who were transformed awaken far from the scene, exhausted and with no memory of what occurred. The sabbath leaves no visible trace, but its effects are believed to linger throughout the year.

Sources

Valls, À., & Carol, R. (2023). Llegendes d’Andorra. In Encamp-Montellà: Anem Editors. p. 46.