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.