Malavella Festival in Caldes de Malavella

The tourism department of the Caldes de Malavella Town Hall presents a new edition of the Malavella Festival.

A festival that originated in 2010 from various efforts and initiatives to revive and promote the legend of Malavella, linking it to the imaginary and hidden world. The Malavella Festival is a tool for showcasing Caldes' heritage, preserving it, and strengthening its collective identity.

This festival, which is celebrated every last Saturday in April, is a reference in the folklore of Caldes de Malavella.

The legend that gives its name to the town of Caldes

Once upon a time…

The people of Caldes lived in fear because of the disappearance of the village children and the severe poverty they endured. One day, a young stranger named Maurici arrived, looking for work. The inhabitants of Caldes suggested he go up to the castle, in case he might find some opportunity there, since a feudal lady lived there who, being so hunchbacked, ugly, and wicked, was known to everyone as the "wicked old woman."

Maurici began working there, but little by little he realized that very strange things were happening in the castle. One day he followed the witch's hunchback to the kitchen and saw him take a child from Caldes out of a sack, intending to throw him into a cauldron of boiling water. Apparently, every night he had to cook a young child's heart for the "wicked old woman," who had a pact with the devil: if she ate a tender heart each night, she would gain power over the peasants of Caldes.

At that moment, Maurici, seeing that the water was already boiling, reacted quickly and pushed the hunchback into the pot. He then freed the boy so he could go and warn the villagers. When the hunchback was thoroughly cooked, he tore out his heart and took it to the witch, who, at the first bite, realized that this heart was not as tender as the others.

Maurici confronted her and confessed that it was the hunchback's heart. The wicked old woman ordered the guards to capture him, but at that moment all the people of Caldes arrived, alerted by the boy. Upon seeing them, the witch fled the castle shouting, " I'LL BE BACK, I'LL BE BACK!"

Come and discover the most amazing Caldes!