The route of the witches of Arnes

Welcome to the literary route of "The witches of Arnes", a journey inspired by the novel of the same name written by David Martí, which will allow you to know some of the most representative scenarios of this work.

Do you want to know what the novel is about?

Year 1533. In the small town of Arnes, Maria gives birth to her first daughter, Lluna. Grandmother Magdalena, expert midwife and staunch defender of the beneficent powers of nature, has wanted to welcome her granddaughter with an old prayer full of strength and wisdom, but has had a fateful oversight: the old priest has heard the words and is willing to go anywhere to end this heresy. When growing, Lluna is initiated in the force of the elements of nature by Mary and by a mysterious text, the Book of Essences. Now, however, mother and daughter and all their ancient wisdom are in danger. Fanaticism and incomprehension has spread throughout the area and accusations of witchcraft approach the town.

1. The house of "Las Brujas de Arnes"

The first point of the route is the house where Maria and the Moon live, the protagonists of "The witches of Arnes". This is the house on Main Street where the two women share magic, illusions and confidences.

And so begins the novel: "A new spring day was born in 1533 of Our Lord and the first rays of sun began to rise above the rocks of Benet and the mountains of Terranyes, shyly caressing east slope of the town of Arnes. day he woke lazily and the windows of Maria's room had, as always, the shutters open from side to side to enjoy from the bed the comforting company of the massif of the Port of Tortosa and Beseit, who never tired of looking. what he liked most of all was, without a doubt, the sunrise, a magical moment in which the king star, once again demonstrating his generosity, watered the most hidden corners of this land with life ".

2. The Castle of Arnes

In this square was the old jail of the town and also the entrance to the castle, which is still preserved today.

This was one of the favorite places of Martín, husband of María and father of Lluna (protagonists of Las brujas de Arnes). Unwittingly, each time he stopped, his mind would quicken to imagine what life would have been like in these lands in the time of his Templar ancestors...

A fragment of the novel: "The town of Arnes had been built on the top of a hill very close to the Algars River, in a rugged terrain, steep and steep that little by little, based on sweat, tears and tenacity, during the reconquest, more than four centuries ago, it was pacifying The Templars of the iris had rehabilitated the castle with the aim of using the fortification as a spear point from where to persecute the last groups of Muslims who had become strong in the area. Now, in time of peace, the hospitable ones, to whom the term belonged, had given the land of the castle to the mayor's office, who, in turn, had sold it to the villagers to build their houses. "

3. The oil mill (Martin's workshop)

In spite of the incipient economic bonanza that was lived in the region, the necessity had forced Martín, the father of Lluna, to do a bit of everything. In the forge of his workshop, he even made small jewels worthy of kings. But the real treasure that these four walls hid was a wonderful book, the Book of Essences, a compendium of all the magical and natural knowledge that, over the centuries, has passed from generation to generation.

A fragment of the novel: "Martín made his way to the Sastre portal to leave the town and go to the workshop, with the small forge he had, and thanks to the skill of his hands, he had made his work as a blacksmith recognized to All the surrounding villages, from Horta to Beseit, not only worked well, but also quickly, so that his neighbors respected him and did all sorts of orders with which he got the money to go by: horseshoes for the animals, tools for the countryside, utensils for home, and even, especially on certain dates, small jewels that he knew how to make worthy of the most demanding kings ".

4. The Town Hall Square

History says that, in the sixteenth century, in J oan Malet, the first known witch hunter in the history of Catalonia, began his macabre career in Arnes, accusing two women of witchcraft. This fact was the one that inspired the book of The Witches of Arnes. In the novel, this is the square where the men of the inquisitor general of Barcelona mounted the stage where the trial against María and Lluna had to be carried out. Reality and fiction go hand in hand in one place.

A fragment of the novel: "Neighbors of Arnes, have been summoned to this sacred trial, in the name of the Holy Inquisition, which must elucidate the guilt or innocence of two women who live here and who have been clearly identified as the cause of all the desolation that this region has experienced since last fall.

I myself have been able to verify the extent of his power, since some of my men have died in supernatural circumstances, attacked by a great white wolf, some, and burned, the others, by some rays that fell suddenly, responding to the invocation of the two women. The presence of the Devil appreciates clearly in these acts of brutality, but only God has the power to declare innocence or guilt. And now, let the accused come. "

Source: City Council of Arnes