The Legend of the Pedraforca

Marc RL · · 2 min read

The Pedraforca is one of the best-known mountains in Catalunya. Its shape is highly unusual, with two peaks separated by a lower saddle called the Enforcadura. That unmistakable silhouette has given rise to many stories and legends. Some call it “the magic mountain”, because mystery has always clung to it.

The castle that vanished

Many years ago, people said a mysterious castle stood on the summit of the Pedraforca. According to legend, it was protected by dark forces and ruled by a wicked lord. The inhabitants of the nearby villages were afraid and begged for help to make the castle disappear.

One night, a ferocious storm broke over the mountain. The sky filled with thunder and lightning, and the noise was so intense that nobody dared step outside. The next morning, when the fog lifted, the castle was gone. Only the two peaks of the Pedraforca remained, as if the mountain had been split in two.

Some say it was the archangel Saint Michael who destroyed the castle with his sword and freed the people of the region.

The mountain of the witches

Another popular tale says that on the night of Saint Sylvester (31 December), witches gathered on the Pedraforca to hold aquelarres, their wild sabbaths. They danced and sang around the fire, and their voices could be heard in the nearby villages.

The terrified villagers prayed for someone to put an end to those gatherings. Then the archangel Saint Michael stepped in once more. With one blow of his sword, he split the mountain in two and the witches were separated forever.

Ever since, the Pedraforca has been considered a special place, where some still claim to feel strange energies or see mysterious lights at night.

A symbol of Catalunya

Legends aside, the Pedraforca is one of the mountains climbers love most. It is part of the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park and a hugely popular destination for hikers and nature lovers.

Its unmistakable outline and its mystery-laden history have turned the Pedraforca into a symbol of Catalunya, a place that keeps the memory of ancient times and of legends still told today.

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