Festivals and sleepless nights of witches and wizards of Berry

Unusual meeting...

What could be more unusual than to meet a " birette ", just like that, in the bend of a grove ? For those who are not from Berry, a precision: a "birette" is a ghost, a witch, or a nice goblin if you are lucky!

But is it really unusual? Not really, since we are in the land of wizards, in the Berry, a region of legends!
Let's have a look around, on a full moon night, of course...

 

Rezay

Rezay is, it is well known, the "capital" of wizards! It was even awarded, during an old radio broadcast, the title of "the most superstitious commune in France" (Pierre Bonte's broadcast, on Europe 1, in the 60s)! But, long before the radio, it would not seem impossible that this belief came to us from the ancient druids, who thought that the region was the sacred center of Gaul.
While you're in the area, check out the "berouettes" hike... it's beautiful!

 

"La mare au diable" (the devil's pond)

George Sand is not for nothing either in all the fantasies that circulate in the region. The fantastic events of her "devil's pond" maintain them!
But do you know that this famous "devil's pond" exists? You will find it in the Chanteloube wood (Route de La Mare au Diable, Mers-sur-Indre).

 

The festival of the witch

It is on Saint Luc's day, in Bonnu, commune of Cuzion, the third Sunday of October. A centennial festival. The mass, the pilgrimage, the witches and the local products are all part of it!

 

The night of the witches

It takes place in Bué, and this witch fair has been going on since the post-war period. It usually starts with a meal interspersed with witches' stories, of course. When night falls, the "birettes", arriving through the vineyards, perform their scary torchlight parade! Of course, you will not forget to taste the famous "lizard juice".

 

"The Devil's Pond
Town hall of Mers-sur-Indre
1, place Saint Martin
36 230 Mers-sur-Indre

Tel : 02 54 31 06 52
mairie-mers.sur.indre@wanadoo.fr

 

The Witch's Festival

Town hall of Cuzion

35, rue du Pré Brétory

36190 Cuzion

Tel : 02 54 47 24 51

mairiedecuzion@orange.fr

 

 

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

(free version)

 

 


To go further....

MON BERRY SORCIER, GUERISSEURS REBOUTEUX EXORCISTES

Click on the image

Guérisseurs, rebouteux, «panseux de secret», magnétiseurs, radiesthésistes, médiums, sorciers, exorcistes et même sourciers se côtoient en Berry, une région empreinte de superstitions et de croyances populaires bonnes ou mauvaises. De quoi alimenter les rumeurs et nourrir tous les fantasmes... Brigitte Lucas fait le point sur les pratiques anciennes et actuelles, tout en s'interrogeant sur ce qui a contribué à cette réputation. Que sont devenues les superstitions liées notamment à la ruralité ? Sont-elles toujours ancrées dans l'inconscient collectif ? Va-t-on toujours consulter un rebouteux pour guérir ? Pratique-t-on encore des exorcismes quand on pense avoir été victime d'un mauvais sort ? Doit-on uniquement à George Sand cette image d'un Berry sorcier ? Autant de questions sur le paranormal berrichon auxquelles l'auteure tente de répondre, en faisant une véritable enquête de terrain d'où se dégage un parfum de sortilèges et parfois de soufre.
Manuel de sorcière

Click on the image

Ce manuel vous enseignera tous les rituels, formules magiques et enchantements qui vous aideront à atteindre vos objectifs.
Ce guide pratique de sorcellerie vous dit tout sur les ingrédients et les objets du quotidien que vous pourrez utiliser sans danger pour apprivoiser le monde fascinant de la magie.
Écrit tout spécialement pour les débutants, il constitue une synthèse de tout ce que vous devez savoir pour révéler au grand jour vos dons de sorcière.
Croyances, Sorcellerie et Superstitions en Sologne, Berry et Orléanais

Click on the image

Also to be seen in the department

Les Gâs du Berry

The Gâs du Berry

placeNohant-Vic - Indre 
label Festivities & festivals, brotherhoods Records: The +'s and -'s People from here Small trades Tourism, sports and cultural activities  
Berger couché sur le dos

Shepherd lying on his back, or on his stomach?

placeLeroux - Châteauroux - Indre 
label cities and villages People from here Tourism, sports and cultural activities  
La « maison de bois »

The "wooden house

placeLevroux - Indre  
label cities and villages Huts, houses, igloos, cottages and co Remarkable buildings Saints, healers and other miracles...  
Sancerre

Gourmet visit of Sancerre

placeSancerre - Cher 
label cities and villages Gastronomy[to eat] Gardens, discovery and leisure activities Major sites  

Discover the regions of the Great West