Witch Festival of Rouffach

Rouffach, historic city of Alsatian witchcraft

Nestled at the foot of the hills of the Haut-Rhin vineyards, Rouffach was an important urban center under the Holy Roman Empire. The city preserves many traces of its tumultuous past, notably the witchcraft trials that led to the execution of fifteen women between 1585 and 1627. The Witches' Tower, a vestige of the old ramparts classified as a Historic Monument since 1921, bears witness to this dark period. South of the city, the Bollenberg hill was reputed to be the witches' sabbath site. It is this fascinating history that inspired the creation of the Witch Festival.

A fantastic and magical festival

Since 1996, the Association Fête de la Sorcière Rouffach (AFSR) has organized this unique celebration in Alsace every year in July. Far from glorifying past persecutions, the festival reinvents the figure of the witch with humor and poetry, in a universe blending medieval and fantasy. Costumed troupes, fantastical creatures, and enchanting characters invade the Place de la République and the alleys of the old town for a day and evening of shows, entertainment, and conviviality.

Four zones for total immersion

The festival unfolds in four complementary zones. The medieval encampment recreates daily life in the Middle Ages with herbalism demonstrations, ancient games, armor, and siege engines. The main stage hosts street theater performances, troupes like Les Univers Perchés de Bergol with their masked characters and wandering wizard families, the Oracles of Compagnie Freevortex invoking prophetic visions through dance and fire, or the Exploratorium with its forgotten artifacts. The children's area offers safe creative activities from 3 PM to 8 PM, while the guinguettes serve specialties including the famous roasted wild boar.

The Strange Path: the flagship attraction

The most emblematic attraction of the festival is the Strange Path, a haunted trail that has existed since the event's origins. Around 50 volunteer actors, from the village and regional theater companies, animate this circuit whose theme changes each year with sets entirely built by volunteers. Two versions are offered: a family version in the early evening (from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM) and an intense version for thrill-seekers (from 9:30 PM to midnight). In 2023, the Path recorded nearly 2,500 visitors in just two hours.

A spectacular finale

The evening culminates with a grand fire show around 10 PM, combining pyrotechnics, precise choreography, flames, and fireworks in a breathtaking finale. The 2025 edition, which celebrated the festival's 30th anniversary, added video mapping projected onto a historic building in the city, offering a new artistic perspective on the legends of Rouffach. The festival then continues with music on the dance floor until midnight.