The tiny Spanish town of Trasmoz, nestled in the northwestern region of Aragon, has a unique reputation for dark arts and sorcery. With a population of under 100 people, Trasmoz is home to generations of witches and is the only village in Spain officially excommunicated and cursed by the Catholic church.
A writer who visited Trasmoz discovered that the village’s reputation as a witch village stems mainly from rumors, politics, and tourism. The rumors of witchcraft in Trasmoz started in the 13th century, with mercenary rather than magical roots. Legend has it that the residents of Trasmoz’s castle were counterfeiting coins and spread terrifying rumors that the hammering of metal was witches forging cauldrons.
Trasmoz’s History with the Catholic Church
Trasmoz had two run-ins with the Catholic church. The first was around 1252, when the Monastery of Veruela excommunicated the village due to disputes over rights to harvest valuable timber. The wealthy residents, a mix of Christians, Jews, and Muslims, refused to repent. The second run-in occurred over 250 years later, when the Monastery of Veruela was accused of stealing Trasmoz’s water supply, leading to armed conflicts and a curse.
Although the excommunication and curse were technically still in effect, they were more an assertion of Church authority than an eternal damnation. The village’s residents were still baptized and continued to participate in religious activities. Today, the Church views the excommunication and curse as forgotten relics from long-dead conflicts with Trasmoz.
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The village has transformed its history of rebellion into a modern witchcraft identity, which it wears as a badge of honor and harnesses as a signature asset for economic growth. Trasmoz’s connection to witchcraft was formalized in 2000 with the founding of the Asociación Cultural El Embrujo de Trasmoz, an official body that organizes annual events to celebrate the village’s magical history.
One of the women who embodies this spirit is Lola Ruiz, the ninth woman to be named ‘Witch of the Year’. Ruiz explains that being a witch of Trasmoz is a source of pride and a title she cherishes. The ‘Witch of the Year’ award is a powerful way to reverse the narrative of female persecution that lies beneath the village’s history.
A monument in the castle courtyard serves as a grim reminder of this dark history. A silhouette of a stern-faced woman holding a broomstick, cauldron, and pointed hat at her feet remembers La Tía Casca, a 19th-century herbalist who was scapegoated for an inexplicable epidemic and murdered by an angry mob.
Noelia Macaya, 2026’s ‘Witch of the Year’, explains that being a witch means being different and that there is no need to be afraid of being different. Macaya adds that everyone should set their own goals and work hard to achieve them, and that the world could use more people like witches who seek knowledge and pursue their goals regardless of conventional expectations. Trasmoz’s population has increased from 68 to 103 registered residents in recent years, with all houses that were on the market as second homes being sold.
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Trasmoz’s Witchcraft Museum is located within the castle’s keep, showcasing the village’s history and folklore. The museum features exhibits on the local healing women, including the Cascas and Galgas families, who were branded as witches.
The village’s annual events, such as the Luz de las Ánimas and the Witchcraft Fair, attract thousands of visitors. These events celebrate the village’s magical history and feature re-enactments of witch trials and the Curse of Trasmoz.
Modern-Day Witches of Trasmoz
A woman named Castán is one of the modern-day witches of Trasmoz, who actively practices the craft by making cosmetics, oils, and remedies from plants. She views being a witch as a way to help people, just like the healing women of the past.
Trasmoz’s population has increased in recent years, with new residents attracted to the village’s unique reputation and relaxed way of life. The village’s mayor, Jesús Andía, notes that all houses on the market as second homes have been sold, and the population reaches around 500 people in the summer.