Since 1998, Historix-Tours has been offering this exciting tour on the witch persecutions in Freiburg im Breisgau, entitled “Witches, Torture, Stakes.”

Immerse yourself completely in the life story of Catharina Stadellmenin (“The Witch of Freiburg”). In 1599, she lived peacefully in the city – until one day she was accused of witchcraft! She was immediately thrown into a dark, damp hole, tortured, and interrogated. Was she a witch? Had she slept with the Devil? Who had she partied with at the witches' sabbath? But what happened next? Did she confess as the torturer abused her over and over again? Witchcraft was punishable by death – but did it really come to that? And was Catharina Stadellmenin the only one to meet this fate?

This fascinating tour will take you to the homes of the “witches,” to their dungeons and torture chambers, and to the execution site outside the gates of what was then the city of Freiburg. This is a highly interesting and thought-provoking tour for anyone who wants to delve more deeply into the phenomenon of the persecution of women in the early modern period. Yes, the early modern period, because the witch hunt was not a phenomenon of the Middle Ages; rather, it took place from the 16th century until – here in Breisgau – 1751. So, it's not as long ago as you might think.