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Bastberg is near Bouxwiller. Its name is an abbreviation of the Mountain of Saint Sebastian, but it has an evil reputation throughout the country. In fact at midnight, witches from all over the region meet on its vast hump. Mounting their brooms, they ride the skies on their way to Bastberg where they hold their meetings with much feasting and dancing. A poor teacher was travelling home from a party late one night, going past Bastberg on his way to Griesbach, a neighbouring village. He saw lights on top of Bastberg and heard dance music. Curious, he climbed to the summit to see what was happening... when suddenly he found himself surrounded by dozens of witches dancing a wild round, their robes flying out behind them, their faces distorted in shameless laughter. Tables nearby were heavy with delicious food and bottles of the finest wine. The witches invited him to eat and drink with them, and then to play an air on his violin so they could dance again. He did not dare refuse. Without knowing what he was doing, the dance grew steadily faster and wilder. The witches spun round him like a whirlpool, their laughter growing louder and louder. At dawn, the teacher awoke on a pile of stones, his clothes torn, his head heavy with alcohol, yet empty. His bones ached. At his feet was a horseshoe. In his hands, in place of his violin, he was clutching the tail of a huge black cat who bit and scratched him. Terrified, he let go the tail and the beast, having hissed at him, disappeared into the vines. The teacher ran for his life, not daring to stop till he reached Griesbach. On another occasion, a musician from Gumbrechsthoffen was returning home late one night. He had been playing at Mietesheim's Messti celebrations. A beautiful coach came up and the coachman invited him to mount and ride beside him. He accepted with pleasure. A few leagues further and they arrived at a magnificent castle. The doors were open wide and a thousand lights were burning in the vast hall. Countless beautiful men and women were dancing. The teacher was given a friendly welcome, and invited to sit with the violinists and fife-players. When the dance was over, they all sat down to a magnificent supper served on silver plates, with the wine in golden bowls. At the end of the party, the musician was offered a room for the night with a comfortable bed. Exhausted, his head full of the good wine, he fell asleep almost immediately. When he woke the next morning he was not in his room... but under the Bastberg gallows. His head ached; he tried to get up, but felt something in his pocket. Then he remembered that before leaving the ballroom he had put a golden bowl in his pocket. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out... a horseshoe. He too had been but a toy with whom the witches had played awhile. Even today Bastberg has an evil reputation throughout the area
and many people avoid taking that road after night has fallen. Lucien Sittler Alsace Tradition Legends from Alsace. |
