Witches' bonfire

Once a year, on the night of 14 to 15 August, the Bollenberg, the 363 metre high, striking Jura limestone hill between Rouffach, Orschwihr and Westhalten, becomes the scene of a cult to which masses of people from all over the region make a pilgrimage. The famous ‘witches’ bonfire’ is burnt at the small chapel of the Holy Cross, which can be reached from the eastern edge of the village of Orschwihr via a short but steep and unpaved road. It is the Conscrits, the prospective recruits of Orschwihr, who hand over a witch doll to the fire on a skilfully erected pile of wood. Throughout the year, the mountain, which includes a small nature reserve, is mainly frequented by nature lovers. Residents can be found at the ‘Clos Sainte Apolline’ vineyard with restaurant and hotel, which can be reached from the east side of the mountain from the D18. The Chapel of the Holy Cross, popularly known as the ‘Chapelle des sorcières’, used to be a popular pilgrimage site. Numerous legends surround this site, where a ‘Dame blanche’ is said to have appeared. It is assumed that this is an ancient place of worship.