Daimiel is set to transform into a hub of legends, mystery, and tradition with the thirteenth edition of 'Daimiel Pueblo de Brujas', an initiative led by the Tablas de Daimiel Tourist Association in collaboration with the local council and the Tablas de Daimiel National Park.
The programme will kick off on Friday, 13 November, with two lectures in the town hall's plenary hall. At 19:00, Carlos Pérez Fernández-Turegano will discuss the Spanish Inquisition and Daimiel's role as a focal point of the Holy Office. This will be followed at 20:00 by Roberto Morales Estévez, who will present 'The factory of fear: the invention of the witches' sabbath and the witch conspiracy'. Both events are free to attend until capacity is reached.
Also on Friday, theatrical visits will commence at the Tablas de Daimiel National Park, one of the event's main attractions. The format will remain consistent with previous editions, and reservations indicate high demand, as noted by Jesús Pozuelo, president of the Tablas de Daimiel Tourist Association.
Saturday will feature many new activities alongside visits to the Motilla del Azuer. The Plaza de España will host various activities from the 'Wetlands in Resonance' project, including a bulrush workshop, dialogue tables, and a collective incantation with a shared cauldron starting at 14:00. In the afternoon, a live Cluedo game will take place at the Civic Centre of Carmen, with a capacity for 30 participants, which has already reached full occupancy.
The day will continue with theatrical visits and themed dinners at three restaurants: Mesón Silver 3.0, Restaurante El Olivo, and Restaurante Taray by Miguel Jiménez. The menus will be priced at €48 for adults and €21 for children, including themed ambience, a reading of the incantation, and a tasting of 'queimada', a traditional Galician drink. The evening will conclude with 'Witch Brews' at Café Torillo and Palique.
On Sunday, there will be a thematic visit to the National Park focusing on its inhabitants and ethnobotany, as well as a creative workshop on goddesses and witches at the Cultural Centre, aimed at teenagers and adults. Gastronomy will again play a prominent role with the 'Witches' Tapas Route', featuring nine local establishments: Gastro Canela Fina, Rufy’s NeoTaberna, Taberna Enosentidos, Restaurante Las Brujas, Restaurante Taray x Miguel Jiménez, Bar El Mercado, El Olivo, Silver 3.0, and Café Torillo, which will also offer a sweet tapa during the afternoons of Saturday and Sunday.
The organisers have highlighted the positive response to the event, with reservations coming mainly from nearby towns such as Ciudad Real and Alcázar de San Juan, as well as from Daimiel itself. Alicia Loro, the councillor for festivities, expressed gratitude for the work of the association and participating establishments, encouraging both locals and visitors to engage in an initiative that aims to enliven the streets and promote tourism in the area. Full details of the programme, timings, and reservation conditions can be found on the website daimielturismo.com.
