The story of a giant woman who lives alone among the rock towers, transformed into a witch in the legend of Riglos.
In the south of the Pyrenees, rises an impressive rock formation. Towering vertical conglomerate walls, sculpted by time, shape a truly unique natural landscape. The Mallos de Riglos are a haven for adventure and climbing, but also a land of legend.
Legend has it that in Foz de Escalete, a small village in the area, there once lived a strange and solitary old woman. She was different from the others. Toweringly tall—almost a giant—she was known among the villagers as a witch. She worked as a spinner and often soaked her linen in the clear waters of the Gállego River. Behind her back, people whispered that she was friends with the dark and sinister beings that roamed the forest. However, she had never harmed anyone. She loved nature and the animals that lived within it.
One day, tired of the people and the rejection she had always endured, she decided to leave the village and seek refuge in nature. There, she felt free and safe. Out of nothing, she conjured two enormous masses of rock. With superhuman strength, she lifted them into the air and drove them into the ground beside the Gállego River. It is said that ever since, she has found shelter within the rocks, far from humankind.
No one saw her again until the night of Saint John. Locals say that every June 23rd, at the stroke of midnight, she can be seen sitting on O Pisón, the largest of the Mallos. There she rests peacefully. Sometimes she dips the linen she spins into the river’s waters, and other times she carefully combs her long, white hair.
Discover them with our exclusive Hiking and Cultural Tours in the Spanish Pyrenees, specially designed for you. Walk through legendary valleys and uncover the magic of these ancient mountains. Start your journey today!
