Mémorial Oroit Mina

The whole of Europe was periodically affected by witchcraft, and at the dawn of the 17th century, the Basque Country was no exception. Late Christianized, it retained traditions such as carnival celebrations and beliefs in certain characters from Basque mythology. These traditions are supported by the use of a language misunderstood by the rest of the kingdom.
To eradicate witchcraft from the province of Labourd, Henri IV organized a commission (including judge Pierre De Lancre) to eradicate witches from the province. It is estimated that De Lancre sent around 80 people to the stake, most of them women.
The "Oroit Mina" memorial was built to commemorate this dark period in the history of the Basque Country. This sculpture advocates tolerance and the duty of remembrance to pay tribute to the innocent victims of these trials.