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Tracing the history of witch trials in western Switzerland

Switzerland persecuted presumed witches longer than any other country in Europe. In relation to its population, it also executed the most people for the crime of witchcraft. An exhibition at Chillon castle sheds light on witch trials in canton Vaud, which used to be a stronghold of witch persecution. (Michele Andina, swissinfo.ch)

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A documentary and animation filmmaker from Bern, Michele studied film at Zurich University of the Arts. He's been a swissinfo.ch video journalist since 2004 and has a special interest in developing new video formats for mobile viewing, mixing animation and documentary styles.

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This content was published on At a time when many governments are busy apologising for the actions of long-gone predecessors, this may come as no surprise. But when it comes to witches, the Swiss hold the record for persecution. The French-speaking area of Switzerland executed some 3,500 people, more than anywhere else in Europe per head of population. From the…

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR