Seeing the phantom-like outline of the Dolomites against the night sky, it feels harder to sneer at stories of witches, sorcerers and secret gates to the underworld.

BBC: Legends of the Italian Dolomites

In the unchanging world Parisians called la France profonde, night was host to hobgoblins, witches, and will-o'-the-wisps.

FORBES: Fact and Comment