(CNN) -- Of the many ghouls that we associate with Halloween, few reign as supremely in our imaginings as witches. Though these days, our fascination with witchcraft takes on a more benign form (nothing a Netflix all-night Buffy-fest can't cure), there once was a time when the mere mention of sorcery led entire towns to burn, drown, crush and flay those individuals believed in possession of magical powers. Though it may seem witches have since been relegated to the history books and costume shops, there are still many places in the world that treat magic as serious business, no matter the time of year. Want a truly spellbinding experience? Check out our guide to the world's witchiest hotspots. Trust us, their worth a pilgrimage.
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Salem attracts over 100,000 witch-hunting tourists around Halloween.
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Thousands of witch-dressed revelers gather in the German mountains on Walpurgisnacht.
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In Le Paz, Bolivia, tourists can purchase spell ingredients at the local witch market.
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Catemaco, Mexico hosts the annual International Congress of Witches.
The @placeholder witch trials that ended in 1693 have become firmly embedded in the public imagination.