Making a Monster: Werewolf Hiking Trail
Before America had witch trials, Europe had werewolf trials - and they were as dark as they sound. One of the most infamous cases of time was that of Peter Stumpp, a man who was convicted and executed for serial murder, cannibalism, incest, and practicing black magic to transform into a werewolf. The Werewolf of Bedbug has cemented its place in German history not only for its gruesome nature, but as an example of a case in which people focused on villainizing wolves. Looking back on the case in present day, it ultimately revealed that the depths of human depravity seem to know no bounds.
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SourcesOriginal Sources:
The Damnable Life and Death of One Stubbe Peeter, a Most Wicked Sorcerer: The 1590 English translation of the High German pamphlet detailing Peter Stumpp's alleged crimes, trial, and execution
The Execution of Werewolf, Peter Stump: A Translation: translation of the anonymous 1589 Nuremberg broadsheet published by Lucas Mayer
Truthful and Frightening Description of the many Sorcerers or Witches: An English Translation: translation of the 1589 Cologne pamphlet published by Nikolaus Schreiber
Articles:
Monstrous Lessons: Peter Stumpp, the Werewolf of Bedburg (University of Saskatchewan Undergraduate Research Journal, 2024) Nathan Baillie's paper analyzing how 16th-century print culture used Stumpp's execution as secular moral instruction
Wandering with Werewolves: Bedburg: A travel guide mapping the Werwolf Wanderweg hiking trail
Wolves, Witches, and Werewolves: Lycanthropy and Witchcraft from 1423 to 1700 (Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts, 1990): Jane P. Davidson and Bob Canino’s examination of early Swiss and German werewolf iconography and trial records
Monstrous Theories: Werewolves and the Abuse of History (Preternature, 2013): Willem de Blécourt’s critical study refuting modern biological and psychiatric diagnoses (such as porphyria or rabies) for early modern werewolf trials
Podcasts/Videos:
Peter Stumpp, Werewolf of Bedburg: An episode of the Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast exploring the story
The dark history of werewolves: Craig Thomson's TED-Ed animation tracing the evolution of werewolf mythology from 16th-century witch trials to Victorian horror and modern cinema
