Galdrasýning á Ströndum

About the museum

The Sorcery Exhibition in Strandir (Galdrasýning á Ströndum) was founded in 2000 in Hólmavík and is the only exhibition in the country devoted to the era of witchcraft, magic and related folk belief. It is run by Strandagaldur, a non-profit foundation whose aim is to convey history and culture, support research and strengthen community life in Strandir. Sigurður Atlason was one of the founders and was director from the beginning until his death in 2018.

The exhibition in Hólmavík covers the witch hunts of the 17th century, the people who were accused and convicted, and the main witchcraft cases. It places the Icelandic cases in the context of witch persecutions in Europe and shows replicas of grimoires (galdrakver) alongside explanations of various magic staves. One room is furnished as the home of Jón lærði (Jón the Learned), a scholar who narrowly escaped the stake and left behind many manuscripts and drawings. The exhibition also discusses how belief in magic lived on among ordinary people, and shows a hlautbolli (ritual bowl) from Goðdalur in Bjarnarfjörður, which research suggests was used in pagan rites.

In Bjarnarfjörður, about 25 km north of Hólmavík, is the exhibition Kotbýli kuklarans (The Sorcerer's Cottage). It shows how ordinary people in Strandir lived at the time of the witch hunts in the 17th century. The cottage consists of three interconnected houses built using 17th-century methods, and it opened in 2005. The building in Hólmavík also houses the restaurant Kaffi Galdur and a shop with books on magic and folk belief.

Highlights

• Iceland's witchcraft era and its main cases
• Magic staves and replicas of grimoires
• A room furnished as the home of Jón lærði
• The hlautbolli (ritual bowl) from Goðdalur
• The Sorcerer's Cottage (Kotbýli kuklarans) in Bjarnarfjörður

Permanent exhibitions

• Galdrasýningin á Hólmavík – An exhibition on the witch hunts of the 17th century, witchcraft cases, magic staves and grimoires, a room in the style of Jón lærði's home, and folk belief.
• Kotbýli kuklarans – Three interconnected houses in Bjarnarfjörður, built using 17th-century methods, showing the life of ordinary people in Strandir at the time of the witch hunts.

Founded

2000

Operated by

Strandagaldur ses.

Admission & discounts

The Sorcerer's Cottage in Bjarnarfjörður is open to all, free of charge.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair access is on the lower floor, where most of the exhibition and the restaurant are. The upper floor is not accessible by wheelchair. A marked disabled parking space is by the entrance.

Kids & families

The museum recommends that adults accompany children. The zombie figure in the middle of the floor may frighten the youngest visitors.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the old town of Hólmavík, by the harbour; you drive a little over a kilometre off the main road into the town. The building is black. The Sorcerer's Cottage is in Bjarnarfjörður, about 25 km from Hólmavík: turn off Strandavegur (61) onto road 643, and the cottage is beside Hótel Laugarhóll.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Kaffi Galdur is open all year at the same times as the museum and is open to everyone, not only exhibition visitors; it serves vegan dishes, coffee and cakes, among other things. The shop sells books on magic, runes and folk belief, and souvenirs. An online shop is at shop.galdrasyning.is.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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