The 17th century was a dark time in Iceland’s history when the horror of the European witchcraft craze swept over the country with accompanying persecution. Over 200 witchcraft cases arose and over 21 people were burned for witchcraft. The Museum of Sorcery & Witchcraft  combines the history of magic with knowledge about magic in Iceland and how it appears in folklore.

Icelandic witchcraft is different from what is known in other nations. At the museum you have the opportunity to see what people were judged for – scrolls and papers, magic wands and artifacts. Guests are “greeted” by an invisible boy using a famous magic stave of invisibility. There you can also see how magic arts lived in folklore and what people imagined could be achieved with the help of supernatural powers.

On the upper floor of the exhibition, it is discussed who prosecuted and judged the witchcraft cases in Iceland. The most significant cases of magic are told, and you can view copies of magic scrolls and learn about various magic spells.

Galdur is a cosy restaurant in the same building as the exhibition, where you can enjoy delicious dishes made with ingredients from the local area. There is also a good souvenir shop and tourist information centre.

Ten ideas for things to do in Hólmavík and nearby areas:

1. Go whale watching from Hólmavík with Láki Tours.
2. Take a dip in the swimming pool in Hólmavík or in Drangsnes.
3. Visit the Sheep Farming Museum, close to Hólmavík, and learn about the importance of the sheep and the uniqueness of the sheeps in the Standir area.
4. Take a look at the Sorcerer´s Cottage in Bjarnarfjörður and then take a dip in the swimming pool at Laugahóll (next to the cottage).
5. Visit the small village Drangsnes and take a boat trip out to Grímsey on Steingrímsfjörður where, among other things, is a large puffin settlement.
6. Take a trip north to Árneshreppur in Strandir and get to know the history of herring in Djúpavík and Ingólfsfjörður, pay a visit to Hvalárfoss waterfall in Ófeigsfjörður and the wonderful pool at Krossnes.
7. Drive across the Steingrímsfjörður heath and visit Heydalur in Mjóifjörður and Reykjalaug pool.
8. Visit the Boat- and gift of nature exhibiton at Reykhólar.
9. Visit Ólafsdalur in Gilsfjörður, where the first agricultural school in Iceland was founded in 1880.  Walk to the Viking longhouse found there in 2017.
10. In the Dalir district, it´s exciting to visit the zoo at Hólar farm, the Leifur Eiriksson Centre in Búðardalur and Eiríksstaðir in Haukadalur.

For further information go to  www.westfjords.is and  www.visitdalir.is