Strandagaldur, Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft in Hólmavík, Iceland
Strandagaldur is a museum of sorcery and witchcraft located in Hólmavík on the east side of the Westfjords in Iceland. Spread across two floors, it displays magical staves, grimoires, ritual objects, and other artifacts that illustrate these supernatural traditions.
This museum documents the Fire Century of the 1600s when 21 individuals were executed for witchcraft in the Strandir area of the region. This dark period shaped how supernatural beliefs became embedded in Icelandic society and collective memory.
The exhibits display magical staves, ancient texts, and ritual objects that show how Icelanders traditionally understood supernatural power and its acquisition. The displays of necropants, a unique Icelandic concept involving human remains, reveal specific beliefs that were once central to local magical practice.
The museum is located in Hólmavík and arranged across two easily navigable floors with clear signage throughout. The in-house restaurant Galdur serves traditional Icelandic soups and hearty dishes, including vegetarian options during normal opening hours.
The collection includes a rare Viking-era ritualistic stone believed to have been used for sacrifices, creating a direct link between ancient Norse practices and later local superstitions. This artifact is one of the few physical connections to how these beliefs evolved over centuries in this remote location.
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