A quiet moment for reflection...

The Steilneset memorial site has an atmosphere of its own that cannot be described, this is something you have to experience for yourself. It was erected in memory of the 91 victims who were burned at the stake after being convicted of witchcraft. This is a must take with you on your journey through the Varanger National Tourist Route.

Art and architecture meet

The memorial is a collaboration between the well-known international architect Peter Zumthor and the artist Louise Bourgeois. A must-have on your journey through Varanger. They collaborated to create emotional spaces. The memorial is free and open to all to visit. First, you walk through a 125 meter long memorial hall that tells the powerful stories of the victims of the witch burnings that took place in the 18th century. You will then come to a room with a burning chair. The feeling of walking through these rooms cannot be described, it simply has to be experienced.

The feeling and the story

There is no doubt that the architect and artist have done a fantastic job of conveying the story. If we are going to try to describe the feeling of walking through the hall and reading the different stories, it is something you feel on your body and you can get goosebumps from reading the terrible fates that have unfolded in Vardø, which today is considered a peaceful little city. The fate of the victims is described on 91 plaques in the memorial hall. The texts are taken from the old court records and have been organized by professor of history at the University of Tromsø, Liv Helene Willumsen.

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