Witches

The witch trials which took place in Finnmark in the 16th century form both a frightening and fascinating part of Varanger's history. They are often described as a national tragedy. The persecution was especially concentrated on women but some men were also persecuted. The accused were tortured an forced to admit that they had been with the devil and other evil forces.

The entrance to hell, according to history, is on Domen Mountain near Vardø. Today you can walk down to where it was supposed to be. When polar night came, small devils and demonical figures were supposed to creep out of the hole in which the witches' covern held meetings with the devil and his deamons.

The majority of the witch trials took place within a relatively small geographical area in Finnmark - the coastal area of eastern Finnmark. Vardø, Vadsø, Kiberg and Ekkerøy were particularly badly hit. This area suffered worst amongst all the areas in Europe, as between 90 and 100 supposed witches as well as four men were burned at the stake in Finnmark in this period, most of them in Vardø.