The cross in the rock face

Once upon a time, there was a witch who was in love with an imposing man who dumped her in favour of a beautiful maiden from Geiranger. He proposed and soon he, his bride and the whole bridal party were on their way across the fjord to Stranda Church. The witch was very unhappy about this turn of events and when she saw the bridal party set off, she filled a bowl of water in her kitchen. She spun the bowl around and around at the same breathing and cursing feverishly. Out on the fjord the wind increased, and the waves grew and when the witch overturned the bowl, the boats with the wedding party onboard capsized and all were lost both man and mouse. This story can be read about in the local village book, it is claimed that the Parish Priest rowed out into the fjord and painted a white cross on the rock face down by the fjord, where we are now passing. Hence, this place is also known as ‘Korsen’ which means the cross. In Norway there were around 300 people sentenced to death for witchcraft and wizardry, but the witch that this story refers to, was not one of them. In the link below you can read the original judgement from 1614 against Anna Andersdatter from Hellebostad, who received a more lenient punishment.