Durmstrang Institute

The Durmstrang Institute is one of the three schools of magic in Europe participating in the Three Wizards Tournament in 1994 – 1995. It was directed at that time by Igor Karkaroff. Among the eleven main existing schools of magic, it is the one with the worst reputation, known for its links with black magic.

Location and access

Although no one knows in which country it is located, the school is probably in the Far North (towards Russia or Scandinavia), as proven by the thick fur cape of the uniform, as well as one of Viktor Krum’s words at the Yule Ball: “In winter, it is not daylight for long”. It is also a place with lakes and mountains.

Durmstrang is surely the most secretive school of magic. Visitors are forced to undergo a memory charm when they leave it to forget its location.

Description

The castle of Durmstrang

The school is smaller than Hogwarts: it has only four floors. It is also much less comfortable, knowing that the fires are only lit to practice magic. This explains why the students in the Durmstrang delegation are so amazed when they arrive at Hogwarts for the Three Wizards Tournament, finding lit fireplaces everywhere.

The Durmstrang park, on the other hand, is much larger, covering lakes and mountains. While the students cannot enjoy it too much in winter because of the short daylight hours, they love to roam the grounds in summer with their flying brooms. 

The institute also has a huge spectral-looking ship, the same one that the Durmstrang delegation used to go to Hogwarts for the Three Wizards Tournament in 1994 – 1995. The ship is usually moored on a lake behind the school, and students practice diving from the deck, as Viktor Krum does to prepare for Task Two.

History

The founder of the Durmstrang Institute is a great Bulgarian witch: Nerida Vulchanova.

The bad reputation of Durmstrang is mainly due to three sorcerers: two directors and a student.

Harfang Munter, who took over the direction of the school after the suspicious death of Nérida Vulchanova. It was he who integrated duels and offensive magic into the curriculum of the institute.

Igor Karkaroff, director at the time of the Three Wizards Tournament, a former Death Eater who maintained a climate of fear and tension in the school during his mandate. Many parents withdrew their children from the institute for fear of its teaching methods.

Gellert Grindelwald, one of the most famous and murderous dark wizards of the 20th century along with Voldemort. This former student is surely the sorcerer who has most damaged the reputation of the school. According to Viktor Krum, he had drawn his mark on the wall of a corridor of the school, a mark that was actually the symbol of the Deathly Hallows that he had tried to find with Dumbledore in their youth.

After Igor Karkaroff’s term of office, Durmstrang’s reputation improved, thanks in particular to famous sorcerers such as Viktor Krum.

Organization

Students
Muggle-born students are not admitted.

It is likely that Durmstrang students come from Northern and Eastern Europe.

Student capacity, as at Beauxbatons, is higher than at Hogwarts.

Uniform
Blood-red dresses, as well as thick fur capes to protect from the cold.

Teachings
Durmstrang is known for teaching duels and various fighting techniques, which has been integrated into its program since the tenure of its second director, Harfang Munter.

It’s said that Durmstrang teaches black magic to its students, but this may seem more of a rumor due to the bad wizards that have been found there and its program on offensive magic.

Known students

Viktor Krum

Poliakoff

Gellert Grindelwald

Igor Karkaroff (probably)

Drago Malefoy says that his father wanted to send him to Durmstrang but his mother did not want him there because of the bad reputation of the institute and the long distance to travel.