Others
-
Vangsteinen
Besides the mountains, there is one more reason to visit Vang. And it is not a wooden church, because it was moved from here in the 19th century and we all know where it ended up. Currently, there is a stone temple in Vang, similar to many others in many small towns across the Norway. The nearest wooden church can be found in neighboring Øye, as I wrote here. The reason why you should stay in Vang for a while is the Stone. And of course it is not just any stone but a runic plate from the Viking era. Currently, displayed in front of the church, hidden behind glass,…
-
Trondenes Church
The Trondenes Church, located outside the center of Harstad in the northern part of town is a structure built in the 13th century and it is considered the northernmost medieval stone church in Norway. Additionally, it is the northernmost medieval building that has survived to our times. According to Wikipedia and information boards in front of the church, the interior is richly decorated. Three gothic triptychs, a baroque pulpit, an 18th-century organ and the remains of medieval frescoes are attractions waiting for visitors. As the temple was situated right on the seashore, in the past it was the main religious center in northern Norway. A sail was hung under its…
-
Havfarm 1
In addition to crude oil, Norwegian salmon is probably the most profitable export product of the country of the fjords. In 2020, during the crisis in oil sector, the Norwegian economy was hopefully looking towards at the growing fishing industry. Those who had the opportunity to admire the beauty of the Norwegian fjords may have stumbled upon one of the hundreds of fish farms scattered around the country in inconspicuous bays, or on more exposed water areas. These farms mainly deal with salmon farming, and the money from its sale to even the most distant corners of the globe is simply unimaginable.Nordlaks, one of the leading salmon producers in northern…
-
Kjerringøy
During our three-day trip to Bodø, we didn’t see much. Yes, the main goal of the expedition, this means seeing the aurora borealis, has been achieved. In addition, taking advantage of the better weather on the day of departure, we drove to the nineteenth-century Nyholmen skandse fort. The weather effectively deterred us from exploring the area. Gusty wind and constantly appearing rain and snow did not encourage to wander around the city and surroundings. The exception was a short trip to the village of Kjerringøy, located about 30 minutes drive from Bodø (+10 minute ferry ride). While no mountain trip (even the shortest) was out of the question, I couldn’t…
-
Nyholmen skandse
In the northern part of Bodø, on the narrow Burøya peninsula, at the entrance to the port, there is a fortified fort dating back to the early 19th century. At that time, Bodø (the settlement was called Hundholmen then) was not a strategic important place. It was a rather small village. The decision to build a defensive object can be understood if we look at the political situation two centuries back. Europe was then torn by Napoleonic wars, and the continent was divided into two camps. The first camp were Napoleon’s allies, like Italy, the Netherlands, Poland which was not exist on the map or Denmark. Denmark has been associated…
-
Bodø
Bodø is a windy city on the coast of the Norwegian Sea and the administrative center of the Nordland region. Counting over 41 thousands inhabitants (data from January 2019), it is located just behind Tromsø when it comes to northern Norway (and it ranks fifth in the whole of Norway). The history of the city dates back to the Stone Age, when the first fishing settlements were established in the vicinity of Saltstraumen. The community, living mainly from fishing, obtained city rights in 1816, thanks to which it was possible to develop the fish trade, which until then had been monopolized by Bergen. Today, fishing is still a significant industry…
-
Aurora borealis in Bodø
It was supposed to be a family winter trip to the north of Norway. Snow, northern lights and Lofoten Islands. Just perfect winter holidays. The expedition, which had been planned for months, was called into question about two weeks before departure. Watching the weather forecasts, I realized that the second half of January is probably not the best time for such trips. Strong winds and heavy downpours hit the northern coast of Norway almost all the time. And the weather doesn’t look like it’s going to improve soon. The ferry connection between Bodø, where we were supposed to fly from Gdańsk, and Moskenes in Lofoten, also did not turn out…
-
Fredriksten festning
What can you do when your beloved mountains are covered with snow and you have two left legs for skiing? It’s best to find an alternative. Preferably not too far, to not spend too much time in the car. Searching the internet for nearby attractions, I came across the border town of Halden and one of the largest defensive stronghold in Europe. And I already found out how to spend this Sunday. But first things first. I suggest to move back in time to the fourteenth century … Union with Denmark and SwedenFrom the fourteenth century, Norway and Denmark formed one political entity (as a result of a royal marriage).…
-
Røldal stavkirke and winter in Haukelifjell
It was Sunday morning when I got in the car and returned to Oslo. It was still dark outside and it was raining from the sky. I had 430 kilometers to drive all day, so I didn’t have to hurry. Rush was not advisable, because in the Haukeli mountains, through which the road led me, winter conditions prevailed. At one point, the falling rain was replaced by snow and as I approached the town of Røldal it began to slowly clear. I decided that I could take a short break and stop at the local stave church, which I had not visited for a long time.The Røldal stave church was…
-
Kvednafossen & Svandalsfossen
Well, it was supposed to be a waterfall today. There will be even two.First things first. I was just going off the route leading to Hustveitsåta. I was tired and I was heading towards the car, when my attention was caught by the plate with the next trail. I came closer and read it. Kvednafossen, 0.8km. Waterfall. And it’s not far. On a flat, wide road. Okay, I thought, I’ll take a look.Indeed, the waterfall was not far away. First I heard the sound of water, then I saw an old barn by the road and an old wooden bridge over the river. And then the waterfall itself. No matter…
