Blodveimuseet

About the museum

Blodveimuseet is located at the top of Saltdal bygdetun in Rognan and is housed in a German barrack that was moved here from Dunderlandsdalen. The museum tells of the life and work of the prisoners of war under the German regime in the years 1942–45. Tens of thousands of Eastern European prisoners of war were sent north to build roads and railways, and many lived in inhumane conditions. Many never came home.

Nordland was the largest prisoner county in Norway, and most of the prisoners worked on roads and railways. Saltdal was the municipality with the most prisoners at the end of the war. The exhibition shows how the prisoners faced a brutal system, but also a local population that did everything it could to help starving prisoners.

The museum has seven rooms, from the occupation and the war in Saltdal to the Serbian room and the peace. In addition, a short documentary from the peace days of 1945, made by the doctor Leiv Kreyberg, is shown, with footage from Dunderlandsdalen, Saltfjellet and Megården. Along the Blodveien (the Blood Road) there are several memorial sites, including the blood cross in the rock face, the memorial at Dalmovika and the war cemeteries at Botn.

Key themes

• German barrack from Dunderlandsdalen as exhibition space
• Seven rooms on the prisoners of war in Saltdal, 1942–45
• Documentary from the peace days of 1945 by the doctor Leiv Kreyberg
• Guided tour at the war cemeteries in Botn
• Part of Saltdal bygdetun

Permanent exhibition

• Blodveimuseet – fast utstilling – The exhibition in the German barrack, in seven rooms, tells of the prisoners’ lives and work along Blodveien and of their encounters with the local population in Saltdal.

Operated by

Nordlandsmuseet

Admission & discounts

Tickets are bought on arrival at the museum.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair ramp at the entrance. The toilet in the nearby Skippergården is not adapted for people with disabilities.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kids

Getting there & parking

The museum is 2 km north of Rognan centre. The road goes from Bodø via Riksvei 80 to Fauske and then on the E6 to Rognan, or via Riksvei 17, Riksvei 812 and the E6, or via Riksvei 77 over Graddis and Junkerdal to Storjord and then the E6 southwards.

Amenities & dining

Toilet in the nearby Skippergården.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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