Hegra festning
Barrier fort from 1910 in Stjørdal, known for defending itself against German attacks for 25 days in 1940, with trenches, mountain installations, a museum and a café.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Hegra festning was built in 1908–1910 as a barrier fort after the dissolution of the union with Sweden in 1905, and was originally called Ingstadkleiva fort. It was meant to secure access to Trondheim from the east. It was put on standby in 1926 without ever having been used in war, before being brought back into use in spring 1940.
During the German attack in April 1940, Major Hans Reidar Holtermann gathered around 250 volunteers, and they defended the fortress for 25 days. The surrender came on 5 May. The defence became an important symbol of Norwegian will to resist. After the war the fortress was restored, and in the 1980s it was rebuilt as a museum and cultural monument; it was formally protected by Riksantikvaren in 2025.
Today visitors can walk around the fortress grounds on their own, past trenches, tunnels and historic buildings. The museum is in a replica of the depot building from 1917 and shows photographs, uniforms, weapons and personal belongings from the construction, the neutrality guard during the First World War, the battles of 1940 and the reconstruction.
Highlights
- Trenches and mountain installations from 1910
- The battles of 1940 and the defence under Major Holtermann
- Museum in a replica of the depot building from 1917
- Café in season
- Sunday guided tour at 13:00
Permanent exhibition
- Museet på Hegra festning – Photographs, uniforms, weapons and personal belongings about the construction, the neutrality guard during the First World War, the battles of 1940 and the reconstruction.
- Founded
- 1908
- Operated by
- Forsvarsbygg
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Café
Café in season, with the same opening hours as the museum.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Public guided tours on Sundays at 13:00. Group tours can be booked through Hegra festnings Venner (Friends of Hegra Fortress). Dogs must be kept on a leash all year round; barbecues, bonfires, drones and alcohol brought in are not permitted. |
