Kongsvinger Festningsmuseum

About the museum

The museum is in the old provisions house at Kongsvinger Fortress, built in 1682 as a store for the garrison. The building houses three exhibitions spread over three floors, and the museum is run by Kongsvinger Festnings Venner (Friends of Kongsvinger Fortress) on behalf of the fortress commander.

The main exhibition tells the story of the Armed Forces (Forsvaret) from the Viking Age to the present day, with a separate section on the occupation period. It was opened by King Olav V in connection with the fortress’s 300th anniversary in 1982. In 2002 Crown Prince Haakon opened the border guide exhibition “De gode hjelperne” (The Good Helpers), which shows how the war affected the local community along the border with Sweden and how the border-guide and courier traffic worked. A short film about the fortress’s history is also shown here.

On the second floor hangs the photo gallery “Fra Grændsevagten” (From the Border Guard), a photographic exhibition on the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905 and on life and excitement around the fortress. The fortress was built in the 1680s on the site where Vingersundet skanse (redoubt) had stood, and it has never been besieged or conquered.

Highlights

• History of the Armed Forces from the Viking Age to the present
• The border guide exhibition “De gode hjelperne” (2002)
• Photo exhibition “Fra Grændsevagten” on the dissolution of the union in 1905
• Provisions house from 1682 at Kongsvinger Fortress
• Guided tours of the fortress

Permanent exhibitions

• Forsvarets historie fra vikingtiden til i dag – The main exhibition shows the history of Norwegian defence, with a separate section on the occupation period 1940–1945.
• De gode hjelperne – Exhibition on border guide and courier traffic across the border to Sweden during the war and how it affected the local community.
• Fra Grændsevagten – Photographic exhibition on the second floor on the dissolution of the union in 1905 and life around the fortress.

Founded

1982

Operated by

Kongsvinger Festnings Venner (på vegne av festningskommandanten)

Admission & discounts

Outside ordinary opening hours a supplement applies for a museum attendant (NOK 600 on weekdays, NOK 750 from Friday 16:00 until and including Sunday). Guiding for groups of up to 30 people costs NOK 1,750 on weekdays and NOK 2,000 from Friday 16:00 until and including Sunday; school classes have free guiding and museum visits.

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 lies at Kongsvinger Fortress, which is open to pedestrians all year round with no entrance fee.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Books, booklets, postcards and CDs are sold in the museum. Food and drink at the fortress can be ordered from Festningen Hotel & Resort.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit