Nordberg fort

About the museum

Nordberg fort was built by the German occupying forces in 1942 as part of the coastal defence of Lista, with a view over the whole Lista landscape. The site includes, among other things, communication trenches, the remains of large gun emplacements and radar, and several buildings from the war. The canteen with wall paintings is regarded as the most unusual building.

Vest-Agder county took over the fort in 2002. The idea was that the area should become a centre for art, culture and nature. Farsund municipality and the county provided funds for a new visitor centre, completed in summer 2009, which today houses a café, museum shop, exhibitions and an arena for concerts and other cultural events.

Lista museum was founded in 1921 and has since grown into a collection with many visitor sites on Lista. In 1996 the museum rented a barrack at Nordberg, and in 1997 a war-history exhibition opened. Since 2004 the museum has been called Lista museum, and Nordberg fort is today the museum's most important exhibition and visitor site. The museum is run by Vest-Agder-museet.

Highlights

• Original German barracks and canteen with wall paintings from 1942
• The exhibition “Lista i krig” on Lista under occupation
• Communication trenches, gun emplacements and remains of the radar installation
• Guided tours of the fort
• The exhibition “Med Junaiten i trunken” on emigration to America
• Café and museum shop in the visitor centre

Permanent exhibitions

• Lista i krig – Exhibition in an original German barrack on how Lista experienced the German occupation. The text is in Norwegian, English and German.
• Med Junaiten i trunken – Exhibition on labour emigration from the district to America, with sound, smell and objects that can be touched.
• Utvalgt kulturlandskap Vest-Lista – Exhibition on the selected cultural landscape on the west side of Lista.

Founded

1921

Operated by

Vest-Agder-museet

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the fort is free. Guided tours and the exhibition “Med Junaiten i trunken” are ticketed. Tickets are bought at the café. Annual passes for Vest-Agder-museet and Aust-Agder museum og arkiv also apply here.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• 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

The main building with café, shop, toilets and exhibition on the ground floor is adapted for people with reduced mobility, with easy access from the car park and an accessible toilet (HC toilet). The exhibition on the first floor can only be reached by stairs, and there is no wheelchair lift. The barrack with “Lista i krig” has a ramp and is on one level, but it lies at the top of a steep slope. The other barracks have stairs and narrow doors. The road around the fort is easy to walk and suitable for wheelchairs, but it is closed by a barrier and requires permission. Many military installations are reached via narrow stairs, dark passages or uneven terrain.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

In the summer season there is a historical treasure hunt, stilts, games and activities for children. In the exhibition “Med Junaiten i trunken”, visitors can touch marked objects. Offers for schools and kindergartens.

Getting there & parking

Visiting address: Nordberg, Vanse. From the bus stop it is a 5–7 minute walk uphill.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café and museum shop in the visitor centre; coffee, hot food, lapper (flatbreads) and ice cream.

Events & venue rental

The visitor centre is used as a cultural venue with regular concerts and events.

Plan your visit