Vardøhus festning
Octagonal star fortress from the 1730s in Vardø with a museum and exhibitions in the fortress's nine buildings.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Vardøhus festning (fortress) lies in Vardø in the far east of Finnmark and is regarded as Norway's northernmost and north-easternmost fortress. The first fortress was built around 1300 under King Håkon V Magnusson to mark Norwegian power in the north and secure tax revenues from Finnmark, and a new fortress came around 1450. None of them has visible remains above ground today.
The present fortress was built in 1734–1738 as an octagonal star redoubt with low, stone-faced earthen ramparts, modelled on foreign fortresses. Nine buildings stand inside the enclosed fortress area, and the site largely looks as it did in 1738. The fortress lost its military role in the early 1900s but was in use as an installation until around 1950. During the Second World War the Norwegian flag flew here longer than anywhere else, until the commandant was arrested on 9 November 1940, and in autumn 1944 Vardøhus was the first military site where the flag was raised again.
Today the fortress is managed by Forsvarsbygg (the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency), and it is open to the public. A museum on the site shows the fortress's role in Norwegian defence, administration and cultural history. The fortress is the only unit in Northern Norway that fires a salute, including on 17 May, 7 June and on royal birthdays.
Highlights
- Octagonal star redoubt from 1734–1738
- Nine buildings, most with their own exhibitions
- Museum on defence, administration and cultural history
- Salute on 17 May, 7 June and royal birthdays
- Free access to the fortress grounds
Permanent exhibition
- Museum i festningen – Exhibitions in the fortress buildings on Vardøhus's role in Norwegian defence, administration and cultural history.
- Operated by
- Forsvarsbygg Nasjonale festningsverk
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission to the fortress grounds is free. Museums, concerts, events and festivals may have their own tickets and prices.
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
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours are booked through Vardø museum. Smoking is prohibited in the inner fortress area, barbecues and open fires are prohibited all year, and dogs must be kept on a lead. |
