Vardø

Raw Nature and Raw History

Spectacular Arctic Nature – and a Brutal Witch Trial.

Norway’s northeasternmost town is located in the Arctic climate zone. This means that the average temperature in the warmest month (July) is below 10°C. But don’t worry; it can still get warm here. There are few trees, and the barren, rugged landscape is something special to experience. The Barents Sea remains ice-free thanks to the Gulf Stream and has long been, and still is, an important and challenging workplace for local fishermen.

Vardø has been inhabited for over a thousand years. The Vardøhus Fortress, built in the 1300s as a defense against the east, is now a popular tourist attraction. The fortress fires a salute to celebrate the sun’s return at the end of January, after two months of darkness, a day marked with school holidays. Steilneset Memorial built for the 91 victims of the extensive witch trials that occurred in Finnmark during the 1600s, offers a powerful experience of this dark chapter in the region’s history.

Vardø is located on an island, and to reach the mainland, travelers must pass through a 2.7 km long undersea tunnel. It is permitted to cycle through the tunnel, and many cyclists do so. Note: There is a sign in the tunnel warning of sheep on the road. The sign is positioned in a way that cyclists on the sidewalk could potentially hit. Alternatively, one can take a bus or taxi. From the mainland, it is highly recommended to bike along a spectacular road leading to the old fishing village of Hamningberg.

Midnight Sun between May 17 and July 26.