The most beautiful natural sites to discover Norway

Off the coast of Andøya stands this bird rock, one of the most famous in the country. A local fishing boat goes to this island every day, where a large number of species can be seen. Between 70,000 and 80,000 pairs of puffins, over 4,000 pairs of kittiwakes and hundreds of cormorants, guillemots, petrels and other seabirds nest here. Remember to take your binoculars and why not a sketchbook for yourself or to draw your own postcards. A very beautiful place.

Mineral collections from all over the world. The 175 m of the mine galleries houses one of the most beautiful collections of crystals from Norway. Antique jewellery objects for sale at the shop. Exhibitions of ad hoc art. Large adjoining stone park and some old buildings.

A must-see natural area for all nature lovers. Here you can enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities and discover breathtaking landscapes! Between glaciers, lakes and fjords, it's the very essence of the country that you find in Jotunheimen, the "Land of the Giants" in Norwegian. Wild reindeer inhabit the western part of the park, while semi-domesticated herds graze near the villages of Lom and Vågå.

The "virgin country" with only 65 permanent residents is composed of islets and reefs forming a crescent off the coast that protects Kragerø. It is bordered by sandy beaches towards the interior and pebble beaches towards the exterior. This small archipelago represents the typical landscape of the area and is home to a nature reserve. The main island, Jomfruland, is about 7.5 km long and 1 km wide. Two white lighthouses, one of them still in use, pontoons, small paths, boats, beautiful beaches and birds... not too bad!

This large national park extends over the Dovrefjell mountain range. Expanded in 2002, it now covers three counties, including Oppland. The steep massifs of the western part are crowned by the white summit of Snøhetta, which rises to 2,286m. In the eastern part, the limestone rock is home to some of the richest mountain flora in Scandinavia. Animals in the park include musk ox, wild reindeer, wolverine and mountain fox. Birds are particularly abundant, and one of Norway's bird sanctuaries, the Fokstumyra Marsh, is just 20 km further south on the E6. Information center at Kongsvold. Several access routes, including E6 and train (Dovre, Hjerkinn, Kongsvoll). Marked trails, unguarded refuge and many other accommodation options in the valley. Various seasonal activities. The website is a mine of information.

Snøhetta viewpoint. An unmissable hike for all ages (3 km round trip) to a spectacular viewpoint over the Dovrefjell relief. At the summit, a shelter allows you to warm up before setting off again (closed in winter). Less frequented when the snow starts to fall, it's still well worth the detour! You may even catch a glimpse of musk oxen crossing the valley in the distance.

Formore information on hikes and walks, visit the Norwegian Hiking Association website: www.turistforeningen.no.

Immediately south of Femundsmarka, amidst dense virgin coniferous forests, this tiny national park offers views of 250-year-old spruce and even older pine trees. Life is everywhere, from dead trees that have fallen to the ground and are teeming with insects, to lichens that tumble from the trees. Black woodpeckers and Siberian jays can be seen here. Between lake and mountains, this forest is accessible to all types of walkers.

Forests of conifers and erratic blocks of granite cover this glacial training with soft undulations, crossed by a semi-formal domestic reindeer and wild musk oxen. This park is adjacent to two major nature reserves and national park, on the Swedish coast. The brown bears do not know the borders and often come from Sweden to sow panic in the flocks of sheep, sharpening ancestral hatred that the farmers dedicate to them.

The Troll Wall is a vertical wall more than 1,000 m high, whose ascent is considered to be one of the most difficult in the world. Uncharted until 1965, it is now used for climbing in summer and winter. In the 1980s, the wall became, unfortunately, very popular for paragliding jumps. The dangerous and treacherous rising winds caused several fatal accidents, and paragliding was finally banned in 1986.

The horn of the Romsdal valley, which rises 1,550m above the valley, hides a hydroelectric station in its side. An old noble farm, which has belonged to English lords (the Davenports) for generations, nestles on the banks of the Rauma River, which flows through the Romsdal Valley before emptying into the fjord near Åndalsnes. For many years it has been considered one of Norway's best salmon and trout rivers.

By following the marked trails, visitors come to discover traditional agricultural activities (mowing, burn) that will save the végétation vegetation, which is now threatened. Exhibition, film projection and cafeteria. This natural park received the UNESCO Prize for Cultural Landscape in 2001.

This tiny walled island was once Trondheim's place of torment. A Benedictine convent built around the year 1000 (one of the first in Scandinavia) was transformed into a prison fortress in 1658, a bit like Alcatraz or the Château d'If. Today, it is a pretty and popular tourist site, with a small beach and a café-restaurant which are open during the whole summer period. Guided tours are available during the summer.

This incomparable viewpoint (one of the most beautiful in the region), located at 407 meters above sea level at the end of Vardevegen, allows to admire the city of Molde, the archipelagos that populate the fjords, and the snow-covered peaks (more than two hundred visible on a clear day) that cover the horizon. Many walkers get there on foot from Molde along the Green Corridor (about an hour's walk one way for good walkers). A place not to be missed, especially for those who travel in winter.

Ergan Kystfort is a restored German fort dating from the Second World War. You can visit the former command centre and technical facilities. Weapons and military equipment are also on display.

Although Møysalen National Park is not directly located in Stokmarknes, it is nearby and worth a visit if you love nature and hiking. The park is dominated by the majestic Møysalen mountain and offers beautiful scenery, well-marked hiking trails for motivated walkers and a rich birdlife. You don't have to walk far to experience the majesty and solitude of the mountain and lakes!

Rondane National Park is Norway's oldest park, created in 1962 to protect one of the country's most ecologically at-risk areas. The park contains many peaks over 2,000 meters, the highest being Rondslottet at 2,178 meters. Among other things, the park is home to a large reindeer colony. In 2003, the park was extended to cover a total area of 963 ^km2. It's a great place for hiking and wildlife watching. In winter, Nordic and cross-country skiing are favoured.

This reserve covers the southern part of the island of Spitsbergen. The arctic landscape is composed of 65% glaciers and eternal snow. There are several colonies of seabirds but also colonies of geese and eiders. It is a privileged breeding area. This national park is also the largest in Norway with its area of 5 300 km ². It was created in 1973 by the government. In summer, there are many small lakes and areas covered with short grass.

Hidra is a small island of 700 inhabitants located near the Flekkefjord. It is connected by a tunnel to the rest of the country. Hidra lives partly from salmon farming and has become a popular tourist destination in the south. The restaurant Isbua, the museum Fedrenes Minne, about the maritime history of the island and the many possibilities for walks and water sports, are good reasons to go there. Also delicious fish and seafood restaurants. The ferry to the island runs every day.

The landscape of this large island, which stretches along the west coast, consists of beaches, high mountains and glaciers. Located at the northern end of the Gulf Stream passage, Forlandet enjoys a relatively mild Arctic climate. Due to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, the most northerly nesting colonies in the world can be observed here. The National Park has an area of 640 km² for the land part and 4,647 km² when including the sea part. Why not go with a guide?

The trail starts by bike, bus or car, and it takes a good hour to reach the summit, which is 314 metres high. Since we start from sea level, it is quite a long way. Be careful when it rains as the paths quickly become muddy and slippery. From up there, the 360° view on the city and the fjord is simply breathtaking. It is a very popular place with many walkers and especially the locals who go there on weekends. A must do for the view and for the walk!