Things to see and do Vardø

Hornøya Island is a jewel, a must for nature and bird lovers. For the thousands of birds that reside here, the island is a paradise. On the island the rules are strict and have to be followed to the letter, because here there is no joke with the preservation of the fauna and flora. We stay on the marked trails only, we do not pollute and we do not disturb the animals under any circumstances. It is possible to stay on the island.

It stretches along the water's edge like a long ship of stretched canvas and steel. The Vardø memorial was inaugurated in 2011 in memory of the victims of the witch hunt. One enters a long dark corridor. On the walls, the names and history of each of the victims are inscribed, lit by a small flame. Next door, the second part of Louise Bourgeois' Flammehuset"burns" silently: a flaming chair symbolizing the witch hunt is placed in a rounded hall designed by Peter Zumthor. A gripping visit. Not to be missed.

Hamningberg(Hámmanbirgi in Saami) is a small fishing hamlet exposed to the fury of the icy Arctic Ocean. It still had 250 inhabitants in 1900, was spared during the Second World War and was finally abandoned by its inhabitants in the 1960s. This village is located at the eastern end of Norway, at the very end of the Varanger Peninsula, on the edge of the Barents Sea. The fauna and flora are nevertheless quite rich and you can see birds, red foxes, and other species typical of these latitudes.

The city has several museums that trace the significant events in the history of the region. The different exhibitions are spread out over the buildings of the city. We find for example: the museum of the Russian Pomors, the memorial of Steilneset or the monument to the witches burned during the XVIIth century, the fortress of the city which dates from the beginning of the XVIIIth century, Tuomainengården a traditional kvène dwelling, and many others! For the more curious, there are many monuments to visit to learn about the rich and little-known history of the region.

There was a fort here as early as 1307, but the present star-shaped fortress dates from 1730 and is based on the French model, with fortifications that allow the enemy to be seen wherever he is. The Lushaugen Museum is dedicated to polar expeditions and local life. It is the most northerly fort in the world, nicknamed Norway's border post in the northeast. Events are organized from time to time: concerts, readings, and even a language café.