Tourist Attractions & Monuments en Laponie

The exhibits in this small eco-museum give an insight into the way of life of the Kautokeino people, past and present. The museum includes a small same farm, with a reindeer corral. Traditional architecture is on display. An exhibition tells us about the River Saami, who live from freshwater fishing and hunting. A pleasant place to linger and discover the local culture. In summer, take advantage of the sale of typical dishes to eat in or take away. You'll also find a souvenir store.

Small wooden church. Built in 1974 to replace the one built in 1807 which had become too small. It is one of the oldest in Norwegian Lapland, and also the only monument that was not destroyed by the Germans during the Second World War. It is worth a visit if you are in the area. The church is still in operation and you can, if you wish, hear a mass in Norwegian or Sami. There is also singing from time to time. The shape of this church is unusual!

This park dedicated to Sami culture opens with a 25-minute film on the history of the Sami people, followed by a tour of several buildings that recreate the Sami way of life during the summer (traditional tents or lavvu, food shelters, a reindeer pen). The premises aren't very big, and you quickly get the hang of it, unlike the store, which is huge. All the staff are dressed in traditional costume. An opportunity to discover a little more about Saami culture, the original people of these northern lands.

Founded in 1972, this museum is Norway's first Saami cultural institution. Dedicated to Saami culture, it is both an open-air museum and a gallery with several collections. It includes a "river house" and a model reindeer herders' camp. It exhibits some 5,000 traditional objects of all kinds: traditional costumes, handicrafts... It's the ideal place to discover or deepen your knowledge of this people.

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.

Since 2003, Lofoten has had its own ice palace. But here, the play on reflections and lights has nothing to do with Versailles. It is about sculptures of boats, animals, everything that makes the regional culture, but especially the Icebar in ice! An icy and unique universe which is worth the detour, if only to appreciate the talent of the ice sculptors! Fairy-like. It is also a bar, and you will certainly not often have the opportunity to enjoy a cocktail in such a setting. An extraordinary place not to be missed!

Øvre Pasvik National Park, located in a Norwegian enclave between Finland and Russia, is home to a fragile and highly specific flora and fauna. From Hoyde Tower 96, a former military watchtower dating back to the Cold War, you'll be able to contemplate the different landscapes perfectly! Every year in the vicinity of the tower, we witness the presence of bears and some unusual bird species. The Park Visitor Centre is open in summer only. Many other experiences are available all year round!

This lighthouse, which has not been inhabited since 1970, is a popular place for painters and writers. A pedestrian bridge links the lighthouse rock to the mainland. The only inhabitants of the place are about twenty eiders that come here to nest. Beware, the weather can change very quickly! At any moment, the elements can rage around this lighthouse isolated in the sea, so watch the weather forecast. In the summer, you will find a charming little restaurant that serves breakfasts with fresh homemade bread. Lunch and dinner.

Located about 40 kilometers north of Bodø, this charming little mountainous peninsula is home to a fishermen's hamlet, a former trading post that has now been transformed into an open-air museum. It was the last port for seasonal fishermen before the Lofoten archipelago, at the time of Victor Hugo's Workers of the Sea. At the end of the last century, hundreds of small boats gathered here to wait for favorable winds to cross the dangerous waters of the Vestfjord. The most famous local figure was Erasmus Zahl, owner of the whole hamlet, and the first person to help Knut Hamsun (Nobel Prize for Literature in 1920) in his difficult beginnings.

The house in Sirilund is indeed the same as the one described in his novel Benoni and Rosa. Their television version as well as the film, taken from his work Pan, were shot on this island. Since then, many film shoots have taken place there (including the film Dina, starring Gérard Depardieu), the place benefiting from a magnificent light, which allows today a beautiful exhibition on the films shot on the island. With a bit of humor and a lot of willpower, the inhabitants of the island define themselves as living in the Hollywood of Norway. There is a café and souvenir store in the new stable (Nyfjøsen). A recommended visit to get a closer look at the atmosphere of deepest Norway and to take in the sights!

In the middle of the town, petroglyphs have been identified. The outlines and figures of Brennholtet, mainly reindeer, are estimated to be about 5,000 years old. Were they drawn in the hope of a good hunt? Or to leave a trace for future generations? As a ritual? Or simply for the pleasure of art? Archaeologists obviously can not know and only hypotheses are issued more or less likely. That of art is quite nice, isn't it?

The railroad was built in 1902 in spite of Mother Nature's wrath, with the sole aim of transporting ore, and sometimes a few passengers - today, tourists! In Kiruna, you can visit the mine and learn more about its origin, operation and importance. It's so productive that it's responsible for moving the entire town of Kiruna!

Itinerary: Narvik - Riskgränsen (Sweden) - Kiruna - Luleå. From the border onwards, the line is connected to the Swedish network and takes the name Malmbanan.

Objects of all kinds are made in this shop, but the interest resides in the glass shop. The artisan works in front of customers. Very nice collection of paintings from local artists and ceramics.

A very beautiful place which presents different works, objects, paintings and furniture. A luxury and artistic audacity which can surprise in a somewhat remote place... Temporary exhibitions of mainly Norwegian or Scandinavian artists. It is a non-profit association whose aim is to promote art and culture in all its forms. Many events are organized in addition to the exhibitions. Programmation on line or by email.

Created by the artist Oscar Bodøgaard and his son Harald Bodøgaard in 1985. Officially opened to the public in 1989, it welcomed no less than 1,200 people on its opening day! This gallery, located at 2,5 km from the city center, is one of the most important in the north of Norway. It houses millions of art and craft objects, some of which belonged to the Russian Tsars. It also hosts events such as concerts that usually accompany the opening of temporary exhibitions. A nice place that moves!

Located 8 km from the center of Bodø, this old farmhouse, managed by the Nordland Museum, has been completely restored. The wooden furniture and buildings are a perfect illustration of the buildings of the time. Some parts of the building are hundreds of years old. The farmhouse has been occupied on several occasions by members of the government, as well as skippers from ships calling at Bodø. A guided tour in English is available, by reservation only. We advise you to check the timetable before you go.

Former presbytery, this room is today in the cultural centre of Nordland. It welcomed louis-philippe of Orléans in 1795, future king of France, when it when the Revolution. Remain today to admire the frescoes of 1754 painted by Gottfried Ezekiel in rococo style, probably the oldest in the country.

Thanks to the work of volunteers, this fort, a symbol of the town's resistance to the English navy, has been completely restored. The site was chosen as a millennium site. Completed in 1810, this military edifice was intended to defend the Norwegian coast against the English navy, and to protect grain imported from Russia despite the blockade to which the Norwegians were subjected. The fort never saw battle.

The museum building, shaped like a helix, covers more than 10,000 m². Two large exhibition areas are devoted to the civilian and military collections. On the program: the history of aeronautics, the discovery of many aircraft (Junkers, Ju-52, Mosquito) and flight simulators to put yourself in the shoes of pilots. An interesting and complete visit to enter the Norwegian history through aviation.

Just a few minutes from Reine is the only museum of its kind in Norway. It opened in 1992 on a personal initiative. The museum exhibits a collection of over 1,500 dolls and toys dating from 1860 to 1965. It's a museum that brings back many memories for older visitors, and often astonishes even the youngest. The second floor features an antique and souvenir store. Coffee and Norwegian-style waffles for sale.

Welcome to one of Norway's best-preserved fishing villages! The Fiskevaersmuseum tells the story of daily life in a fishing village between 1840 and 1960, and the evolution of fishing in Lofoten over the last 250 years. A number of exhibits explain, among other things, how cod liver oil is made and how delicious Norwegian pastries are made. In the village store, stock up on local products!

At the end of the museum parking lot is a memorial to the many Yugoslav, Russian and Polish prisoners who died here between 1942 and 1945. Northern Norway was a strategic point for the Germans. The many ice-free harbours in the winter allowed them to hide their submarines and other warships. The Nazis built the railway to Bodø at great human cost.

In these harsh lands, especially in winter, there was little need for gas ovens to exterminate prisoners. In Saltdal, there were about fifteen camps with about 30 000 prisoners. The war memorial at the Arctic Circle is very moving, especially when you look at the railway tracks on the other side of the E6. Looking at this desolate landscape, one can only imagine the inhuman conditions under which the prisoners worked. The icy wind coming down from the black mountain opposite, passing by the two big rocks of the Lappish sacrifice at the bottom, is chilling, literally and figuratively.

An impressive number of these war memorials and "blood roads" mark the area. The Nazis practised scorched earth tactics at the end of the war, and almost all the houses in Northern Norway were wiped off the map. The monument is open air and free to visit at any time of the year. A recommended memorial stop.

The small museum exhibits naturalized Arctic animals, including a huge polar bear. On the second floor are some typical northern fishing boats. The hourly slide show of Norway's landscapes and seasons is the same as the free one at the Oslo tourist office. There's also a mailbox for postcards from the Arctic Circle. Souvenir store, cafeteria serving hot dishes and a few northern specialties. The children's menu is half-price, and includes an ice cream.

Qualified and friendly guides offer a variety of options for different levels of experience, from simple hiking to sport trips (climbing, caving, safari, bungee jumping). Some examples: day trip in a canoe, day climbing trip on the Hamarøyskaftet, 6-hour hike to Hovdsundet, a beautiful beach, day ice hike on the Svartisen, or a ride with sled dogs, either as a passenger or with your own sled! There is something for everyone! Have fun!

Several types of excursions are proposed: The visit of the city centre in summer, the visit to the Trollstigen Maelstrom every day, the discovery of the midnight sun on the Rønvik Hill, 3 km away, for the beautiful view of the mountains that form the Lofoten wall and the islands of Voerøy and Røst. It is essential to book at the tourist office or directly in Bodo Sightseeing.

The building has a modern architecture, is imposing, very spacious and pleasant. The view of the harbour from inside is beautiful. The Stormen houses both the magnificent library and three concert halls of very different styles. If the project was ambitious, it was successfully carried out by the English architects DRDH, known all over the world. Bodø thus places itself more and more on the national and international scene. A great success!

Bodø, a city located in Norway, offers a unique blend of culture and nature. As the future European Capital of Culture in 2024, Bodø is already booming with exciting cultural experiences. The town is surrounded by magnificent natural gems such as the world's strongest whirlpool, Saltstraumen, Europe's most accessible glacier, Svartisen, the northern lights, the midnight sun and renowned national parks. Here, you can enjoy spectacular nature without queuing.

This 1,530 km² park is worth a visit to walk through part of its "grand canyon", which is 40 km long and 80 m deep. It is the biggest natural attraction in Northern Lapland. It should be visited from the north, near the narrow Kevojoki River, to enjoy the most beautiful panorama of Kevo. There are many marked hiking trails to explore the park and the area. Be sure to check out the 26-metre Fiellu Falls.

It is the largest national park in Finland. There are 60 km of marked trails. The Viipus cliffs are the most impressive attraction of the park, falling 450 m into the river.

Boat tours along the river. Duration 3 hours. Possibility of one way only, if you want to hike afterwards.

Gold digger. Information at the Kaija or Ahkuntupa workshop. Gold mines are exploited by some assiduous researchers.

This quality Saami handicraft shop is ideally located on the shores of Lake Kuivajärvi. In a hexagonal chalet in the heart of the reindeer farm is the art gallery, where handmade creations made from reindeer antlers, horn, leather, wool, etc. are on display, including a wide selection of traditional jewellery. In winter, the gallery is open on request. The owners also organize visits to the village, or various activities in the surroundings, guided by local partners.

For fishing enthusiasts and wild nature, follow the 60 km trail to Pulmankijärvi near the Norwegian border. Canoe enthusiasts (experienced) will embark on the loop of Sevettijärvi.

At the heart of this house, as its name suggests, you'll discover the northern lights. We start with the history of the aurora borealis, with a 45-minute film and photos explaining the ancient beliefs surrounding this phenomenon, right up to the latest scientific studies. If the weather and all other conditions are right, they also organize evening excursions to admire them, as the surrounding area is free of light pollution. A unique opportunity to learn more about a wonderful natural phenomenon!

The Vanha Kirkko Church is located outside the town and is surrounded by greenery and trees. Built in 1689, it is one of the oldest and best preserved churches in Lapland, and even in Finland, as it was spared the rout of the German army. At the time, it was only the third church built in Lapland after Inari and Kemijärvi. It is made of wood and has a roof of wooden scales in the shape of an overturned boat.

Here you will find information about the amethyst mine, the Northern Lights House, the Reindeer and Lapp statue to see in the area and information about all the activities to do. There is information on snowmobile safaris, ice fishing, canoe rental and tours, bicycle rental or hiking and biking trails... Worth a visit: upstairs is a beautiful art gallery with works by local Saami artist Andreas Alariesto.

Completed in 1987, this magnificent church will finish by immersing you in the atmosphere of the Great North. The exterior already surprises: all in wood, with the shape of a chalet, it seduces you right away! This church was not built for Russian nationals, but for the Saami skolts. The latter fled the Petsamo region after the arrival of the Soviets and the catastrophic development of nickel mining. There is also a community of Saami skolts in Sevettijärvi, further north.

Ivalo was a gold mining town in the 1870s. The gold- and platinum-bearing Ivalojoki River attracted dozens of gold seekers in search of their fortune. Several symbols can be seen in Ivalo today. A statue of six gold miners at work stands in front of the Kultahippu ("gold nugget") hotel, while a giant Finnish sieve stands on Ivalo's northern traffic circle.

To find out more, visit the Gold Prospector Museum in Tankavaara, 60 km south of Ivalo.

This sculpture depicts 3 men and a woman holding a child. This monument commemorates the evacuation of the Petsamo (now Russian) region between 1920 and 1944. In the 1920s, this formerly Finnish region, populated by Sami Skolts, was annexed by the Soviets. The Treaty of Paris (1947) confirmed the annexation. During these 20 years, the Finnish population, mainly Skolt Sami, left the region, settling on the other side of the border, east of Lake Inari, in the villages of Nellim and Sevettijärvi.

The 142 km2 Pyhä-Luosto National Park^offers magnificent hiking trails through rugged mountains and deep gorges. The park's mountains are reputed to be the oldest in the world, dating back 2 million years! A 5 km loop trail begins at the Naava Visitor Center. There are several other trails ranging from 10 km to 30 km. There are also 150 km of cross-country ski trails.

The Kukkolankoski rapids (about three and a half kilometres long) are the largest in Finland. Already in the Middle Ages, the waters were known to be full of fish and a fishing festival is held here every year at the end of July. There are countless river and lake routes of all categories, ideal for rafting or canoeing. The Arctic Canoe Race (53 km) runs down the Tornionjoki River to the Gulf of Bothnia. The Nordic Safaris company organizes kayaking and rafting trips on the river.

The Aine Art Museum is located in the centre of Tornio, in the same building that houses the main library of the city. The museum offers a permanent exhibition as well as temporary exhibitions that change every 4 to 6 years. Eila and Veli Aine, art lovers, collected a large number of works which have since been bequeathed to the museum. On the program: Finnish paintings of expressionist inspiration. A must-see if you have some time in the area (or if it's raining!). The plus: numerous events and art education workshops.

While walking around Tornio, don't miss the church on Seminaarinkatu. Certainly one of the most beautiful wooden churches in the country. Completed in 1686, the church was built in honour of the Swedish Queen Eleanor. A second church can be seen on Lukiokatu. It was in 1825 that Tsar Alexander I decided to build an Orthodox place of worship. The present building, dedicated to St Peter and St Paul, dates from 1884. You can also visit the Torne Valley Museum to learn more about the customs and traditions of the region.

Alvar Aalto's work, which once again imposes his touch. A beautiful cultural hall for both theatre and concerts. The congress centre has three halls for concerts, cocktail parties, conferences and all kinds of events. In its largest room, it can accommodate up to 419 people. You can also see the library located opposite, which has been extensively redesigned according to the plans of the master architect (1965). Aesthetics and practicality are combined to perfection. Superb work on the light in particular.

This is a historic site in Kittilä, which is also an ancient Saami sacrificial site on the shore of Lake Taatsi, near the village of Pokka. The surrounding area is superb for walking. On Myllyjoentie, you can also visit the very active tourist office, which will be happy to provide you with information on accommodation and activities: reindeer farm visits, ice fishing, snowmobile tours... Website in English (www.levi.fi).

Jussi is an experienced and friendly local guide who particularly enjoys tailoring experiences for his clients. Some of the activities he offers are: ice fishing, hiking, northern lights observation and photo shooting, private charter on the Inari lake to islands or for fishing... Jussi also rents a small cabin in the city centre to observe the northern lights and in which he also welcomes you in summer.

Information about Pallas-Oulastunturi National Park and removal of keys for shelters. Other more general tourist data and exhibitions on lapland nature. Clear and reliable cards.

This Hautajärvi visitors' center, located on the 82 km Karhunkierros hiking trail, offers a wealth of information on Oulanka and Riisitunturi national parks, as well as on the surrounding nature reserves: maps with routes and ideas for walks, flora and fauna... From here, you can even book guided tours to discover the park. On site, you'll find a café serving drinks and simple dishes.

Area: 2,105 km². The park and the four adjacent protected areas extend from the Norwegian coast and the Melfjord in the west to the mountain range along the Swedish border, covered by the Svartisen glacier. The Svartisen Glacier is the largest glacier in northern Scandinavia, covering 370 km². The birch forests are home to a surprisingly rich flora for the latitude, and such rare species as the Arctic rhododendron grow on the limestone areas.

We love the private tours organized by Pascal, a Frenchman who has been living here since 1998 after deciding to pursue his dreams as a child in the Great North! The philosophy of Arctic Horizons is to propose excursions in small groups in order to preserve a spirit of solitude and arctic silence, far from the hubbub of multilingual tour operators. You will be able to enjoy the Lapland nature without any background noise, in all intimacy. And above all, you will be accompanied by Pascal, a wonderful guide who is jovial and inexhaustible about the local culture and activities.

Like the Polar Explorer, the icebreaker Sampo offers an incredible and memorable adventure in the Arctic wilderness with the unique experience of swimming in ice. Sampo is like a moving museum that has faithfully preserved its original 1960s structure. You will feel the past glory of the ship on board! Restaurant and coffee shop on site. Possibility to opt for a luxury cruise with private room and guide with arctic food and snowmobile safari.

Oy Kinos Safaris offers guided and personalized excursions. The most popular safaris are by snowmobile, husky, reindeer and canoe. While fishing and mountain biking trips are organized in summer, the most popular summer activity is the 2-hour cruise on lakes Sirkkajärvi and Levijärvi. On-site, Kinos Safari also offers simple equipment rental, including snowmobiles, bicycles, small boats, fishing gear and canoes... Budget-wise, there's something for everyone.

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!