Tour Locations | Vardø: Pomors, Radars and Witches in the Far North
-
LOCATION 1
Vardø Port
Hello and welcome to Vardø!
My name is Lars, and I'll be showing you the highlights of Vardø. I live in Vardø and am passionate about the history and culture of Finnmark.
This will be a tour...
-
LOCATION 2
Vardø Hotel
Turn left here to walk along the path that runs in between the hotel and the shore.
The hotel is a good place to stay in Vardø. It's famous for the quality food, especially their seafood – adver...
-
LOCATION 3
Willem Barentsz bust
Continue straight.
On your left is a bust of Willem Barentsz.
Barentsz lived from 1550 to 1597, and was a Dutch navigator and Arctic explorer. He is known for the three expeditions he took ...
-
LOCATION 4
Vardø Videregående Skole
You are now walking between the buildings of the local high school. As well as the usual subjects, there is special emphasis on the food and fishing industries.
Vardø is the easternmost city o...
-
LOCATION 5
Pomor Museum
The orange building coming up on your left is the Pomor Museum, in the warehouse called "Brodtkorpsjåene".
Stop for a moment in front of it.
The word pomor is Russian and means "those who liv...
-
LOCATION 6
Turn at Kaigata
Please turn left here at Kaigata and walk towards the building with the large steeple. This is Vardø chuch.
The church in Vardø dates back to 1307, when the oldest known church was consecrated. ...
-
LOCATION 7
Vardø Town Hall
Turn right to cross the road and walk in between the two buildings.
The red building on the left is Vardø Town Hall. With its monumental shape and strategic positioning, its the first thing you ...
-
LOCATION 8
The Pavilion - Globus 2
When you get to the road, stop and look up to your left.
Can you see a white globular structure perched on top of Vårberget?
You might need to move further over to the right to get a better...
-
LOCATION 9
Cross to Kongens Gate
Now turn left to cross the road, then turn right to continue walking in the same direction you've been going.
-
LOCATION 10
Grand Hotel
Keep going.
The large building on your right, across the grass is the former Grand Hotel.
It was built in 1914 and dominated the center of Vardø. The hotel was built as an answer to increasi...
-
LOCATION 11
Kongens Gate
Turn left here at the top of Kongens gate and continue walking along Skippergata.
In august of 1944, the city was bombed by the allies. This resulted in most of the buildings being destroyed. S...
-
LOCATION 12
Andreas Lies Gate
Now turn right to cross the street and continue along Andreas Lies gate, between the houses on the right and the open fields on the left.
I hope you're enjoying the tour so far. We're now about ...
-
LOCATION 13
Steilneset
You're now at Steilneset, and have reached the dark side of our history.
Stop here for a moment while I fill you in.
For those who believe in God – there is also a devil. The belief in evil f...
-
LOCATION 14
Steilneset Memorial - Cube
Please enter the cubed building.
As you can see, the buildings are both very unique in shape. The cubed building that houses Bourgeois' installation is fabricated from steel and tinted glass, fo...
-
LOCATION 15
Steilneset Memorial - Memory Hall
Stop here for a moment at the entrance to the hall.
The witch trials here in Vardø are very well documented. The trials were meant to protect innocent citizens from the supposed dark side – the...
-
LOCATION 16
Steilneset Minnested - Exit
Please leave the Steilneset Memorial by crossing the small, wooden bridge, and follow the path that leads to the left.
The memorial was opened by the Norwegian Queen Sonja, on June 23rd, 2011. I...
-
LOCATION 17
Steilnes Chapel
Now turn left, and follow the path towards the fortress. But please be aware that in the wintertime, this path can be difficult to follow, and that you will need to follow the road instead. That wi...
-
LOCATION 18
Left on Festningsgaten
Turn left here onto Festningsgaten and head towards the fortress. I'll meet you next to the statue of King Haakon.
-
LOCATION 19
Vardøhus Fortress
Let's stop next to the statue of King Haakon and I'll tell you about the fortress.
The northern part of Finnmark in the 1200s was rife with fighting between the Norwegians and people from Kareli...
-
LOCATION 20
Left on Per Larssens Gate
Turn left here onto Per Larssens Gate and keep going.
-
LOCATION 21
Per Larssens Gate
Now turn right to carefully cross the road and walk along Amtmann Lillienskjolds gate, staying on the right hand side of the street.
-
LOCATION 22
Amtmann Lillienskjolds Gate
You're now walking along Amtmann Lillienskjolds gate.
Hans Hansen Lilienskiold was born in Bergen in 1650. He was a Norwegian lawyer, government official, civil servant and land owner.
Lilie...
-
LOCATION 23
Amtmann Lillienskjoldsgate Exit
At the end of this street, make a right turn over the small, wooden bridge, and cross the road towards the port.
Stay to the right of the small red house ahead.
-
LOCATION 24
Vardø Port - End
You have now returned to Vardø Port, and it’s time for me to say goodbye. I hope you have enjoyed our tour through Vardø and its history.
Vardø has a rich past – and we hope a rich future. As th...