Step into coastal history at Sømna Bygdetun. This local heritage museum brings you close to everyday life on the Helgeland coast in the 1800s, and tells the story of how grain was grown in the north, against the odds.

Open gallery

At Sømna Bygdetun, a historic farmstead and local heritage museum, visitors can explore the story of grain farming in northern Norway and step back into the 19th century. It offers a lively glimpse of how the fisher‑farmer and their family lived, worked, and built their lives along the coast. The site includes twelve historic buildings with a small‑village feel, and the kitchen garden—grown with old grain varieties, traditional crops, herbs, and vegetables—is well worth a visit.

Grain has always been essential to everyday survival, but farming in Northern Norway was never easy. For a long time, people relied on grain shipped north by merchants in Bergen in exchange for stockfish, as well as grain that came through the Pomor trade with Russia. That is exactly what makes Sømna stand out. Here, farmers managed to grow larger quantities of grain than in most other parts of Nordland, and the area earned the nickname the granary of Nordland.

At the museum, visitors can follow the journey of grain from field to finished flour. You can see the museum’s own grain field, threshing machines, and hand mills, and learn how grain was a vital part of everyday life—often alongside fishing.

Explore the historic buildings, step inside the homes people once lived in, and see the rorbu used during seasonal fishing. In Signe’s old shop, original goods are on display, offering a lively glimpse of everyday trade in earlier times. Visitors can also view the exhibitions, or take a break with a cup of coffee and something to eat in Signe’s beautiful ornamental garden.

Butikk på Sømna bygdetun Ketil Born / Helgeland Museum

Contact

Phone: +47 46 92 29 91
lige@helmus.no
Hjemmeside: helgelandmuseum.no/
Facebook: SomnaBygdetun
Get directions: Open Google Maps

Open at events, on request and during the summer season.

Sømna Bygdetun is located in the village of Vik in Sømna, on the southern Helgeland coast, about 35 minutes by car from Brønnøysund.

Find your way with Google Maps
Read more about Sømna and how to get there

Thank you for respecting the local communities, and for helping us preserve the natural beauty of Helgeland!

Please:

  • Strive to leave no trace of your visit. Bring back all your rubbish, including used toilet paper, and discard it in the nearest rubbish bin.
  • Plan your toilet visits and use the opportunity when you pass a toilet. In the wilderness, make sure you are not a nuisance to others.
  • Respect the local wildlife. Keep a good distance from wildlife, livestock and birds. Keep your dog leashed.
  • Respect private property. Keep a respectful distance from houses and cabins.
  • Show good boating sense. Keep a good distance from shore and drive at a low speed, especially when you are close to anyone or anything on the water, including birds or animals. Avoid loud and disturbing engine noise. Be aware that some islands and nature reserves are important nesting sites, and that going ashore is prohibited during the nesting season.
  • Follow the Norwegian Mountain Code (Fjellvettreglene). Plan your excursion according to the weather forecast, your skills and experience.
  • Join a guided excursion or consider hiring an experienced guide, especially when you don’t have sufficient experience or knowledge to guarantee a safe trip.

Welcome to Brønnøysund

The town, which sits on a narrow peninsula surrounded by islets, has excellent restaurants, charming cafés and a thriving coastal culture.

Read more

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