Laksforsen nature and cultural gallery tells the history of the Salmon River Vefsna, specifically its use and recreation close to one of Norway’s most fantastic waterfalls. You’ll find the gallery in the lower floor of Laksforsen café, approximately 30 km south of Mosjøen and approximately 8 km north of Trofors in Grane.
You should also take the time to visit Trofors, where Grane Bygdetun lies. Here you’ll find a rich collection of cultural historic buildings from the 18th and the 19th century. Read More
The Vega World Heritage Centre, which is beautifully located at Gardsøy, documents the history and culture of the Vega islanders. Here you can gain fascinating insights into the lives of these fishermen-farmers, and about their centuries-old local tradition of protecting the eider ducks who come to nest here – a tradition that led to Vega being granted UNESCO’s World Heritage status.
A tribute to a unique cultural landscape and to the contribution of women
Vega Archipelago was inscribed on UNESCO's list of world natural and cultural heritage sites in 2004. The rationale states: "Vega Archipelago demonstrates how generations of fishermen and farmers over the past 1,500 years have maintained a sustainable way of life in a harsh environment near the Arctic Circle, based on the now unique tradition of eider farming. The status is also a tribute to women's contributions to the eiderdown process." Read More
Dønnes Gård on the island of Dønna, offers a holiday stay in a former vicarage. The historical surroundings actually date back to the 13th century. Guests here can dine on traditional dishes made from locally-sourced ingredients. To hear the colourful history, take a guided tour of the vicarage and the neighbouring medieval church.
As a guest, you can choose between a large double room in the stately vicarage or a simpler room in the old schoolhouse next door. The latter is especially suitable for groups that want to share accommodation. The schoolhouse has 11 beds, its own kitchen, living room and bathroom. Outside, there is a barbecue. All guests can order breakfast (included) and dinner in the vicarage. Read More
Be sure to visit Løkta Museum, beautifully located on the west side of the island. Here, you can experience what life was like on a small farm in the old days. The area is open to all and features a picnic area, a fire pit, and a small outhouse.
Løkta Museum hosts exhibitions that reflect the life of fishermen and smallholders. You can also learn about the industrial history from a century ago. Norway's first watercolor painter came from Løkta, and there is a monument dedicated to a woman who was highly influential in the advancement of gender equality in Norway.
The barn building as a whole showcases the scope of a smallholder’s activities, where a cow and a few sheep provided income for a large family. The development of farmers' associations was an important evolution in the farming profession. In the barn, you can explore exhibits about another key income source: fishing. Fishing boats, whaling boats, tools, pictures, and texts provide valuable information. The outbuilding houses a variety of tools and implements that were crucial for the two primary industries. Read More
Sijti Jarnge is a Sami language and cultural center located in Hattfjelldal, where you can experience and learn about Sami culture in Helgeland. Carl Johan Utsi Open gallery… Read More
At Alstahaug you will find a museum and a church that highlight centuries of the cultural and architectural history of Northern Norway. Moreover, the area is rich in cultural monuments and is a popular hiking area for both locals and tourists. The Petter Dass Museum and Alstahaug were chosen as Nordland County’s venues to celebrate the dawning of a new millennium.
Petter Dass
Petter Dass was a 17th-century poet-priest who wrote many psalms. In 1689, at the age of 42, he became the parish priest at Alstahaug, where he worked until his death in 1707. His most famous work was Nordlands Trompet (the Trumpet of Nordland) a poetic celebration of Northern Norway’s magnificent landscape, its people, wildlife and seasons. He gained prominence and a wide audience for his writings. Generations of fishermen attached patches of black cloth to the sails on their boats to mourn his passing. Read More
At Glein on Dønna, you can see Northern Europe's largest marble phallus and take a tour of the Fertility Exhibition, a collection of fertility symbols from around the world dating back 25,000 to 30,000 years.
At Glein on Dønna, you can visit Northern Europe's largest Marble Phallus and a rich fertility exhibition nearby. The marble phallus dates back to the Migration Period around 1600 years ago. It may appear roughly carved by today's standards, but back then, it was a painstaking work that attests to the importance of fertility for the people who lived here at that time. Read More
Ole Edvart Rølvaag emigrated from Dønna to the USA in the late 1800s. There, he wrote several novels about emigrating from Norway and being an immigrant in the USA during that time. At the Dønna exhibition, you can learn more about the author's life and work and see the complete collection of Ole Edvart Rølvaag's first editions.
The exhibition at Dønna Library is beautifully set up with information about the author's upbringing in Dønna, his journey to the USA, and his life as an emigrant and immigrant. It provides an interesting glimpse into a time when life in Norway could be hard, while the American Dream shone brightly with the promise of land and wealth in the distance. Read More
Inside the premises of Raus Brewery in Nesna, you can see many of the best photographs by nature photographer Hans Petter Sørensen. Hans Petter Sørensen Open gallery… Read More
