Gallery
Foto Galleri
Stunning photos of the Lofoten Islands in all their brooding glory, most of them for sale, are the work of photographer Anders Finsland. It's worth stopping by even if you don't plan to buy.
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Svolvær
The port town of Svolvær is as busy as it gets in Lofoten. The town once sprawled across a series of skerries, but the in-between spaces are being filled in to create a reclaimed peninsula. Although the setting is beautiful with a backdrop of high mountains, the hotchpotch of modern buildings, many of them industrial, clutters things somewhat. If you don't have your own car, it's a good base from which to explore the more magical parts of Lofoten; if you do, it's a great place to eat and refuel.
Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Svolvær.
Sculpture
Magic Ice
Housed appropriately in what was once a fish-freezing plant, this is the ultimate place to chill out (perhaps with something to warm the spirit). The 500-sq-metre space is filled with huge ice sculptures, illustrating Lofoten life. If you can't return to northern Norway in winter, this is a great, if brief, approximation. Admission includes warm clothing and a drink in an ice glass.
Gallery
Galleri Dagfinn Bakke
One of Svolvær's more interesting little private galleries, this place showcases works by local artist Dagfinn Bakke, in which the distinctive light and natural formations of Arctic Norway take centre stage, with a range of other painters also on display. As always, many of the pieces are for sale.
Gallery
Nordnorsk Kunstnersenter
On the main square and beside the tourist office, the North Norwegian Artist's Centre hosts changing exhibitions of paintings, sculpture, ceramics and more by artists from northern Norway. Its shop is a good source for a tasteful souvenir of Norway's north.
Museum
Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum
Housed in the town's old post office, Lofoten's little war-memorial museum recounts the islands' role in the drama of WWII, when the islands were occupied by the Nazis. The collection includes lots of fascinating period photos, plus original uniforms, ordnance and even a couple of (decommissioned) mines.
Museum
Lofoten Temagalleri
The Lofoten Theme Gallery is very much the creation of one man, Geir Nøtnes, a keen photographer from a fishing background. It's devoted mainly to cod fishing and whaling, with plenty of photos and equipment. Ask to see the splendid 20-minute DVD about Lofoten through the seasons.
Gallery
Galleri Stig Tobiassen
This place is another of Svolvær's fine little galleries that show and sell paintings in which the Lofotons are the focus.