SB Day 7: Vardø … Vardøhus Festning

The fortress Mui headed off to explore while I was at Steilneset Minnesed is considered the northernmost such facility in the world. Like me, he had to walk at a hard clip to get to the fortress as quickly as possible to make the most of his limited time there.

The first fortification to stand at the site is thought to have been built in 1307 — some historians say 1330 — by King Haakon V Magnusson when there was a conflict with the Republic of Novgorod. The current fortress, shaped like an 8-pointed star, is not nearly as old. It dates back to 1738. The buildings within the fortifications were built later … in 1825.

The fortress lost its military significance in the 1900s, but was maintained as an operating facility until 1950. Today it is a “flag/salute fortress … meaning that the flag flies over the fortress every day, and canons fire salutes on designated holidays as well as on royal birthdays.

When we met up at the ship again, Mui said that he enjoyed the fortress … even went outside to the moat and climbed the defensive wall for some photos.

A rushed but very enjoyable port of call … all the more so because the sun was shining bright.Read more