Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(adult/child Nkr50/25; 10am-6pm mid-Jun-mid-Aug, 11am-3.30pm Mon-Fri rest
of yr)
What's called collectively the Norwegian Fishing Village Museum is in fact a fair
proportionofthishamlet:14ofÅ's19th-centuryboathouses,storehouses,fishingcottages,
farmhouses and commercial buildings. Highlights (pick up a pamphlet in English at recep-
tion) include Europe's oldest cod-liver oil factory, where you'll be treated to a taste of the
waresandcanpickupabottletostaveoffthosewintersniffles;thesmithy,whostillmakes
cod-liver oil lamps; the still-functioning bakery, established in 1844; the old
rorbu
with
period furnishings; and a couple of traditional Lofoten fishing boats.
Lofoten Tørrfiskmuseum
FOLK MUSEUM
(adult/child Nkr50/30; 11am-4pm or 5pm Jun-Aug)
The Lofoten Stockfish Museum
is housed in a former fish warehouse. You'll be bowled over by Steinar Larsen, its enthu-
siastic, polyglot owner, who meets and greets every visitor. This personal collection, a pas-
sionate hobby of his, illustrates well Lofoten's traditional mainstay: the catching and dry-
ing of cod for export, particularly to Italy. Displays, artefacts and a DVD take you through
theprocess,fromhauling thefishoutoftheseathroughdrying,gradingandsortingtodes-
patch.
Moskenesstraumen Strait
SEASCAPE
Beyond the campground at the southern limit of Å, there's an excellent hillside view of
Værøy island, across the waters. The mighty
maelstroms
created by tidal flows between
the two islands were first described 2000 years ago by Pytheas and later appeared as fear-
some adversaries on fanciful early sea charts. They also inspired tales of maritime peril by
Jules Verne and Edgar Allan Poe (seas 'lashed into ungovernable fury' was how he quali-
fied them). They're still said to be among the world's most dangerous waters. This formid-
ableexpanseisexceptionallyrichinfishandattractslargenumbersofseabirdsandmarine
mammals.
Sleeping & Eating
Å-Hamna Rorbuer & Vandrerhjem
HOSTEL, CABINS €
( 76 09 12 11;
www.lofotenferie.com
;
hostel s/d/t/q Nkr300/400/540/720; 4-8-bed
rorbuer with bathroom Nkr800-1200)
Sleepsimpleorsleepinmorecomfort;eitherway,
this is an attractive choice. Newly affiliated to Hostelling International, it has dorms above
the Stockfish Museum and in a quiet villa, set in its garden. For more space and privacy,
