Vardøhus Fortress

Built in the remote Arctic town of Vardø, Vardøhus Fortress is Norway’s easternmost and northernmost stronghold. Originally constructed in the 1300s, the fortress played a key role in defending Norway’s borders, particularly against Russian expansion.

However, its history is not only military—Vardøhus Fortress was also linked to one of the darkest chapters in Scandinavian history: the Vardø witch trials. In the 1600s, accused witches were imprisoned within its cold stone walls before being taken to Steilneset, where they were burned at the stake. Some visitors claim that the restless spirits of these victims still linger in the fortress.

Today, Vardøhus remains a functioning military installation, though it is largely ceremonial. Visitors can explore its star-shaped fortifications, see the king’s pine tree (planted centuries ago in defiance of the harsh Arctic climate), and experience the eerie silence of this isolated, windswept fortress.