Sør-Varanger Museum


It's worth a stop at the Strand branch of the Sør-Varanger Museum, which preserves Norway's oldest public boarding school and illustrates the region's ethnic mix. Visit, too, the timber-built Svanvik chapel dating from 1934, and a couple of 19th-century farms, Bjørklund and Nordre Namdalen.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Høyde 96

0.36 MILES

The Cold War lookout tower Høyde 96 offers a view eastward to the bleak Russian mining town of Nikel.

2. Gabba Reindeer & Husky Park

15.57 MILES

This may not be so much of a treat for the children if you've been driving in Eastern Finnmark and have stopped to relate to communing roadside reindeer…

3. Grenselandsmuseet

18.04 MILES

This well-presented frontier museum, 1km from Kirkenes centre, illustrates the geography and culture of the border region, with special displays on WWII…

5. Andersgrotta

18.6 MILES

Drop down the steep stairs of Andersgrotta into this cave that once served as an air-raid shelter and bunker as wave upon wave of Russian bombers sought…

6. Russian Monument

18.66 MILES

Located up a short hill, this statue is dedicated to the Red Army troops who liberated the town in 1944.

7. Bear Sculptures

18.68 MILES

Outside the Russian consulate, there are two engaging little sculptures of a bear mounting – in every sense of the word, it would appear – a lamp-post.