Things to do in Norway, Norway: The Best Military Museums

Meløyvær fortress is a coastal fortress in Norway on Krøttøya in Troms. The construction was of strategic importance to NATO and northern Norway's role during the Cold War. Meløyvær fortress was the last of the fortresses with the 120 mm Bofors guns to be built in Norway. It is a complete construction, authentic and in good condition. Transportation: Speedboat Harstad - Krøttøy or Skrolsvik (Senja) - Krøttøy, 2xdaily, travel time 1h Nearest Airport - Evenes (Harstad/Narvik)

On the 9th of April 1940, German troops landed in Norway. We were at war, and the battle to avoid invasion lasted for two months. The german army reached Gudbrandsdalen 21st of April 1940 with the battle of Tretten and Gausdal. On the 25th and 26th of April, Kvam in Gudbrandsdalen became the centre of one of the most serious battles in southern Norway. During this bitter fight between German and British troops, some 70 buildings were burned to the ground and among them was the church in Kvam. Gudbrandsdalen 1940 was the first ground battle between German and British forces in WW2. The Battle of Kringen on the 26th of August 1612, involved an ambush by Norwegian peasant militia of Scottish mercenary soldiers who were on their way to enlist in the Swedish army for the Kalmar War. George Sinclair was ambushed by Norwegian militia along with 300 of his men while marching through Norway to join the army of the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus. Sinclair, riding at the head of the column and wearing a plumed helmet, was the first to fall; he was shot by Sjelstad, a Norwegian militiaman. The officers, including the expedition leader, Colonel Ramsey, were ransomed while the remaining 15 survivors were conscripted into the Danish army. These are the historic events on which the Gudbrandsdal War Memorial Exhibition is based. The exhibition opened on the 5th of May 1995, and provides a unique insight into the acts of war, occupation and defence in Gudbrandsdalen.

The bunker was built in 1943 and was a signal station for the German Air Force. It it Bodø's largest cocrete bunker with its 2 to 2,5 meter thick walls and ceilings. Thousands of hours of restoration have made it a museum and meeting place which focuses on Luftwaffe and German communications. Guided tours can be ordered.

The museum shows the war history from Bodø and Salten with several theme exhibitions and we have a separate department that deals with the war sailors. The museum building is from the war and was a so-called "Flugleitung" which included, among other things, a fire station, meteorological office and other operational tasks in connection with the German airport.

Welcome to Kristiansand Kannmuseum where the worlds second largest land based canon can be seen. The area around the canon is good for hiking. Please see website for opening hours. We are now closed for the season.