NARVIK, NORWAY

Narvik was certainly one of the more fasinating cities I visited on my 30 day Norway/Iceland trip last month. The city of Narvik is located on the shores of the Ofotfjorden Fjord, 120 miles North of the Arctic Circle. The 2023 population is 21,530. 

The town's history began in 1870, when the Swedish government built a railway to Narvik in order to use its ice-free harbor to export iron ore. Although it's one of the most northernmost towns in the world, the influence of the Gulf Stream makes the climate less severe than you would expect, plus you can experience the midnight sun from late May until late July.  As my visit was June 9, 2023 I was able to experience this phenomenon first hand.   

Narvik iron ore factory loading station

Now for a little history lesson.  Norway is the world's top producer of iron ore and Narvik, which was founded in 1902, is a tiny coastal port on the Norwegian Sea that held the key to ore distribution during the war.

 

Hitler and the Third Reich were dependent upon ore they secured from the ice-free harbor of Narvik to build a large portion of its arsenal after the start of the war in 1939. It became in the best interest of the British, and the Allied Forces, to cut off that supply to Hitler and make it difficult for the regime to manufacture weapons.

 

It was during the time of this very dangerous and deadly situation that Narvik, a small little town of less than 10,000 people, with its refineries and port outlet, emerged as a pivotal stronghold between the two powers, forcing Norway to give up its neutrality.

 

In preparation for my stop in this historic place, I watched the movie  “Narvik” . It portrays the tale of the Narvik people and the events that surrounded the 1940 Battle of Narvik, which is still the largest battle ever fought on Norwegian soil and is regarded as Hitler's first loss of World War II. 

 

In the film's epilogue, it indicated that there were 85,000 casualties, 65 boats sunk, and 86 planes shot down over the span of the battle that lasted 62 days. Many think that WWII was a battle fought primarily between Germany and the Allied Forces of the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, but even neutral countries like Norway could not avoid the catastrophic collateral damage caused by Hitler.   The forces did retake control of Narvik and the surrounding mountains, dealing Hitler his first loss, but it came at a heavy price.

 

I sailed into Narvik aboard the Norwegian Star on Friday June 9, 2023.  We were docked by 7am and I stepped ashore at 8:15am.  Forecast for the day was high of 52 and cloudy.  My singular goal for the day was to make my way to the Narvik War Museum. 

 

Looking out the window from Norwegian Star sailing into Narvik

View from deck of Norwegian Star sailing into Narvik

 

Norwegian Star docked in Narvik

Map picked up at information booth by ship

Map picked up at information booth by ship

From the port I walked to the Havna bus stop and boarded bus #1.  This is the closest bus stop to the cruise pier.  The bus fare was 72NOK or $2.09USD for my trip.  I paid the driver using my credit card.  The tickets are time stamped and are only good for 1.5 hours.

Havna bus stop #1

Havna bus stop #1 schedule and route map

 

I then rode bus #1 to the end of the line, remaining onboard as we turned around and made our way back toward the city.  Photo capture through the window of the bus. 

 

On the return trip I by-passed the Havra stop, remaining onboard until we arrived at the city center.  Here I got off at the Radhuset bus stop, the closed to the Narvik War Museum.  

Narvik Krigsmuseum is the War Museum

 

Walking to the museum

Building that houses the museum

Admission to the Narvik War Museum is 130NOK or $12.94USD as of this writing.  Narvik is also home to the Narvik “Heritage” Museum so it can be easy to confuse the two. 

 

The Narvik War Museum doesn’t open until 10am so plan your morning accordingly. Exhibitions inside the museum include:

• The Battle of Narvik – facts wall

• The Battle of Narvik – fiction wall

• Characters in the movie “The Battle of Narvik”

• Dilemmas of War, the movie “The Battle of Narvik”

• Survey

• Czechoslovaks in Norway during the Second World War

 

At the War Museum website this link provides an excellent events timeline from April 9 – June 10^th, 1940.  This timeline outlines the events during the 62 day battle, along with some amazing photos.   If you are a history buff be sure to allow yourself plenty of time at this museum.  It was fascinating. Here's a few photos from inside the museum.  

The one thing that really stood out to me during my time here was the fact that Narvik really possesses a double personality. On one hand, the location is simply spectacular, toward the end of a beautiful fjord with mountains in every direction.  At the same time, heavy ore industry casts an ugliness to the city skyline.  

 

Narvik iron ore factory loading station

Before heading back it was time to take a short break.  I made a stop at Narvikguten Pub for a local beer.  The cost was 105NOK = $10.45USD as of this writing. 

It was now time to head back to the ship but my 1.5 hour time stamp on my bus ticket had expired making it necessary for me to purchase another ticket to get back to the cruise port.  The cost was another 72NOK or $2.09USD.  I paid the driver again using my credit card.   I was back onboard the Norwegian Star by 3pm.