BODO AND SURROUNDINGS

38,000 inhabitants

Brief City History

Established in 1816, Bodo had only 200 inhabitants for its first 20-30 years. The arrival of herring off the coast in 1860, and its presence for the next 20 years caused the town to grow rapidly and extensive industry developed. By the time the herring stocks were exhausted, the town had established itself and had developed more independent industries. The Coastal Voyage ships and freight traffic became of great importance to the town. It was not until just before World War II that Bodo became accessible by road from the south, although the road over the mountains remained closed during the winter until as recently as the 1980s. An air service was introduced after World War II, making the town a major communications centers. The North Norway Line, Nordlandsbanen, from the south, was also built. During the German invasion in April-May 1940 German planes destroyed 2/3 of the town’s buildings and 3,700 people lost their homes. The town was rebuilt and its magnificent and distinctive cathedral was completed in 1956.

DESTINATION BODO

Address: Sjogata 21, Tel.: 75 52 60 00, Fax: 75 52 21 77

Opening Hours:
June 1-August 31: Monday-Friday 9am-8.30pm, Saturdays 10am-4pm, 6pm-8pm,
Sundays 12pm-4pm, 6pm-8pm
September 1-May 31: Daily 9am-4pm

MUSEUMS AND SIGHTS

The Norwegian Aviation Museum
Address: Located on Olav V gate, close to the sports center Nordlandshallen, Tel.: 75 50 78 50, Fax: 75 50 78 51

The museum provides visitors with a comprehensive and interesting insight into the history of Norwegian civil and military aviation. Inside the building, which is shaped like and enormous propeller, you can embark on an exciting journey through the relevant chapters of modern Norwegian history. You can follow the technical developments that have led to today’s situation, when most of us take flying for granted.

Opening Hours:
June 15-August 15: Monday-Friday 10am-8pm, Saturdays 10am-5pm, Sundays 10am-8pm
August 16-June 14: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10am-4pm, Thursdays 10am-7pm, Saturdays 11am-5pm, Sundays 11am-6pm

Saltstraumen
Location: 33 kilometers from Bodo city center.

Saltstraumen is the strongest maelstrom in the world and a renowned eldorado for angling enthusiasts. Table of high and low tides shows when the current is at its strongest.

Season: All year

Saltstraumen Adventure Centre
Location: 33 kilometers from Bodo city center, Tel.: 75 56 06 55, Fax: 75 56 06 56

The Adventure Centre is set in magnificent scenery on the shore of the world’s strongest tidal current. Here, you’ll discover the fascinating 10,000-year history of the area in an active and exciting way, from when the first human beings emerged after the Ice Age through the Iron Age, the Viking Age and up to present day. This, together with the advanced multimedia show, provides you with an insight into the myths, perils and local fauna in the Saltstraumen. Outdoors seal pond, where the seals are feed all year at 4pm, and an aquarium with local species of fish are also available.

Opening Hours:
May 1-June 30 & August 16-August 31: 10am-6pm
July 1-August 15: Daily 9am-8pm
September 1-September 30: Saturdays and Sundays 12pm-6pm

Old Kjerringoy Trading Post
Location: 40 kilometers north of Bodo, involves a 10 minute ferry trip, Tel.: 75 51 12 57, Fax: 75 51 11 67

The Trading Post is set in idyllic surroundings to the north of Bodo. It’s one of the country’s most important architectural monuments from the 1800’s, comprising 15 antique buildings in a unique environment. Here, you can go for a walk the garden, have a peek into the warehouse, the storehouse or the bakery, and do some shopping in the general store. Or you can take part in a guided tour of the manor and admire its more or less intact interior furnishings. Kjerringoy provided Knut Hamsun with inspiration for many of his milieu portrayals, and several film versions of his books have been shot at the trading post.

Opening Hours:
May 22-June 25 & August 2-August 22: Daily 12pm-5pm
June 26-August 1: Daily 11am-7pm

The Viewpoint
Location: 3 kilometers from Bodo city center.

Mount Ronvikfjellet (150 meters above sea level) provides the best conditions for viewing the Midnight Sun. On a clear day you also have a spectacular view of Bodo and the surrounding isles and skerries, with the mountain wall of the Lofoten Islands in the distance.

The Nordland County Museum
Address: Prinsens Gate 116, Tel.: 75 52 16 40, Fax: 75 52 58 05

The museum is housed in one of the oldest buildings in Bodo city center and contains exhibitions on the more recent culture history of the region. Fish and fishing gear are central themes. An exhibition covering the Sami settlement in the region, as well as a unique exhibition show casing silver treasures from North Norway’s most significant Iron Age treasure find is also available.

Opening Hours:
June-August: Monday-Friday 9am-3pm, Saturdays 10am-3pm, Sundays 12pm-3pm
Rest of the year: Monday-Friday 9am-3pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12pm-3pm

The Old Farm – Lop Gamle Gard
Location: 8 kilometers north of Bodo, Tel.: 75 51 05 64

From 1651 to 1837 the farm was owned by a government official. The manor house is particularly well worth a visit. It has been restored and equipped with the original furnishings. Art exhibits are frequent. The café is open during the summer