Viking Magazine - Jul/Aug 2023 - 15

This stretch across eastern Norway harbors some of
the country's greatest natural treasures, from its oldest
established national park to peaks rising as high as
6,000 feet. Peer toward the sky as you wind along
the edges of the Rondane mountains, which contain
Rondeslottet, or " the castle of Rondane, " one of the
tallest summits in Norway. Rondane National Park,
established in 1962, is a great spot to experience the
raw beauty of eastern Norway, and maybe even a
glimpse of a moose or herd of wild reindeer. As you
drive, you'll experience the mingling colors of the sun
refl ecting off snow-capped peaks, creating a glow that
is unique to the area. It's no wonder Norwegian artist
Harald Sohlberg created his most famous painting,
" Winter Night in the Mountains, " based on the stunning
beauty of Rondane.
RONDANE ROAD TRIP STATS:
47 miles
2,297-3,477 feet above sea level
STEP INTO
SOHLBERG'S
WINTER
NIGHT IN THE
MOUNTAINS "
Glimpse the exact
viewpoint that
inspired Harald
Sohlberg's famous
painting at the
Sohlbergplassen
lookout over
Antsjøen lake.
HAMNINGBERG
Take a drive to the end of the world-or to the end of
Europe, at least. Stretching from the coastal countryside
of Nesseby to the abandoned northern village of
Hamningberg, a drive along the Varanger peninsula is
a truly magical plunge into Arctic Norway. Along your
journey, catch a glimpse of jagged snowcapped peaks,
frosted birchwood forests, rare species of Arctic birds
and even herds of reindeer crossing the winding roads.
Hugging the glistening shores of the Barents Sea, watch
the ocean meet the sky as you meander through this
northern landscape. If you're lucky, you might even see
vibrant lights dancing in between-be it the midnight
sun of the summer or the northern lights of winter.
This route provides multiple rest stops with bird
watching hideouts, where you'll have the chance to
glimpse extremely rare bird species in their natural
habitats. Varanger is one of the only places in the
world where you can easily view such Arctic birds like
the Steller's Eider, which are otherwise only found in
less accessible areas of Siberia and Canada.
The easternmost fjord in Norway, Varangerfjord
has proximity to both Russia and Finland, making it
a culturally diverse area that is deeply steeped in the
traditions of the Sámi-the Indigenous people of
Scandinavia. This rich cultural signifi cance has been
@sonsofnorway
well-preserved and will shine through in the fascinating
historical land markers and monuments scattered
throughout your drive, including the Sámi Museum
in Varangerbotn.
VARANGER ROAD TRIP STATS:
100 miles
0-403 feet above sea level
Jul/Aug 2023
15
PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT): NATALIA KURZOVA/ADOBE; INGE KNOFF/FLICKR; CHRISTIAN ROTH
CHRISTENSEN/VISIT NORWAY; MARTIN PELANEK/ADOBE; MICHAEL PRIESCH/ADOBE; SAMUEL TAIPALE/VISIT NORWAY
Rondane
Varanger

Viking Magazine - Jul/Aug 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Viking Magazine - Jul/Aug 2023