Iron Ore, War and Navvies
The town that grew up around the ore railway, and became a target in 1940.
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The Ofoten Line was built to carry Swedish iron ore to the ice-free harbour in Narvik, and the town grew up around it. The steam locomotive Bifrost stands by the station. The Narvik War Museum tells the story of the battles of Narvik in 1940, when the town became a target because of the ore. Narvik Museum is housed in the railway's old administration building and is about the line and the ore harbour. The walk ends at the memorial by the harbour, where the coastal defence ships Eidsvold and Norge were sunk on 9 April 1940.
The stops
- 1
The steam locomotive Bifrost
The steam locomotive is on display at the station where the Ofoten Line ends.
- 2
Narvik War Museum
A museum about the battles of Narvik in 1940 and the occupation.
- 3
Narvik kirke
The town church from the 1920s, on a hill above the centre.
- 4
Narvik Museum
The museum is in the railway's administration building from 1902 and covers the Ofoten Line, the ore and the town.
- 5
Memorial to 9 April 1940
A memorial by the harbour, with a view over the ore terminal.
About the trip
- Where
- Narvik
- Getting around
- On foot
- Time
- 2 h 30 min
- Distance
- 4.1 km
- Stops
- 5
- Themes
- History
Practical
- Start
- Narvik station, the end of the Ofoten Line from Kiruna and Abisko. The walk also suits those arriving on the night train from Stockholm.
- Finish
- Narvik station, about 2 km from the harbour.
- Toilets
- At the War Museum (accessible), at the station and in cafés in the centre.
- Accessibility
- Paved streets with hills in the centre. The War Museum has a lift between floors.