Lighthouses of Norway: Trondheim Area

This page lists lighthouses of the Trondheim region -- the Trøndelag -- in northwestern Norway. This region includes two Norwegian counties: Sør-Trøndelag and Nord-Trøndelag.

Although it has always been considered a separate realm, Norway has only been independent since 1905; it was ruled by the Danish king until 1814 and then by the Swedish king until the Norwegian parliament arranged a peaceful separation of the two kingdoms.

In Norway a lighthouse is simply called a fyr (fire); a smaller beacon is called a lykt (light) . Aids to navigation are maintained by the Kystverket (Coast Directorate), an agency of the Fiskeri og Kystdepartementet (Fisheries and Coast Department).

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. NF numbers are from the Norsk Fyrliste. Admiralty numbers are from volume L of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 115.

General Sources

Miljøstatus i Norge: Fyrstasjoner

Information on Norwegian lighthouses, with photos, posted by the Culture Ministry. Text in Norwegian.

Norwegian Lighthouse Association (Norsk Fyrhistorisk Forening)

With pages in both Norwegian and English, the Association's site provides photos and information on selected lighthouses. For photos and descriptions, see the lighthouse index page.

Lighthouse Pages from Anke and Jens - Norway

Excellent photos of more than 60 Norwegian lighthouses.

Leuchttürme an der norwegischen Küste

Photos posted by Bernd Claußen.

Norwegische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten

Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.

Liste over Norske Fyr

From Norwegian Wikipedia, a handy list of Norwegian light stations with their dates of establishment.

Sula Fyr, September 2007
Creative Commons photo by Sigurd Gartmann

Lighthouses of Sør-Trøndelag County

Hitra Lighthouses
Note: Hitra is a large island lying in the mouth of the Trondheimsfjord. The island has a population of about 4000 and is readily accessible by ferries.
Flesa: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft)); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting three times every 10 s. Lantern and gallery mounted on a stone beacon. No photo available. This light is an important guide for ships approaching Trondheim from the Norwegian Sea. Flesa is a small island northeast of the eastern tip of Hitra and about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) due east of the eastern tip of the island of Fjellværøy. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. NF-4106; Admiralty L1192; NGA 7112.
Ilsøyklubben: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8.5 m (28 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 5 m (17 ft) concrete post with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. A stone daybeacon stands near the light. Located on an island off the northeastern tip of Hitra. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-4455; Admiralty L1385.6; NGA 7884.
Uthaug Area and Lower Trondheimfjord Lighthouses * [Rødberg Fog Signal]: 1919. Inactive since 1986. Approx. 7 m (23 ft) square wood fog bell tower; the original bell is intact. Tower painted white. A lighthouse was built at this location in 1881 but deactivated in 1902. It does not survive. A small light on a 5 m (16 ft) tripod is now displayed on the point. Located on a point of land on the north side of the Trondheimfjord about 25 km (15 mi) west of Trondheim. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed.
Valsholmflua: 1908. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 10 m (33 ft) tripod-supported tower with lantern, double gallery, and enclosed watch room. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. The Kystverket has a photo. Located on a shoal about 5 km (3 mi) north of Uthaug. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-4758; Admiralty L1585; NGA 8250.
Trondheim Area Lighthouses
* Munkholmen (3): Date unknown (station established 1798). Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. Lantern mounted on the wall of a 17th century fort. Lantern painted white with a red roof. Munkhomen is an island in the Trondheimfjord about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) northwest of the Trondheim waterfront; the island is seen in Andreas Solberg's photo at right. A 2007 closeup is available, Owen Morgan has a good photo, the Munkholmens Venner (Friends of Munkholmen) web site has a small photo (2/3 of the way down the page), and Google has a satellite view. The fort, built in the late 17th century, served for many years as a prison. Now it is a city park, with a museum and restaurant. The Lilletorget Hotel and Conference Center operates a passenger ferry and offers tours of the island. Located on the west side of the fort. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-167; NF-4159; Admiralty L1232; NGA 7200.
Skansen: 1986 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 9.5 m (31 ft); two continuous green lights, one above the other. 11 m (36 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. Roger Midtstraum has posted a great photo, Arve Johnsen also has a photo, a third photo shows how narrow the harbor entrance is, and Google has a satellite view. Inexplicably, NGA lists this lighthouse as a "mast." Located at the west end of a detached breakwater, marking the west entrance to the commercial harbor on the west side of Trondheim. Accessible only by boat, but there are excellent views from shore. Site and tower closed. ARLHS NOR-419; NF-4186; Admiralty L1256; NGA 7228.
Frøya Lighthouses
Note: Frøya is an island north of Hitra, and also a municipality that includes an archipelago of islands scattered to the northeast well off the mainland coast. Several major lighthouses are located on these islands. The island of Frøya is accessible by ferry, but the smaller islands require private boat transportation.
Mauøy (Måøya): 1900. Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. Approx. 7 m (23 ft) square pyramidal stone tower with lantern and gallery. Lantern painted white with a red roof. Located on the southern point of Mauøy, an island in the Mausund group, about 400 m (1/4 mi) east of Kåvik. Site status unknown, but probably open. NF-4632; Admiralty L1496; NGA 8012.
Sula (3): 1909 (daybeacon established 1793). Active; focal plane 43 m (141 ft); three white flashes every 30 s. 13 m (43 ft) octagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. Original 2° Fresnel lens in use. Keeper's house, shop, boathouse and other light station buildings. Sigurd Gartmann's photo is at the top of this page, another good 2007 photo is available, Geir Ole Søreng has a 2008 photo, Wikipedia has a Norwegian page with a good photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. This station is an important landfall light for the Trondheim area. Sula-Frøya Kommune has posted a short history in English; the first beacon was replaced in 1804, but neither of these early beacons carried a light. In 2005 the light station was purchased by a foundation. Accommodations at the station are reported to be available. Located on a small island in the Norwegian Sea about 8 km (5 mi) north of Frøya. Accessible only by boat. Owner/site manager: Stiftelsen Sula Fyr. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-043; NF-4650; Admiralty L1504; NGA 8032.
Gjæsingen (Gjesingen): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 5 m (17 ft) lantern and gallery mounted on a base of unknown type. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof painted red. The lighthouse appears in the center of a distant view of the town. Gjesingen is a populated island about 12 km (7.5 mi) east northeast of Mausand. Located at the southern tip of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-4685; Admiralty L1528; NGA 8120.
Finnvær (1): 1912. Inactive since 1985. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) square cylindrical wood tower rising from a 2-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white, lantern red. Located on a small island in the Norwegian Sea about 27 km (16 mi) northeast of Mausund. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-080.
Bjugn, Roan, and Osen Lighthouses
Tarva (2): 1956 (station established 1894). Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); two flashes every 10 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 8 m (26 ft) round aluminum lantern mounted on the stone foundation of the former lighthouse. The original structure was a 1-1/2 story keeper's house with a lantern attached at ground level. Located on Hegresteinen, a small island near the west end of Husøy, about 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of Uthaug. Site status unknown. NF-4740; Admiralty L1570; NGA 8216.
Asenvågøy (Asen): 1921. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 14 m (46 ft) square cylindrical wood tower, attached to a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery red. Geir Ole Søreng has a good photo, and additional photos are available. The lighthouse is available for meetings, tours, and overnight stays. Located atop a small island in the Norwegian Sea about 6 km (3.5 mi) northwest of Lysøysund. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Stiftelsen Frohavet Lysøysund Kystkultursenter. ARLHS NOR-190; NF-4786; Admiralty L1608; NGA 8304.
Stokkneset: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 7 m (23 ft) square tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof painted red. A photo of the light shows the Stokksund Bridge in the background. Located on a small island off the eastern tip of the island of Stokkøya. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-421; NF-4842; Admiralty L1660; NGA 8392.
Skjærvikpynten: Date unknown (station established 1892). Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 6 m (20 ft) lantern mounted on four straight piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof, piles black. A photo is available. Located at the narrowest point of the Stokksund about 600 m (3/8 mi) northwest of the Stokkneset light. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-420; NF-4844; Admiralty L1664; NGA 8400.
Hoyholmen: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); quick-flashing green light. 4 m (13 ft) lantern and gallery on a stone base. Lantern painted white with a red roof. A photo (a little over halfway down the page) shows this light on the right, opposite the Stokkneset Light on the left. Site status unknown. NF-4840; Admiralty L1659; NGA 8396.
* Roan: 1915. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 3 s on, 3 s off. Lantern and gallery mounted directly atop a rocky cliff. Lighthouse painted white. Kai Krog Halse has a photo. Located on a promontory on the north side of the entrance to Roan. Site open, tower closed. NF-4860; Admiralty L1684; NGA 8440.

Lighthouses of Nord-Trøndelag County

Lighthouses above Trondheim
Note: The fjords east of Trondheim extend across the county border into Nord-Trøndelag.
Saltøy: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 7 m (23 ft) concrete post light with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. Helene Kristiansen has a fine photo. Located on a rocky reef projecting into a branch of the Trondheimsfjord about 25 km (15 mi) east of Trondheim. Site open, tower closed. NF-4202; Admiralty L1271; NGA 7260.
Tautra: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal cast iron lantern mounted on a concrete pad. Lantern painted white, roof red. A closeup photo is available. Tautra is an island in the entrance to the upper Trondheimsfjord, about 15 km (9 m) northeast of Trondheim. Site of a 13th century monastery, Tautra is accessible by bridge. Located on a promontory on the north side of the island. Site status unknown. NF-4203; Admiralty L1274; NGA 7268.
Høsholmene: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13.5 m (44 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern mounted on a concrete pad. Lantern painted white, roof red. A closeup photo is available. Located at the tip of a rocky peninsula on the east side of the Trondheimsfjord, about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Straumen. Site open, tower closed. NF-4220; Admiralty L1294; NGA 7300.
Flatanger Area Lighthouses
Villa: 1839. Inactive since 1890. 15 m (49 ft) hexagonal cylindrical granite tower with watch room and gallery. The tower is unpainted stone. Lars Forseth has a photo, and another photo is available. This lighthouse was designed to burn coal, and did so until it was converted to oil in 1859. Located on an island off Flatanger. Accessible only by boat. Site open, and it is probably possible to climb the tower as well. ARLHS NOR-276.
Ellingsråsa (Ellingråsa): 1888. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 4 s on, 2 s off. 10 m (33 ft) 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house with lantern. The house is painted white. Another article has a photo showing part of the building. The station was purchased by Flatanger Kommune in 2005. Located on the north coast of Byørøy, marking the passage between that island and Ellingen, about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of Lauvsnes. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NOR-071; NF-5091; Admiralty L1750; NGA 8672.
Vordsund (2): Date unknown (station established 1898). Active; focal plane about 14 m (46 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 4 m (13 ft) lantern, painted white with a red roof. Petter Hamnes has a photo. Near the lighthouse is an old stone beacon, painted white on one side and black with a white horizontal band on the other. This might be the 1898 light, but more likely it is an even older daybeacon. Located on a small island just off a promontory near Utvorda. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-5099; Admiralty L1758; NGA 8688.
Flottra: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16.5 m (54 ft); flash every 5 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Lantern painted white with a red roof. Petter Hamnes has a distant photo. Located on a small island about 6.5 km (4 mi) northeast of Utvorda. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-5105; Admiralty L1764; NGA 8692.
Vikna and Leka Area Lighthouses
Gjæslingan (Gjeslingan): 1877. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white flash every 10 s; also, continuous red and green lights are shown at 19 m (62 ft) to guide ships around nearby rocks. 24 m (79 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, incorporating keeper's quarters, mounted on a round stone base. Entire lighthouse painted red. A 4-story white concrete building was built behind the lighthouse in 1938; the building included a boat house, machine shop, and living quarters. Much of the interior of the concrete building has been destroyed by storm waves since the lighthouse was automated in 1987. A photo is available, also a closeup (about 1/5 the way down the page), and Sander Nijdam has a twilight view from the sea. Located on a small skerry in the wide mouth of the Follafjord about 15 km (9 mi) north of Lauvsnes. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS NOR-018; NF-5300; Admiralty L1846; NGA 8876.
Grinna: 1904. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 19 m (62 ft) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a round stone base. Entire lighthouse painted red. A small keeper's house, also mounted on a tall stone base, stands next to the tower. Geir Ole Søreng has a view southward from the sea also showing the Gjæslingan lighthouse in the distance. Located on a small skerry about 6 km (3.7 mi) north northeast of the Gjeslingan lighthouse in the mouth of the Follafjord. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS NOR-099; NF-5295; Admiralty L1842; NGA 8872.
Heimvær (Heimværet): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 6 m (20 ft) square pyramidal tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. No photo available. Located at the harbor entrance of Heimvær, on a small island about 16 km (10 mi) southwest of Rørvik. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-5315; Admiralty L1854; NGA 8884.
Kvitingen: 1909. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting three times every 12 s. 5 m (17 ft) lantern and gallery mounted on four straight piles. Lantern painted white with a red roof, piles painted black. Located on a small island about 1.6 km (1 mi) west of Heimvær. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-5320; Admiralty L1858; NGA 8898.
Leknesvika (Bryggeneset): 1911. Active; focal plane about 9 m (30 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, occulting once every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery. The tower is unpainted; lantern painted white with a red roof. A photo is available. Located on a rock off the northwest coast of the island of Leka. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. NF-5660; Admiralty L1974; NGA 9208.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

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