The history of Varanger
Did you know that the Varanger Peninsula has a completely unique history?
The history of the Varanger Peninsula is not the most famous, but definitely worth knowing. The Varanger Peninsula is the perfect destination for those of you who are interested in history. Here you can take a deep dive into a part of the story that is not too well known.
The history here dates back to the Old Stone Age, and you can find traces of early settlement along the fjord. Varanger also has a gloomy history during the witch trials in the 17th century and until the beginning of the 18th century.
Furthermore, Varanger with its proximity to the Soviet Union experienced dramatic years during World War II and remnants of this can be found along the entire fjord. Large parts of Varanger were exposed to the scorched earth tactics during the German retreat in 1944.
Not to forget the Sami people who have lived in Varanger for generations, to enrich the history here. Finnish immigration has also left its mark, and contributed to the rich cultural life we see in today's society. Here you can find traces of ancient settlement from the Stone Age, wild reindeer hunting, graves, shorelines, war history and much more.
Our relationship to history
With a background in the study of Northern Norwegian history and archeology, as well as a great interest in history, owner Jan Eilif Jankila knows most of what is worth knowing about history here in Varanger. He likes to share what he can over a cup of coffee in the yard. In return, we have heard many of our guests' experiences here in Varanger, which we greatly appreciate. Thank you for sharing, it gives us the opportunity to learn something new.
According to the owner of the yard, we can all read up on parts of the story, but the living story told by people who have lived for a while is both interesting and well worth listening to. Since childhood, he himself has been interested in hearing people born in the early 20th century and up to our time tell about their experiences and experiences through a long life.
Follow along for more information, or check the Varanger museum's pages here .