Jomfruland Lighthouse

Jomfruland Lighthouse (Jomfruland fyr) stands on the island of Jomfruland in Kragerø Municipality, Telemark, Norway. It is one of three lighthouses around Kragerø and the only one of them with two towers side by side: an older brick tower and a younger cast-iron one. The island lies off Norway's southern coast, and the lighthouse is its best-known landmark.

What does the lighthouse look like?

The station has two towers. The first, built of brick, was lit in 1839 and is about 22 metres tall. The second, made of cast iron, dates from the late 1930s. English Wikipedia gives 1939, while Norwegian local sources say 1938, so "late 1930s" is the safe description. The iron tower is about 31 metres high and uses a second-order Fresnel lens, a large multi-ringed lens that was once standard in coastal lighthouses.

Is the old tower still standing?

Yes. The 1839 brick tower survives, although it no longer has a lantern and no longer serves as a navigation light. The newer iron tower took over that role. As a result, one site shows two chapters of Norwegian maritime signalling: nineteenth-century brickwork and an interwar metal structure.

What is the history of the station?

For decades the lighthouse was staffed. It was automated and the permanent crew withdrawn in 1991. The station is protected as a cultural monument. Local sources also note that the Decca navigation system was built out on the island from 1965, which shows how long Jomfruland has mattered for shipping in this area.

How do I tell it apart from other lighthouses in Kragerø?

Kragerø has three lighthouses: Jomfruland, Strømtangen and Stavseng. The latter two were lit on 22 October 1874 and work as a range pair, so they are a different kind of installation. If you are looking for a tall tower with views over open sea, Jomfruland is the one.

What else is notable about the island?

Jomfruland is linked to the Norwegian painter Theodor Kittelsen, who made a series of 14 pictures of the island in 1893. According to local tradition, the lake Tårntjenna inspired his painting "Nøkken". For art lovers, that is one more reason to combine a visit to the lighthouse with a walk around the island.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Jomfruland Lighthouse? On the island of Jomfruland in Kragerø Municipality, Telemark, Norway, at roughly 58.865 N, 9.596 E.

When was it built? The brick tower was first lit in 1839, and the iron tower was built in the late 1930s (sources say 1938 or 1939).

Is it still staffed? No. The station was automated and the crew withdrawn in 1991.

How many towers does it have? Two: the 1839 brick tower, without a lantern, and the taller cast-iron tower.

Is the site protected? Yes, the station is protected as a cultural monument.