Værøy Lighthouse

Værøy Lighthouse (Norwegian: Værøy fyr) stands on the southeastern point of the island of Værøya in Nordland county, Norway, close to the village of Sørland. It is one of the lights guarding the approach to the island's harbour, at the southern end of the Lofoten archipelago.

Where is Værøy Lighthouse?

The station sits on a small peninsula southeast of Sørland, near the bay of Røssnesvågen. Værøya belongs to Værøy Municipality in Nordland, northern Norway. The coordinates are roughly 67.65° N, 12.72° E.

How was the lighthouse built?

The Norwegian parliament funded the project in its 1879 budget. The station was built the following year and first lit on 20 October 1880. It was designed as a family station: besides the tower there was a keeper's house, outbuildings and a boathouse. The keeper and family lived here year-round, and life on an exposed headland meant being largely self-sufficient.

How did it change over time?

In 1905 the tower was raised and fitted with a fourth-order lantern, the size used at smaller coastal stations. In 1957 the station was connected to the local power grid, with diesel generators kept as backup. In 1984 the lighthouse was automated and no longer needed a resident crew.

Is the lighthouse still in use?

Sources differ on when it stopped working. English Wikipedia says it has not been used since 2008, while the Norwegian encyclopedia SNL says it was replaced by a new light in 2007. According to SNL the buildings stood empty until 2019, when they were restored with a view to opening the lighthouse to visitors. Check current access information before you go, as the status of the site may change.

Where does the name come from?

The name comes from the island. Its first element is linked to the Old Norse word for weather, a fitting origin for a place open to the wind and waves of the Norwegian Sea.

Frequently asked questions

When was Værøy Lighthouse built? The station was built in 1880 and first lit on 20 October of that year.

Is the lighthouse automated? Yes, it was automated in 1984. No resident keeper has lived here since.

Can you visit the lighthouse? The site was restored in 2019 with the aim of opening it to visitors. Current hours and access rules are best confirmed locally.

Where exactly is it? On the southeastern point of Værøya island, near the village of Sørland in Værøy Municipality.