Perched on a tiny skerry off Ørlandet, a deep red, octagonal lighthouse shines across a busy shipping lane at Bjungfjord. This distinctive seamark is the Kjeungskjær lighthouse, built in 1880. The 20-metre high structure helps fishermen and sea travellers stay on course as they approach the point where the Trondheim Fjord (Trondheimsfjord) meets the North Sea nearby.

Weathering the storm

The Trøndelag Region is known for its highly unpredictable weather. At Ørlandet, the sea can turn stormy before you even noticed it was calm. As such, the stone-built lighthouse and its cast-iron lantern room were built to withstand all conditions. A century later, the original French-built Fresnel lenses that project the light from the lantern are still in operation.

Originally, the lighthouse was permanently manned, as rough weather made daily travel to the mainland impossible. The lighthouse keeper lived here. In some cases, a private teacher also lived in the lighthouse to educate the keeper’s children. The last permanent lighthouse keeper left Kjeungskjær in 1987, when it was automated. Since then, the Kjeungen Lighthouse Association has taken over and restored the interior of the five-story building.

Visit or stay for a while

The lighthouse is open for guests to tour, enjoy its magical views and get close to the abundant birdlife. Visitors who wish to stay longer can even rent the lighthouse keeper's apartment, which has enough room for several people.

Hurtigruten passes Kjeungskjær lighthouse on its way between the ports of Trondheim and Rørvik.