Every design for Svolvær

Svolvær sits on the island of Austvågøya, looking out over the Vestfjorden, with peaks such as Svolværgeita and Fløya above the town. It is the largest settlement in Lofoten, and the harbour sets the rhythm of the day: the Hurtigruten calls daily, the express boat leaves for Bodø, and flights from the airport at Helle link the islands to Bodø and Oslo.

What makes Svolvær different is its mix of fish and art. The winter cod fisheries have been the backbone of the town for generations, and its old coat of arms is a silver cod between two wavy lines on blue. Yet Vågan is also one of the most important artists' municipalities in Northern Norway, with Nordnorsk Kunstnersenter here in town. Svolvær has its rorbu cabins at Rorbuanlegget Svolvær Havn, the Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum and the Magic Ice Bar Svolvær, while Vågakallen keeps watch from between Kabelvåg and Henningsvær.

For anyone who grew up here, the map is the walk home from the quay with Svolværgeita overhead, the peak you have looked up at every single day.