Places with a story
Utvær fyr
Utvær fyr stands at the outer edge of Solund, beside the open sea north of the mouth of Sognefjorden. Its cast-iron tower and island station tell a story of navigation, wartime damage and new uses after the last lighthouse staff left.
The place1
The first light was lit on 15 September 1900 in a tall cast-iron tower. Keeper accommodation, outbuildings and a boathouse supported the station's work. Utvær's position links the light with both shipping and a longstanding fishing community, where boats waited for suitable conditions before heading out into more exposed waters.
History and local connections1
Allied aircraft damaged the tower and other station buildings in 1945. Reconstruction began in 1948, leaving a tower that differed from its earlier appearance. The lighthouse was automated in 1986 and staffing ended in 2004. Heritage protection in 1999 and the later work of Vener av Utvær connect engineering history with efforts to retain the station for visitors.
What to look for1
Look at the tower together with the surrounding settlement and sea approaches. Norsk Fyrforening records a new lighthouse museum opened on 19 June 2026, adding interpretation to the preserved station. The lighthouse also appears on Norway's fifty-kroner banknote, giving this remote place a familiar image encountered well beyond Solund.
Planning a visit1
The lighthouse association describes seasonal boat transport and hosted daytime visits. Confirm the boat crossing and current opening with the visitor organisers, since this is an exposed island destination. The station is listed as a visiting lighthouse rather than an overnight lighthouse; arrange any island accommodation separately and do not assume that the former keeper houses can be booked.
Sources
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