Posts | JimSketcher

In August 2026 I toured Southern Norway with the US Lighthouse Society to sketch lighthouses. I found an amenable group of pharologists, good conversation, good food, and the opportunity to do some sketching.

Thanks to Airdrie who gave me the link to Lighthouse Directory, Norway, to Thomas who gave me the link to Norsk Fyrforeing, and to Google Translate.

Map of Southern Norway

This cute little Oslo Harbor Light employs legs to get its height.

This Oslo Harbor Light is typical of several aids to navigation found along the south coast of Norway. It’s easier on the eye than its skeleton counterpart.

A pair of Channel Markers in Oslo Harbor.

#1 Aker Brygge Lighthouse stands along the main boardwalk facing the Pipevika harbor in the Aker Brygge district of Oslo. I sketched it while lunching on toast and a strawberry lemonade at Louise Restaurant just across the boardwalk from the lighthouse.

#2 Until 1892 there were only two lighthouses in Oslo Harbor—Heggholmen and Dyna. When the steamship Norway hit the Kavringen islet in 1890, there was a call for better lighting. Construction work for Kavringen Lighthouse was completed in 1892, and it was automated in 1956. On St. Hallvard’s day 15 May 2000, a time capsule was bolted into the lighthouse. It’s to be opened in 3000. St. Hallvard is the patron saint of Oslo.

#3 With a focal plane of 18’, Dyna Lighthouse occupies a small island in Oslo Harbor. First lit in 1874, it was automated in 1956 and no longer staffed. The unique venue is now used for weddings, parties and receptions.

#4 Heggholmen Lighthouse (holmen: island) was first established in 1826, but the current Swiss style structure dates from 1876. It became the first lighthouse in Norway to be electrified in 1928. The lighthouse was automated in 1959, but the keepers hung around until 1972. It is a protected cultural heritage site maintained by the Oslo Port Authority representing both historical and architectural significance.

#5 The diminutive Bygdøynes Lighthouse without even a red cap sits on a peninsula in Oslo’s harbor. It’s in good company because the Norsk Maratimt Museet, Frammuseet, Vikingskiphuset, and Kon Tiki Museet all share the same site. Tourists galore! But I could sketch it in situ using a convenient bench. All the tourists were in the museums.

#6 The first Stangholmen Lighthouse was built in 1855 and closed in 1959 when the keeper retired. The present light was constructed nearby, beginning operation when the old one closed. A third light also occupies the grounds. The old keeper's house is now owned by the municipality, and it is used as a restaurant in the summer season. Another sketch in the moment.

The automated Stangholmen Light.

And yet another Stangholmen Light. This one is typical of dozens seen along harbors and fjords along Norway’s south coast.

#7 Lyngør Lighthouse, established in 1879, features a 55’, white cylindrical concrete tower topped with a red lantern. Its light has a focal plane of 55’, and marks the entrance to Lyngørfjord. The lightstation comprises the tower, keeper's house, and an adjacent building. The site was modified in 1946 to include a fog signal.

#8 The 56’ cast iron Ytre Mokkalasset Lighthouse opened in 1888. In 1986 the light was extinguished and the lightstation shutdown. However, it’s been relit! It will continue to guide seafarers through the islets and skerries outside Tvedestrand. This was the first of many sketches from my phone.

#9 Store Torungen Lighthouse is located on the island of Store Torungen outside Arendal. A twin to the Lille Torungen Lighthouse, the original tower was built of brick; the current tower from 1914 is cast in iron. The tower is now 112’ high. Note the height of the railing at the lantern room—maybe to keep birds away.

#10 Lille Torungen Lighthouse is located on a small island outside Arendal. The station includes a 92’ brick tower, oil shed, foundations of a house, outbuildings, a boathouse and a landing, as well as traces of several gardens. The station was established in 1844 at the same time as Store Torungen and Sandvikodden lighthouses. Lille and Store Torungen were built as twins. Lille Torungen was closed in 1914 and replaced by a small lighthouse because lighthouse technology had by this time made it unnecessary to have two lighthouses.

Bestemor Light (Grandmother) provided a respite. I could sketch from a park bench up close and personal.

#11 Oksøy lighthouse was built at the same time as Odderøya lighthouse to make it as easy as possible to enter the relatively narrow passage through the Østergapet toward Kristiansand. The first lighthouse was built of brick and was 52’ high. It was equipped with a second order Fresnel Lens—the first in Norway. Interesting that Joseph François Oscar himself, later known as King Oscar I of Sweden (which ruled Norway at the time), came to visit in 1833.

The first lighthouse keeper on Oksøy, Cornelius Berg, was responsible for the lighthouse from 1832 to 1870. During that period, he had a total of 25 children, albeit with two wives sequentially.

#12 The 25’ Odderøya Lighthouse was automated in 1984. This harbour lighthouse has been in operation since 1832 when it was established as an aid to timber merchants. Ten lighthouse keepers served at the lighthouse until 1984. Then the modern lighthouse lantern in front of the lighthouse was erected, and that was the end—Odderøya Lighthouse was automated and depopulated. Today, the lighthouse is owned by Agder County Municipality. In 2018, the Vest-Agder Museum entered into a contract to rent and operate the main building.

In 1641, King Christian IV decided that the Sørland coast needed a proper town. The story goes that Christian IV stepped ashore on the flat, uninhabited sandbar at the mouth of the Otra River and proclaimed that the city should be located here. It is also said that he used his walking stick to draw the city plan in the sand, seven streets that ran parallel to the river, and ten that ran perpendicular to these. Thus, Kristiansand became one of Norway's most easily accessible cities.

#13 The 45’ Grønningen Lighthouse was put into service in 1878 and automated in 1980. Today you can tour the buildings, stage an event, or spend the night.

#14 The 73’ Ryvingen Lighthouse is Norway's southernmost, and it was the first to receive electricity. Built at the same time as Hatholmen Lighthouse, it announces the Mandal River. The need for a lighthouse was prompted by the 1842 tragedy of the Ingermanland, one of the largest shipwrecks off the coast of Norway. The Russian sailing ship with 891 people aboard board sank in a storm, and 389 died. The rest were rescued after an heroic effort by fishermen and sailors.

#15 The 23’ 1867 Hatholmen Lighthouse was built to light the way to the Mandal River and the town of the same name. In 1991, Mandal Kystlag took over the operation and maintenance of the lighthouse. They have ensured that it is kept in good condition and open to the public in the summer. Guests can stay overnight in the old lighthouse house. The Kystlag has also provided a small exhibition about the history of the lighthouse.

#16 The 52’ Lindesnes Lighthouse is said to be Norway’s first and most visited. It’s on the Lindesnes Peninsula which for many seafarers is the first encounter with the Norwegian coast. It’s where the Skagerrak and the North Sea meet often resulting in strong winds and currents, and both are responsible for many a ship being pushed ashore in this area. In 1656 a wooden tower was built, probably three stories high. Leaded glass windows were installed at the top, and the light source was 30 tallow candles. In 1815 the lighthouse lens was moved and installed in a new lantern house on top of a new cast iron tower.

#17 Lista Lighthouse dates from 1836 and for a time the 111’ tower was the world’s tallest. In 1853 two more towers were built to distinguish Lista from other lighthouses, but by 1873 technology allowed for different characteristics, and two of the lighthouses were dismantled and relocated elsewhere. When we were there the tower was well hidden by scaffolding, but I could do a face-to-face sketch with some imagination while chatting with Pam.

#18 The 68’ Lille Presteskjær Lighthouse was put into service in 1854 and automated in 1973. A cast-iron lighthouse was erected on a strong stone base. Inside the tower a residence was furnished for the lighthouse keeper and his family, spread over five floors. Downstairs were the food cellar and water tanks, on the first floor the kitchen, on the floor above the living room, and above that the bedroom. On the floor just below the lighthouse, in the smallest room, lived the assistant.

Today, the lighthouse is rented out on Airbnb. It has beds for 10 people, divided into 4 bedrooms, and can be rented for a weekend or a whole week.

#19 The Kvassheim Lighthouse together with its fog signal was completed in 1912—new kid on the block. During WWII, Kvassheim lighthouse was not lit, and for long periods German soldiers lived at the lighthouse. The lighthouse was automated in 1986, closed in 1990, and replaced by a lighthouse in the harbor nearby. In 2004, the Jæren Open Air Council took over and renovated and modernized most of the facility creating a museum and café.

#20 Throughout history, many ships have run aground here and been smashed to pieces by the waves. The waves are so crushing that in former times the beach was used for shipbreaking. If you had an old ship or wreck you wanted to get rid of, it was common to tow it here in the fall and then let the winter storms take care of the scrapping. When spring came, all you had to do was start stacking the wreckage in suitable piles and selling it as firewood or lumber at an auction. The granite Obrestad Lighthouse was built to resist the storms and first lit in 1873. The lighthouse authorities were tired of repairing wood lighthouses. However, a granite lighthouse was damp and cold to live in, and eventually wood became the standard.

#21 The 80’ Feistein Lighthouse was constructed in 1859 on a headland considered one of the worst places to work because of raging seas. In 1868 it happened that the lighthouse keeper and a maid were in the boathouse to pick up some things during a massive storm when a wave came and swept the boathouse out to sea. Both died. During the storm did not abate for 11 days, and the keeper’s wife was knocked over and broke her arm. It was impossible to get help from shore, but the keeper’s wife and daughter managed to keep the light.

Fjøløy Fyrstasjon on Rennesøy Island near Stavanger has been in operation since 1849. It was automated in 1977 and the keeper sent home. It sits at 20 feet, but has a 57’ focal plane.

#22 Tungenes Lighthouse first opened in 1828 and served until 1984—a good run of 156 years. The first lighthouse was a rather simple affair consisting of a few tallow candles in the window of the Tunge farmhouse located at the headland. They burned only in January and February, and the son on the farm, Tore Tunge, was the first lighthouse keeper. In 1898, a tower was built on the house, and in 1907 it was decided to keep the light year round.

Valbergtarnet Fyrstasjon was first operated in 1863, but decommissioned in 1894. The tower height is 68’ and the focal plane is 130’. The city of Stavanger owns the tower which is a focal point in Stavanger.

Enroute to Kvitsøy.

#23 The 88’ Kvitsøy Lighthouse, in the middle of Norway's smallest municipality, is Norway’s oldest operational lighthouse dating from 1815. Kvitsøy’s history goes back at least to 1016 when Olav Haraldsson and Erling Skjalgsson’s settlement was recorded. There’ve been pilots here since the Middle Ages, and today the maritime traffic control center in Kvitsøy directs and monitors ship traffic.

In 1700, the Dane Heinrich Petersen built a tilting lighthouse on Kvitsøy. He was on board a boat that had run aground just outside Kvitsøy. As he lay struggling in the waves, Petersen promised himself that if he survived, he would do everything he could to have a lighthouse built on Kvitsøy. The Tilting Kvitsøy Lighthouse that Heinrich Petersen built was a simple construction with a mast with a cross-lever. At the end of the lever, a boiler was attached that was filled with burning coal and tilted almost 20’ above the ground. The structure was in use for over 100 years. During this time, the family received income from fees paid by passing ships.

#24 Høyevarde Lighthouse has a long and colorful history guarding the Karmsund Strait which was previously known as the Nordvegen (North Passage). In 1567 James Hepburn, Earl of Bothswell, was caught by the lighthouse keepers while attempting to pass through the strait without proper papers. Hepburn, the third and final husband of Mary Queen of Scots, was fleeing to Denmark.

According to the epic poem Grímnismál, the Norse god Thor is said to wade through the strait every morning on his way to Yggdrasil, the tree of life. The present lighthouse and attending structures were constructed in 1700. Norway nationalized the lighthouse in 1815, and it served until 1902. Today, Høyevarde Fyrhotell offers accommodations and a venue for weddings, celebrations and concerts. The smorgasbord we enjoyed for lunch was among the best I’ve ever been party to.

#25 Geitungen Lighthouse, lit for the first time in 1924, is one of Norway's younger lighthouses. The iconic lighthouse was designed by Jørgen Meinich. The lighthouse was built to secure the entrance to the Boknafjord, with a new fog signal being an important factor in its location. The Geitungen lighthouse was automated and vacated in 1994 and is now listed as a cultural monument. It has eight bedrooms which can be rented in season.

#26 The first lighthouse at Vikeholmen was built in 1849 to support the rich herring fishing in this area. In order to improve the conditions for sailing at night, several seasonal lighthouses were built and lit only in the herring fishing period from Christmas to the end of Marsh.

The lighthouses were small wooden buildings with room only for a small table and a chair. The lighthouse keeper sat there at night tending the lamp. Soon there was a demand for the light to be lit all year, and in 1875 the Vikeholmen Lighthouse was erected. The lighthouse was operational until 1908. Today it is owned by the Skudenes Seaman Association and can be rented by the week.

#27 Sørhaugøy Lighthouse was first lit in 1846. It’s situated on an island at the north inlet to the city of Haugesund. In 1854 the keeper’s wife and son were ill and a doctor was enlisted. Due to severe storms he had to spend three weeks on the island. The lighthouse was decommissioned and replaced by a beacon in 1952. Volunteers restored the lighthouse in the 1970s, and it was later donated to the Karmsund Folkemuseum. In 1998 it became a Cultural Heritage Site.

#28 The miniature Glette Lighthouse was first lit in 1849, a simple lantern, serving herring fishermen. In 1860 it was replaced by a larger light nearby. In 1910 it was rebuilt in the same location with a focal plane of 75 feet—not bad for a short guy.

#29 The cast iron Røværsholmen Lighthouse was established in 1892 at a height of 42’. Decommissioned in 1975, it is owned by the state, and protected as a national monument by the Cultural Heritage Act.

#30 The 33’ wooden Ryvarden Lighthouse was put up in 1849 to mark the south shore of the entrance to Bømlafjorden where King Magnus IV of Sweden was said to have drowned in a shipwreck in 1374. In 1984, the lighthouse was automated and the keeper went into retirement. In 2005, the town of Sveio bought the building which is now used as a regional cultural center and museum.

Enroute to Holmengrå Lighthouse

#31 The 1892 Holmengrå Lighthouse stands at 30’ on a small island marking the mouth of the Fensfjorden, a busy shipping lane. Fedje municipality is located far out and open and consists of about 125 islands, islets and skerries. This small village is usually called Norway's westernmost.

Enroute to Hellisøy Lighthouse

#32 In 1855 work began on the Hellisøy Lighthouse. Cast iron plates were shipped to the site, bolted together and lined with brick. This was the second cast iron lighthouse in Norway—the first being Eigerøy Lighthouse. Hellisøy Lighthouse was equipped with a peat shed, not a wood shed since peat was abundant. It got an oil shed in 1887. In 1902, lightning struck the tower and continued to the keepers’ quarters which burned to the ground.

Lighthouses of Southern Norway: Part 1