Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Our tour made a stop way out in the country at the Lofoten Museum. This was primarily a display of how fishermen lived during cod season (Feb - April) in late 1700s-early 1800s. It has several of the original buildings, including a primitive, but nicely appointed manor house and several fishing cabins.
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| Original, sod-roofed fishermen's cabin, built in 1797 |
8 - 12 men would have lived crammed in the one room, on bunks with no mattress. The same room was also for sitting and cooking.
The living side of the hut would have been heated by the stove but the other room, used to store their catch as well as their equipment and supplies, would have been unheated.
I can attest to the fact that these tiny rooms both looked and smelled very authentic. There was a very low doorway to stoop under, and low ceiling, so the space was very closed in. With 8-12 men, likely not bathing, it must have smelled pretty rank.
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| In another cabin |
I somehow neglected to take a picture of the exterior of the manor but it was a 3 story, well built white house. I did take a picture of a few random furnishings.
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| Beautiful heater stove |
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| Inside wall of manor house |
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| Lace curtains at the window - tatted? |
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| Reflections, on the outside of the same window. Note the trim details. |
There was a picture hanging on the wall of the manor house that reminded me so much of the picture I posted previously of Honningsvag.
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| The Karlsens at Honningsvag |
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| Boat building house |
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| The sea, behind the shacks |
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| A couple of random tombstones on a mound |
There was a little store on the property full of all the needed provisions for the fishermen. A little research shows that the owner of the manor may not have treated them very fairly. He took trade for supplies but wasn't always honest in his dealings.
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| Village store |
Nearby, the Vagan Church in Kabelvag is also known as the Lofoten Cathedral. Built in 1898 in the Gothic Revival style, it holds 1200, making it one of Norway's largest churches.
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| Lofoten Cathedral |
That tour of the museum looks so interesting. Touring original buildings is so cool, getting the chance to think about he people previously dwelling in those very same buildings. Crazy to think that 8-12 men would’ve been crammed in there!
ReplyDeleteI remember how on our trips you always wanted to know if the building was original! It does give it a different feeling to know that. And yes, 3 men in a little wooden bed!
DeleteThank you, Amy, for sharing your trip with us! Your pictures are just beautiful and how you describe it all makes it so interesting! Makes me want to go there...or wish I was tagging along with you! ~Connie T
ReplyDeleteThank you, Connie! Glad to have you tagging along!
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