Vardø, the new Black..

The size of the island is 3,7 km.

Since 1998, the town has housed a radar installation called Globus II.

It is the only arctic city in Norway (except from Longyearbyen, Svalbard).

The island is connected to the mainland via an undersea tunnel, built in 1983.

Vardø is the oldest city in Finnmark, founded 800, and got its city status in 1789.

Vardø is the easternmost town in Norway, east of Saint Petersburg, Kiev and Istanbul.

During the 17th century, 91 men and women were burnt in Vardø, accused of witchery.

Moja på Tvoja is the name of a Russian-Norwegian language, used during the Pomor trade.

Vardø has the oldest fishing village in Finnmark, and has only remaining historical harbour in this region.

Our impression is that Vardø, the people living there, and the municipality, are concerned with participating in the development of their own future. Local entrepreneurs and the municipality are engaged in projects developing Vardø, projects that give something back to the place. Not once did we hear them compare themselves with the other towns in Finnmark. This is said, to be due to the ‘dark period’ Vardø went through in the eighties, where the population halfened. The mentality in Vardø today is to focus on themselves and what can be done in this area. Smaller projects such as restoring old buildings, participating in the Europan contest, or introducing site specific concepts that will increase tourism in Vardø, are good examples of this development. These are low key projects that give something back to the area, and stand as a contrast to private investors that exploit the natural resources as we have seen it in other parts of Finnmark. On the other hand this represents a challenge, as there is no big money invested into the place.

The way the town is put together gives an understanding of how long there have been settlements in the area. Historical buildings from different time periods, create layers and a series of ways of sensing the city. The placement of these buildings on the island or in the city centre, creates a dynamic within the town. An example of this is the Steilneset Memorial, placed on the west side of the island, seven minutes walk from the city centre, walking out there takes you into a whole new mindset, and the character of the city rapidly changes from housing areas to open landscape with the view towards the sea.