Sørvær: Fishing Village, Church and Nature

Sørvær lies on three small, barren islets and is a traditional fishing village. For much of its history, the population has depended on the sea for its livelihood. The village’s history, church architecture and nature experiences give the place many different facets: Sørvær may interest you as a destination if you find fishing history and culture just as fascinating as the landscape and traces of early settlement.

Church architecture and local history

Sørvær Church is a long church with distinctive architecture, designed by architect Sverre Flåto. It was built of wood and stone in 1968 and has around 90 seats. Its furnishings also make the church a noteworthy cultural destination. Three stained-glass windows created by Maria Steen were unveiled there on Christmas Eve 2001. For visitors interested in church architecture and artistic details, Sørvær Church brings together architectural history and a specific work of stained-glass art.

Further clues to the village’s history can be found in its houses and language. After the war, eleven houses called Hamar houses were built in Sørvær. The Sørvær dialect differs from the dialects of the other places on Sørøya and is influenced by Nord-Troms. This is thought to be due to the large-scale skrei cod fishing of the past, which drew fishermen from the south to the area. The history of fishing is therefore also reflected in a distinctive feature of the local language.

Nature reserve and landscape

The Andotten Nature Reserve lies near Sørvær. It protects an important seabird cliff area, its associated plant communities, and the birdlife and other wildlife that depend on them. The reserve was protected on 28 January 1983. The mountain plateau within the nature reserve offers impressive views of Sørvær and the surrounding areas. Its protected status does not prevent visitors from exploring on foot or arriving by boat.

Stone Age settlement sites are also among the discoveries in the surrounding area. At Sarset, between Breivikbotn and Sørvær, a clearly visible settlement site lies 50 metres behind the cabin there. At the settlement site in Sandvika, also between Breivikbotn and Sørvær, prominent beach ridges known as Tapes ridges can be seen. At a Stone Age settlement site in Årvik, a beach ridge runs across the entire valley; a total of 18 hut remains are associated with it. The three sites offer different archaeological features: a visible settlement site, beach ridges and hut remains.

Fishing, routes and experiences

Sørvær also offers a range of excursions and experiences. The Perletur programme includes the Sandfjordskaret route in Sørvær. Sørøya Havfiskecruise offers fishing trips and other nature experiences from its main base in Sørvær from 1 April until the end of September. Sørvær also provides the setting for the Sørøyrocken festival.

The Sørøya på langs hiking trail was a separate project. For the period from 2017 to 2020, the municipalities agreed to create and mark a hiking trail of around 100 kilometres, running from Mount Fuglen near Sørvær to Akkarfjord and Tarhalsen, in line with the DNT standard. Sørvær was intended as a natural access point and starting point, with information boards to be installed there. This plan differs from the Sandfjordskaret route included in the Perletur programme: it refers to a long trail passing through several places.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Sørvær, you can consider whether you want to explore the village itself or its surroundings as well. For more information about other localities, you can also visit Hasvik.

Return to the main travel overview: Hasvik.