Discover Vik: Local history and a circular walk

Vik combines a tangible local history with a circular walk and a location on the coastal road. As the administrative centre of Sømna municipality, the village is a destination for travellers who want to discover historic buildings and local culture. The easy Vik–Bjøru–Knyk circular route also offers another way to shape your stay. You can choose Vik based on the experiences that interest you most on your trip.

Everyday life and cultural history at Sømna bygdetun

Sømna bygdetun presents local cultural history, with a focus on the everyday lives of farming and fishing-farming families between 1800 and 1950. The site comprises twelve buildings. Two can be linked to specific years: Sømhovdstua dates from 1812, and Mikkelborghuset from 1899. Together with the museum’s historical focus, these details give your visit a timeframe without reducing the history to a single building.

The bygdetun also includes a kitchen garden with old grain varieties, heritage crops, herbs and vegetables. Today, Mikkelborghuset is used as a museum shop, café and office. Both historical everyday life and present-day uses are therefore part of the character of the place. There are regular opening hours in summer and before Christmas; Sømna bygdetun is open all year round, and visits can be arranged.

In mid-July, a traditional haymaking event takes place there, with scythe mowing and turning the hay. Everyone can take part. If you are looking for a hands-on insight into an agricultural tradition during your stay, this is a special opportunity to experience the bygdetun’s cultural programme.

Church and historic buildings in Vik

Sømna Church stands in Vik right next to the open-air museum Gamle Vik. Its buildings date from the late 19th century. The church site, by contrast, goes back to the Middle Ages; the present-day Sømna Church was completed in 1876. These dates distinguish the site’s long history from the completion of the current church building.

The church’s design and the size of its interior are also notable details: the nave has a cruciform floor plan and seats 600. The church is 100 metres off the main road, Kystriksveien (RV17). Anyone interested in local history and historic architecture will find a tangible point of reference here in Vik, while Gamle Vik, right next door, comprises buildings from the late 19th century.

Circular walk and coastal connections

The Vik–Bjøru–Knyk route is an easy circular walk associated with Vik. It offers an active alternative to the village’s cultural and historical attractions. When planning your day, you can decide whether to focus on the bygdetun and the buildings or to include a circular walk. No further route details are needed to consider it as a walking option alongside the cultural discoveries.

The main road Fv. 17 runs through Vik and follows the coast north towards Brønnøysund and Bodø. The municipal fishing harbour of Viksjøen is also nearby. It has a landing quay for fishing boats and smaller cargo ships; the harbour area is used by fishing boats and leisure boats. These coastal and harbour connections add another dimension to Vik’s local history.

Accommodation and further information

In Vik, Sømna Kro og Gjestegård offers accommodation and meals in peaceful surroundings, close to nature and the cultural landscape. When looking for a holiday apartment in Vik, you could first consider whether you would like to focus your stay on the village’s cultural history, circular walk or coastal connections. This lets you choose a destination that suits your interests without making assumptions about different accommodation features.

If you would like to add to your travel plans, you can also discover Sømna.

Back to the main travel overview: Sømna.