Spåkenes Coastal Fort

If you've ever gazed in awe at an awe-inspiring Norwegian fjord and thought, "The only thing this miraculous spectacle of nature is missing is an exploded Nazi bunker," then we have good news for you! Located on a scenic hilltop with spectacular views of the Lyngen fjord in northern Norway sits Spåkenes Coastal Fort.

German forces built Spåkenes at the beginning of World War II. After invading Norway in April 1940, Nazi Germany took control of several naval bases and also built new forts such as Spåkenes.

Today, two easy walking trails crisscross the fort site. Along the paths, interpretive signs in Norwegian, English, and Finnish detail the site's history.

The signs feature personal stories of fictional Germans who might have been stationed at the bunker or lived in the nearby village. Many of those stationed at the fort were quite young and usually only stayed for six months before being transferred elsewhere.

At the end of the war, an explosion destroyed the fort. No one knows exactly what caused the explosion. Perhaps a stray bit of gunpowder ignited? Evidence of the blast sits all around the site. Even today, large chunks of concrete flung by the explosion sit at the bottom of the hill.