Brønnøysund – Norway’s midpoint of myths and mountains

A small seaport with a unique dialect, local food-focussed restaurants and a legendary mountain.

Sitting halfway along the Norwegian coastline, just south of the Arctic Circle, Brønnøysund is a small seaport strung along a narrow peninsula.

Water shapes life here – from the tides that lap its shores to the ancient myths that swirl around nearby Torghatten, the ‘mountain with an eye’.

A short history of Brønnøysund

At the foot of the mythical Torghatten, a Viking chieftain once established a thriving trading post. But the village was razed in 1240, during the Norwegian civil wars, when nobleman Skule Bårdsson tried to seize power from his son-in-law King Haakon.

The area slowly recovered, resettled by Norwegians from the south and waves of Swedish immigrants in the 19th century. Their influence can still be heard today in Brønnøysund’s distinctive dialect, touched by Swedish intonation.

Activities in Brønnøysund

Whether you want to hike up Torghatten mountain or go in search of sea eagles on a RIB, there are plenty of active excursions to enjoy while we dock at Brønnøysund.