Varanger Museum, avd. Sør-Varanger — Attraction in South Varanki

The museum has quite a few interesting facts and knowledge to read up about on, but sadly the multi lingual information isn't always complete or easy to find. This goes both ways for things from the German props to other languages or from Norwegian texts and information to other languages. It's a bit sad that the gallery is currently covered with walls of another exhibition, so that you can't look upon the plane in the center of the exhibition, but the exhibition covering this viewpoint was also quite interesting.

Overall, it still was a nice mix of different topics within the exhibition, the price is fair and the additional offers and accommodations are a nice option for a quick break before and after.

Edit: We returned once the Savio exhibition had reopened and can confidently say that they did a good job at portraying the works. It lacks a bit in explanation for each picture as in a usual museum, but the art speaks for itself and can also be understood without text. This makes it universally relatable and quite...

Three-in-one Museum about 30 minute walk from the harbour. The main exibits deal with the occupation of the town during WWII, Sámi life and culture and iron-ore mining in the area. It is difficult to miss the restored Ilyushin Il-2, better known as the Shturmovik, together with disassembled equipment. Two aspects of the campaign which had been previously unknown to me were partisan activity in the area (then occupied by Nazi forces), with guerrilas having to hide in desolate parts of the coastline feeding information back to the Soviets. Some of these were most unfairly treated after the war but have now been decently rehabilitated. The second collection was to do with the collective refusal of Norwegian teachers to have anything to do with the Quisling regime and the consequences of taking such a principled action. That was an absolute eye-opener. The charming cafe downstairs was hosting a small group of ladies knitting! A warm an welcoming space. If you have the time, well worth the...

This is an excellent museum mainly focusing on the WWII period during which Kirkenes suffered greatly.

There are also some poignant recent exhibits including of bicycles that Syrian refugees used to cross the border from Russia to Norway (the Russians don't allow foot crossing).

Overall the museum underlines the harm done by orders, particularly for people like the northern Sami whose traditional lands encompass parts of Norway, Finland and Russia.

It's particularly appreciated that the museum provides translation of most text into English (and German). This is often not the case in Norway even where the majority of clients must be from overseas....

In addition to the historical museum the building hosts the Savio museum. John Savio was a Sami artist and printmaker. I hadn't heard of him but was impressed with his work.

There is also a small gift shop with some nice handicrafts.

Overall this museum is highly...