Discover Svanvik

Three main themes help orient you on a trip to Svanvik: the visitor centre of Øvre Pasvik National Park, the Svanhovd Botanical Garden and cultural-historical sites such as the chapel and Bjørklund farm. They offer different points of interest—from information about the park and plants to architecture and Kven cultural history.

From Kirkenes, county road 8850 runs south through the Pasvik Valley for about 35 km to Svanvik. The route helps situate the village as you travel there. Road conditions and transport services may vary, so check the conditions before setting out.

Visitor Centre and Orientation in the National Park

The visitor centre of Øvre Pasvik National Park provides information about access points, marked trails and overnight accommodation in the park. These topics can help you learn about the available access points, trails and accommodation options. The centre also offers an exhibition, a film and various activities in the surrounding area.

An exhibition about bears at the visitor centre covers the brown bear, research into the species and its management. For groups visiting the centre or staying at the conference centre in Svanhovd, the visitor centre offers, among other things, guided garden walks and tours of the exhibition. These tours are therefore subject to these group conditions.

The annual programme includes four to six public talks each year on various topics. Every autumn, the visitor centre holds a market day in cooperation with local farmers and 4H. If you would like to plan your stay around a talk or the market day, check the dates before your trip.

Botanical Garden and Pasvikelva

The Svanhovd Botanical Garden is one of three public botanical gardens north of the Arctic Circle. It features northern and alpine perennials, crop plants and summer flowers. The collection thus includes both perennials and crop and ornamental plants. For garden enthusiasts, it is a distinct point of interest alongside the information and exhibitions at the visitor centre.

Svanhovd lies on the Pasvikelva. The river helps define the geography of this area; its waterside location complements Svanvik’s botanical and cultural-historical points of interest.

Chapel and Farming Heritage

Svanvik Chapel is a wooden church built from 1932 to 1934 to designs by the architect Harald Sund. It was built as a cultural and religious landmark on the border. The chapel can therefore be understood both through its architectural history and its cultural and religious significance.

Bjørklund farm combines the typical layout of a Norwegian farm with elements of Kven culture. The buildings listed there include Gammelstua, dating from the 1870s; the Stabbur, from the following decade; Nystua, built in 1906; and the barn, from the 1930s. Their names and dates provide specific points of reference for exploring the farm’s history through its different building phases.

Svanhovd also contributes to the local architectural and cultural history: its original buildings and avenue are now protected as heritage sites. Together with the chapel and Bjørklund farm, they offer different perspectives on the destination’s cultural heritage without combining the sites into a single complex.

Discover more destinations: Kirkenes, Neiden, Bjørnevatn

Return to the main travel overview: Sør-Varanger.