Nordmela: Fishing Heritage by the Open Sea

Nordmela is a fishing village whose character reflects the millennia-long interplay between people and the rugged Norwegian Sea. The village lies along the Norwegian Scenic Route Andøya, right by the open sea. For those choosing a destination with a strong fishing and cultural heritage, Nordmela offers several specific points of interest: archaeological traces, historic sites and preserved buildings. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Nordmela, these themes can shape how you see the village.

Farm Mound and Early Settlement Traces

Clear traces of settlement from the Iron Age have been documented in Nordmela. A distinctive historical feature is the medieval farm mound Gårdshaugen. The farm mound is automatically protected and, as a visible rise in the terrain, is just over 60 metres long and 50 metres wide. Its dimensions make its distinctive form tangible. At the same time, the settlement traces point to a history that predates the medieval farm mound. Thus, early settlement traces and a medieval farm mound stand side by side as distinct historical reference points.

A 16th-century jekte landing site is also located in Nordmela. Together with the farm mound, it adds another point of reference in time and a maritime aspect to the early settlement traces. Nordmela also has a total of 37 SEFRAK-registered buildings. This number broadens the view from individual historic sites to the village’s building stock and gives this heritage a different scale from that of a single mound or landing site.

Fishing as Built Heritage

The history of fishing is also tangible in the preserved buildings. Nordmela has a well-preserved boathouse dating from the great herring fishery era. The Anton-Persa Naust in Nordmela dates from around 1870 and is an important cultural heritage site associated with the area’s earlier fishing history. The boathouse from the great herring fishery era and the Naust, dated to approximately 1870, highlight different aspects of the maritime heritage.

The Nordmela Landhandleri og Kafe is part of the visitor offering and serves fresh fish. The fish is caught in the sea directly in front of Nordmela and supplied by the local fishing company J. M. Nilsen Fisk. So, alongside the historic buildings, visitors can discover a specific product of the local fishery, with both the supplier and fishing grounds identified.

Coast and Nature

A northern gannet colony is located off the coast at Skarvklakken in Nordmela; conditions at the colony can vary seasonally. It adds a nature theme in the coastal area to the archaeological and built heritage. The historical traces and the colony represent different sides of Nordmela: the fishing village’s long settlement history and the wildlife off its coast.

More Cultural Attractions in Andøy

In the wider destination of Andøy, visitors can climb the stairs of Andenes Lighthouse on a guided tour. The visit includes an exhibition, history and views from the top. Check current tour times before travelling. In Risøyhamn, the open-air museum has five buildings. Its boathouse is home to the large Fembøring Haakon, built in Helgeland in 1880. Andenes Lighthouse and the open-air museum in Risøyhamn are part of the wider destination of Andøy, not Nordmela.

Discover more destinations: Bleik, Skarstein.

Return to the main travel overview: Andøy.