Bodø, Norway

Description — Bodo, Norway

Bodø is a city-commune located on a wind-swept peninsula in the Norwegian Sea in the county of Nordland, Norway. It is part of the Salten region. In the translation from Old Norse, Bodø means “submerged rocks”. It is also called the “city of eagles” due to the large number of white-tailed eagles in the area. Located north of the Arctic Circle, Bodø is the largest city in Nordland and the second largest in Northern Norway.

People come here to enjoy the natural beauty of Northern Norway and to admire a real miracle-the Northern Lights. In Bodø, this wonderful and amazing phenomenon can be seen from September to April. It appears somewhere far, far to the north and gradually rises into the dark, cloudless sky.

There are many other natural attractions in Bodø. 10 km north of Bodø is the popular recreational area of Gietvågen. The area is home to a large number of white-tailed eagles. The commune has 17 nature reserves. In the Sunnstraumen nature reserve, there are pristine mixed forests and marble slabs; in Skonland, there is a coastal pine forest; in Børvatnènt, spruce forest grows along with a large number of orchids. In the Bliksvær nature reserve, the coastal nature is well preserved and there is a wide variety of birds.

Climate

Bodø is one of the windiest cities in Norway because it is located on an exposed peninsula in the Norwegian Sea. Snow cover during winter is rare, not only due to the wind, but also because of a moderate winter climate for this latitude, with a rainy season in winter. The average annual temperature is 4.5 °C, and the average annual precipitation level is 1020 mm (1961-1990). The driest months are from April to June. The record cold month was February 1966, when temperatures dropped to −8.9 °C; the warmest month was July 1937-17.1 °C. In recent years, there has been a trend of rising temperatures.

Bude, Norway
Cathedral of the Cathedral
Church of Budyna
Kerringeier
Islands near Budé

Location on the map

Sights

Cathedral (Cathedral Church)

The Budø Cathedral is famous for its 12-meter window of stained glass, 10 renowned Nørland tapestry hangings, and a rosette window that enhances the magnificent interior furnishings. The cathedral is a basilica in the Gothic style. It was designed by the architects Blaxstad and Munte-Koss and is one of the first churches in Norway with a freestanding bell tower.

Bodin Church

The Church of Budin, located three kilometers from the city center, was built around 1240. For its venerable age, it has been very well preserved. This medieval stone structure has changed very little since it was erected. Nearly all reconstructions were limited to interior finishing and ongoing repairs; as for the sanctuary’s outward appearance, little was done to alter it, which has allowed it to preserve its authenticity to the greatest extent possible. One of its treasures is a genuine Baroque-style altar dating back to 1670.

What to see

Kierringøy

Kjerringøy Village is located a half-hour drive from Bodø in a scenic coastal Alpine area, sheltered from ocean winds by a ridge of rocks and small islands. It was chosen as a location for on-site filming of several movies based on Knut Hamsun’s novels. In this small stretch of land with its varied landscape, you can see many interesting places: from sheer cliffs and beaches sparkling in the sun with the finest white sand, to the historic trading settlement of Kjerringøy and today’s thriving agricultural communities.

Recommended excursions

Sea excursion to the islands

The islands of Giver, Bliksvær, Landegode, Hellinger and Karlsøyver form around the Budø peninsula a secluded world of their own, which is quite easy to reach. This is truly a magical land, and getting there is easy by one of the fast sightseeing boats. The fishing villages located on the islands still depend entirely on the sea. By the way, along the entire coastline you’ll be treated to excellent fishing. And, of course, you’ll be lucky enough to see a sea eagle!