Kristiansand
Kristiansand World War II History Tour
Excursion
Price from $140
Difficulty level
Easy
Booking code
HRS-KRS1
Duration
2h 30min
Notes
Read the practical information below
Gain insight into what life and work was like at Batterie Vara during wartime.
See the world’s second-largest land-mounted cannon.
Visit the ‘House of Horror’ and find out what happened there.
Your tour begins with a short sightseeing drive through Kristiansand before continuing to the Kristiansand Cannon Museum. Originally built by German forces during World War II, Batterie Vara is home to one of the world’s largest land-based cannons.
In addition to the impressive artillery installation, the underground bunker features artifacts from the wartime period. A nearby communications bunker focuses on the human impact of the conflict, sharing stories connected to Batterie Vara during World War II.
The tour continues to the Arkivet Peace and Human Rights Center. This building once served as a regional Gestapo headquarters, with its basement used for detention and interrogation between 1942 and 1945. The reconstructed prison cells and exhibits provide a powerful and sobering account of the events that took place here. During your guided visit, you’ll learn about both prisoners and guards in what became known as “The House of Horror.”
Practical information
The terrain is uneven in places and there is a 164-foot incline up to the cannon