Petter Dass Museum in Alstahaug

Day 3, 24.11.2015

After our visit to the International War Cementery in Tjøtta, we went to the Petter Dass Museum in Alstahaug. For everybody who is not known to Petter Dass, I will give a short introduction:

Throughout the ages, Alstahaug has become best known due to such prominent personalities as Petter Dass. He was born in Herøy in 1647 and lived there for the first six years of his life. At the age of 22, Petter Dass returned to Helgeland, first to Vefsn and Nesna, and then to Alstahaug, where he became minister in 1689. He was also writing, and his best-known works are The Trumpet of Nordland and the hymn"Mighty God", to Thy dear Name be given Highest praise". He lived in Alstahaug until his death in 1707.

A little about the museum:

Here you can gain an insight into how the poet-clergyman Petter Dass lived. The grounds accommodate a main building, a storehouse, a cookhouse/scullery, a well house, a chapel and down by the sea a quayside warehouse where boats and tackle help illustrate elements of coastal culture. A guided tour will give you insight into an important part of Norwegian history and culture. Guided tours are available between mid June and mid August. The Petter Dass Museum at Alstahaug is The County of Nordland´s millennium site. The building is designed by the architectural firm Snøhetta AS. This building is the Petter Dass Museum’s main building.

I really like architecture. The museum is built in between the rocks. It fits quite well into the landscape. You really can see the connections between the buildings and how the architects wanted them to interact with each other.