Discover the mesmerizing wilderness landscapes of Norway while visiting Fauske. Fjords, mountains and national parks provide endless opportunities for thrilling outdoor adventures. Museums and a mine offer rewarding cultural experiences. Named after the Norse word for old wood, Fauske is one of the main towns of Salten, a district famous for its mining industry and marble deposits.
Life moves at a gentle pace around the streets of Fauske. Appreciate the panoramic views of snow-covered parks from the waterfront. Visit Fauske Church, a landmark building that dates back to 1867. Learn about regional history at the Fauske Folk Museum, a collection of traditional rural houses with grass roofs. Locals come to the grounds of the museum in the summer months to enjoy picnics and barbecues.
Another interesting place to see is Sulitjema Gruvemuseum, at the nearby mining town of Sulitjema. Browse an exhibition of equipment recovered from the carpentry workshops, machine rooms and smelting works of a former mine. They showcase over a century of mining heritage from 1887 to 1991. At Sulitjelma Besøksgruve you can dress up in miner’s clothing and ride a train deep inside a mountain.
If you like to be active on your vacation then head to the three national parks, a short drive away. At Sjunkhatten National Park, child-friendly trails lead to caves, clifftop lookouts, dense forests and fjords. Spot elk, reindeer and wolverine and admire spectacular waterfalls in Rago National Park. Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park is famous for being home to Norway’s second-biggest glacier.
Rent a car or bike and journey to other interesting towns in the Salten district. About an hour’s drive west is Bodø, a gateway to the Lofoten islands and the 391-mile (630-kilometer) long Kystriksveien Coastal Route. Straumen sits at the southernmost tip of Sørfolda Fjord.
The nearest airport to Fauske is in Bodø. Trains travel to the town from Oslo via Trondheim. Summer is a great time to visit, when the midnight sun presents the chance to hike to mountain peaks, such as Suliskongen, both during the day and at night.
