A journey through Skårungen's history
It all started in a small island
called Ørsvågholmen, located right outside our hotel. On the island, there was a small farm, a fishing port and «rorbuer» (traditional cabins). The location was chosen as it was very easy to moor the small rowing. In 1895 all buildings were destroyed in a devastating fire.
The buildings were rebuilt on the mainland and consisted of a big home for the landowner, a 5 floor building where there was a grocery store, a telegraph and small rooms for people working in the fishing port. The landowner also rebuilt a lot of small «rorbuer», which are still in use today.
In 1913 the landowner went bankrupt, as the cod didn’t come to this side of Lofoten for many years. Since the fishermen used rowboats, they always chose the fishing port closest to the cod, and unfortunately, Ørsvågvær lost its business. In 1920 a new owner bought the land and put up a cod liver boilery. This was built on a large wooden deck standing in the water. Production from the boilery was good, but over the years the oil spilt on the wooden deck made it slowly rotten and after many years the entire building broke down.
The fishing season continued during the second world war, but was more commercial fishing this time. In the years after WW2, the fishing was con- sidered good and with new equipment such as fis- hing sonars and other mechanic fishing tools, the industry got too effective.
This led to overfishing and at the end of the 1950s, there was «no» more cod left in the area, so in 1963, the landowner went bankrupt and the bank sold the land to a new owner. The new owner did not work with fish and started to rent out some rooms in the old landowner house to tourists. He also ordered 16 small cabins form a local factory – the Pioneer huts - that you can rent today as well.
WHY
SKÅRUNGEN?
It's not just our name; it's a rite of passage. Traditionally, a "Skårungen" was the eager newbie among seasoned fishermen in Lofoten, tasked with the grunt work—washing boats, cooking meals, and yes, even doing the dishes.
By the season's end, these rookies would treat the crew to a round of handskanne, a nod to their hard work and the close of their initiation. This tradition, known as "Handsing," marked their transition to "Halvkar," half a member of the crew, a step closer to becoming a full-fledged "Kar"—a respected man and crew member, now with stories to tell and half the salary to show for it.
2018
When Tilla & Christer landed in Lofoten on November 1st, 2018, it was supposed to be a year-long mountaineering sabbatical. But Lofoten had other plans. By December 2019, destiny called, and they took over the holiday centre at Ørsvågvær.
2020
January 1st, 2020, marked Tilla's first day at the helm of what's now Skårungen. Why this name? Because stepping into Lofoten felt like our very own "Skårungen" moment—our first daring dive into the deep, guided by an insatiable love for the raw beauty and warm-hearted locals of this place.
Lofoten is a land without limits, where imagination sets sail. We've been mesmerized by freediving in crystal waters, scaling towering cliffs, basking in the endless daylight of the midnight sun, skiing under the aurora, and witnessing the sea come alive with cod in spring.
We invite you to embrace the Skårungen spirit. Come as you are, leave transformed, maybe even as a true "Kar." Dive into Lofoten with us, and let's see where this adventure takes you.
And the
logo?
It's inspired by where we are and what we're about. Facing the majestic Vågakallen, one of the tallest peaks in Lofoten, we saw something special.
Those mountains, they're not just scenery; they turned into the wings of a young seagull in our logo. "Skårungen" is a local word for both a young fisherman and a fledgling seagull. Like that eager seagull ready to soar, our logo captures the spirit of starting new adventures, surrounded by the stunning beauty of Lofoten.
