Located close to the Swedish border, Kongsvinger was established as a military town to protect Norway from the Swedes. The town is on the Glomma, which is Norway’s longest river and the basis for industry in the region. Kongsvinger is an interesting historic town worth spending some time in.
Fun Facts About Kongsvinger
Latitude: 60.1 degrees north
Population: 17,949
Kongsvinger Municipality
In this Travel Guide...
Things to See & Do
Here’s an overview of some of the best things to see and do in Kongsvinger
Kongsvinger Fortress
Kongsvinger Fortress is an excellent place to visit. There is a parking place at the bottom of the fortress and a short walk up. It’s possible to walk around the grounds or you can visit either the Kongsvinger Museum or the Norwegian Prison Museum (Norsk Fengselsmuseum).
Kongsvinger Museum
Kongsvinger Museum is located in the old town, as well as a museum of female emancipation in a building called “Rolighed”, the home of Dagny Juel, the famous author once portrayed by Edvard Munch. The museum is about recording women’s life and working sin Norwegian cultural history.
Vinger Church
Vinger Church (“Vinger Kirke” on GPS) is a historic church from the 17th century with a characteristic onion-domed bell tower from 1855.
Hikes, Day Trips & Experiences
Looking to go for a hike or take part in a unique experience? Here are our recommendations!
Finnskogan Forest
Kongsvinger is located close to the Finnskogan forest, where you can go on many hikes and nice walks.
Road-Trips
Follow our road-trip guides for scenic trips around Kongsvinger
Norway's East Side: The Rv2 & Rv3
The eastern side of Norway alongside the Swedish border is known for its large forests, remote settlements, and moose population. Not many tourists make it this far east, but for those that do, they are rewarded with charming historic and industrial settlements as well as beautiful stretches of highway through dense pine and oak forests.
Here are some things that you must do and try in Kongsvinger
Øvrebyen
The old town of Kongsvinger is called Øvrebyen and is located around the fortress. Øvrebyen was designated as an area of special historical interest in 1973. The Øvrebyen area is dominated by wooden buildings from the 18th and 19th century.
The Plus
You can visit The Plus, the world’s most environmentally friendly furniture factory. The factory has a visitor centre.
History of Kongsvinger
It’s believed that the town has been an important place since the Viking Age, and several finds from the Stone Age have been found in the area. Viking chieftains reached Sweden by boat from Kongsvinger. In the 17th century, the Kongsvinger fortress was constructed by King Christian V of Denmark-Norway to protect the city from attacks from Sweden. The city was redesigned into a grid layout by Johan Caspar de Cicignon, who also designed the street layout for Trondheim. Below the fortress is Øvrebyen, the oldest part of the city and many of the houses were built around the same time the fortress was established.
When Norway entered into a union with Sweden in 1814, Kongsvinger became an important rest stop for travellers between the two countries. The fortress was more or less shut down in 1823. Railway development reached Kongsvinger in 1862 with the construction of the Kongsvinger Line between Lillestrøm and the Swedish border.
Kongsvinger played an important role in the Norwegian resistance against the Nazis by being a gateway to Sweden. Norway’s highest decorated citizen, Gunnar Sønsteby, frequently passed through Kongsvinger in his work to sabotage the Nazis’ installations in Norway. Some of the busiest escape routes for refugees also went through Kongsvinger to Sweden.
Kongsvinger Today
Today the town is characterised by being heavily forested, so agriculture and forestry-related businesses are the main industries. The downtown area of Kongsvinger has a new public library and town square. There are also plans for a new hotel to be built in the town.
Travel Information
Getting Here
Fly: The closest airport is Oslo Airport.
Drive: Kongsvinger is located approximately one hour from Oslo Airport by car.
Train: Trains connect Kongsvinger to Oslo.
Ferry: No ferry access
Getting Around
The town is very walkable.
Shops
Half an hour from Kongsvinger is Magnor Glassverk, one of the most famous glassworks in Norway. There’s a factory outlet store here.
Places to Eat
Cafes & Bakeries
Quick Bites
Reasonable Restaurants
High End & Unique Eats
Places to Stay
Camping
Cabins & B&Bs
Chains & Mid-Range
High End & Unique Properties
Festningen Hotel and Resort is located in the old commander’s residence from 1683. The fortress has been renovated into a modern high-end hotel with 28 rooms.