Batterie Dietl
Batterie Dietl is one of Europe's largest coastal fortresses from World War II. It housed three of the world's largest land-mounted cannons, which fired shells with a diameter of 40.6 cm. The maximum range was 56 km. The fort guarded the entrance to the Vestfjord and the important shipping traffic to Narvik, where iron ore from Sweden was collected and taken to Germany's weapons forges.
The exhibitions
One of the cannon bunkers has been converted into an exciting museum with restored ammunition and engine rooms. The bunker remains untouched since the war, with original installations and inscriptions on the wall.
It is a sinister but impressive structure with walls up to 3.5 meters thick. The exhibition tells the story of the daily lives of the soldiers, prisoners of war, forced laborers and, not least, the local population. Engeløya during the war years.
Photos: Karoline OA Pettersen
Location
The fortress is located in a fantastic natural area. A varied coastal landscape with knolls, bays, small sandy beaches and a rich growth of mountain and beach flowers, which have begun to cover the wounds in the landscape.
An area that offers rich opportunities for recreation and nature experiences. Many lookout points provide a good opportunity to enjoy a magnificent view of the Lofoten Wall. The entire fortress area can be experienced on foot. On your own, you can discover a lot of war relics. There are many ruins, bunkers and mountain halls in the fortress area. Bring a flashlight, but:
Be careful! Remember that you travel in the area at your own risk.
Do not let children play in the area unsupervised, there are hidden dangers in the terrain.
Please note – the area is pastureland, so please be careful and remember to keep your dog on a leash!
It can be a bit chilly in the bunker. Remember to wear some extra clothes.
Address and contact
Arrival
Batterie Dietl is located on Engeløya in Steigen. Exit the E6 at Tømmerneset. About 50 km to Engeløy bridge. After the bridge you can choose, right or left, it is exactly the same distance to Bø. The fortress road from Bø to the fortress is 3 km long.
Speedboat
The nearest stop for the express boat from Bodø is Bogøy.
Engeløya is a great destination for cycling. You can cycle around the island (35 km) and take a detour to Batterie Dietl.
Parking
Cars can be parked in the parking lot above the museum bunker.
Contact us
E-mail: post@nordlandsmuseet.no
Tel: 75 50 35 00
Availability
Toilet
Free parking / HC parking in front of the entrance
Easy serving
The bunker is partially accessible to wheelchair users, but has not undergone adaptations for disabilities and contains some high door frames and stairs down to the basement.
Opening hours and ticket prices
Opening hours summer season:
June 13-28: 11 am-4 pm daily
June 29 - August 2: 11 am - 6 pm daily
August 3-16: 11 am-4 pm daily
Guided tour every hour.
Batterie Dietl is open by appointment throughout the year.
Ticket prices
Adults 90 NOK
Students and seniors 70 NOK
Children and young people under 18: free
Groups (10+) 70 NOK per person.
Special prices apply for group visits and visits outside of regular opening hours.
History of the museum
Batterie Dietl was built by the German occupation forces between 1942 and 1945 to gain complete control over shipping traffic through the Vestfjord. With its three enormous guns with a range of up to 56 km, they could fire all the way to Lofoten and cover large parts of the Vestfjord.
The establishment of Batterie Dietl was an enormous construction project that tied up to 1,000 German workers to the site. In addition, several hundred civilians were forcibly conscripted to work at the facility. From the autumn of 1942, Soviet prisoners of war came to work here. At their peak, over 1,400 prisoners were crammed together in a cramped prison camp. Their working and living conditions were unbearable, especially in the first year. More than 500 people died - from hunger, exhaustion, disease and violence.
The fortress was taken over by the Norwegian Armed Forces in 1945, but closed down during the 1950s. The cannons were dismantled, melted down and the material reused. The bunkers remained, most of them open and unsecured.
After many years of work, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Liberation on May 8, 1995, the museum bunker was opened.
Booking
If you would like to book a tour of Batterie Dietl, please contact us well in advance. Fill out the form by clicking the button below for a booking request and practical clarifications.
