Sogn og Fjordane » The Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre

The Lærdal River streams down the valley, quick tempered between the ravines, patient over the plains - until it finally relaxes in the Sognefjord. Here, as the closest neighbour to the river and just 100 metres from the Centre of Lærdal, lies the The Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre ready to tell you about the proud, but turbulent history of Lærdal River and its wild salmon.

Wild salmon, sports fishing and Lærdal have practically been synonymous with one another from as far back as the 1800s. The Lærdal River or ‘Queen of the Salmon Rivers' has not only got a great reputation at home, but also internationally. Royalty, rock-stars and the nobility have all landed huge salmon after huge salmon, and the royal family has always been a close friend of the Lærdal River.

At the Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre you will learn about the history of the Atlantic Salmon and traditions associated with it. In addition, you can observe wild salmon in the 20 metre long observatory – so close that you can almost touch the fish! You can find out why salmon has pink flesh and how it is possible for it to find its way back to its birth river from the Atlantic Ocean. And do you know how high a salmon can actually jump? And how far it can migrate each day? In addition to the exhibitions we will show an approx. 20-minute-long award winning film about the life of the Atlantic Salmon. This is shown at half-hourly intervals in five different languages: Norwegian, English, German, French and Japanese. In 2011, you can also help feed the salmon!

In the fly tying workshop you can find out how a salmon fly is made – step by step. For example, did you know that almost 50 tasks need to be carried out before a salmon fly is finished? With us you can also attempt to make your own salmon fly!

Would you like to take a souvenir from your travels to Lærdal and the Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre? Or would you just like to purchase a gift? In which case, you must visit our shop. We have a large selection of gifts and souvenirs, in addition to locally produced goods!

In our cafe you can purchase delicious sandwiches, homemade cakes and a cup of coffee. How about trying the 'Lærdal Menu'?

In the same building as the Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre, you will find Sogn Art Centre (Sogn Kunstsenter) – a new addition which will open on 3 June 2011. Sogn Art Centre will be showing world class exhibitions, and the opening exhibition will be a guest exhibition from the Astrud Fearnley Museum of Modern Art. Admission to the Sogn Art Centre is included in the admission ticket.

Combined ticket including Borgund Stave Church and Visitor Centre for groups uttside normal opening hours. News: Sogn Art Centre opens in 2011 in the same building. The Tourist Information Centre colocates with the Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre.