The Risværet island group is located almost in the middle of the land between Rørvik and Leka in Nærøysund municipality. After a 10-15 minute boat trip, you will arrive at a little paradise. At least when the weather is nice. – The goal has always been to restore it as it was in its heyday. We want to recreate an important part of history out here. This is important for the identity of many people here in the district. It has been hard work, but now our dream will soon come true, says Jørn Otto Røed. Jørn Otto and Lill Tove Røed have spent the last three years rebuilding the old trading post Risværet in Nærøysund municipality. Photo: Espen Sandmo / news – Strongly affected by decay Risværet was its own community with a heyday from the 17th century to the 1940s. The last permanent resident moved in 1957, and afterwards there was some tourism for a few years. – But for the past 40 years, the buildings have been empty, and were heavily marked by decay when we took over the property, continues Røed. Three years ago, two houses from the 19th century remained standing at Risværet. Without windows, doors and fixtures. The family has invested in the reuse of everything that could be used again. And only the timber boxes remain of the buildings themselves. The place has therefore been rebuilt from the ground up. Jørn Otto admits that it has been three years of hard work and a lot of work. From the whole family. – Yes, everyone has contributed. Both myself and wife Lill Tove, and children Otto, Dina Emilie and Martha Julianne. Without everyone’s help, this would not have been possible, he believes. 35,000 working hours The family bought the old trading post in 2020, with 85 islands and islets in the surrounding area. The property is a total of 1,600 acres, and up to now the Røed family has spent over 35,000 working hours to build up the place. Much of this is also hired labour. – I hardly know how much it will cost when the accounts are settled, but we are talking about many millions of kroner, he says. Lill Tove Røed has been responsible for everything inside the houses at Risværet. Everything from wallpaper to furniture and other furnishings. – We wanted to recreate the houses as they must have appeared at the end of the 19th century and first in the 20th century, she says. This is what the fine room looks like in one of the houses at Risværet. Photo: Espen Sandmo / news Then the rich cattle owner ruled the trading post Risværet. At most, between 40 and 50 people lived on the islands and islets. Here there was a shop, bakery, alcohol outlet, blacksmith and school. In addition, Risværet was the port of call for Hurtigruten and many other boats. Shoveling dirt in the Russe time Son Otto was Russian in the spring of 2020, but due to the corona pandemic, the Russian celebration went badly. Therefore, he almost moved out to Risværet to start the work. – I started by shoveling out sheep droppings from the houses. It’s been wild out here for several years. There was crap all over the two houses, and I spent a few weeks just doing that. Altogether there were a couple of trailer loads. So it was a rather special Russian time, he laughs. The son, Otto Røed, started by shoveling out large quantities of gravy kit from the houses on Risværet. Photo: Espen Sandmo / news Today, the houses and the surrounding areas appear almost stately. There is a high standard both in the buildings and in the surrounding areas. The goal is to have the site ready for next year’s tourist season. – Yes, we are betting on tourism in the coming years. In addition to special events of various kinds. We have the grants in order and our own restaurant, says Jørn Otto Røed. Lures tourists with silence The previous catering grant at Risværet was issued by King Oscar in 1845. So it was perhaps time for a new one, almost 180 years later. – I think the silence out here on the islands will attract many tourists here. Here they can go out and escape the stress, hustle and bustle of everyday life. Our concept is a journey back in time, where you can experience how it was in the heyday at Risværet. – When you see how nice it has turned out, I would love to be one of the guests out here, laughs Lill Tove Røed. This house at Risværet is ready to welcome tourists in 2024. Photo: Espen Sandmo / news – Tourism at its best Katrine Mosfjeld is head of consumer marketing at Visit Norway, and is happy about the investment of the Røed family at Risværet. – This is tourism at its best. Breathing life into smaller places and creating jobs. That’s how we want it, she says to news. Norway has the world’s second longest coastline after Canada, and Mosfjeld believes that tourism here will be very important in the coming years. – The combination of great nature experiences, real cultural history and good meals is important for reaching target groups with strong purchasing power. This type of experience has clear international potential, but we also believe it will be possible to arrange it for Norwegians, says Katrine Mosfjeld in Visit Norway to news. Per-Arne Tuftin in Norsk Reiseliv believes that Norwegian coastal tourism will grow in the coming years. Photo: Gunnar Sandvik/news Director Per-Arne Tuftin of Norsk Reiseliv agrees. – Tourism along the coast is popular. Especially in Norway, and among tourists from Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark. All feedback shows that tourism at lighthouses, fishing villages and on small islands where there are few tourists is in demand. We believe this form of coastal tourism will grow, he says to news.
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From ruins to stately coastal pearl – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
