A place to come ashore
By the edge of the sea in Vågsvåg stands Naustet — a modest structure shaped by use, weather, and necessity. For generations, buildings like this formed part of the coastal working landscape: places where boats were stored, gear repaired, and daily life followed the rhythm of the sea.
Naustet belongs to a long coastal tradition where the shoreline was not a backdrop, but an active workspace — part of the sea route that connected people, trade, and livelihoods along the coast. Boats moved between fishing grounds, harbours, and landing places, and the naust was a key node in this network: a quiet but essential part of coastal communication and survival.
As fishing practices changed and everyday use declined, many nausts and boathouses were left without a function. Across the coast, loss of use has led to loss of buildings, knowledge, and connection. Climate change, storms, and rising sea levels now add further pressure to these vulnerable environments.
Naustet in Vågsvåg represents another path.
Today, the boathouse is still in use — not as it once was, but in a way that respects its role as a working coastal structure and allows it to remain part of a living environment. By opening the space for gatherings, slow experiences, and shared time by the sea, Naustet continues its original purpose: sheltering activity at the water’s edge and supporting life shaped by the coast.
Here, the sea remains close.
You arrive by foot, by car, or by water.
You feel the weather, the tide, and the openness of the shoreline.
Naustet can be used in many ways:
As an extension of the sauna experience, adding The Extra Hour — time to gather, rest, and socialise by the sea
As a place for birthdays, team gatherings, or quiet moments shared with friends and family
For a simple seaside lunch, an evening barbecue, or a yoga session where the coastal air becomes part of the experience
In this way, Naustet bridges work, heritage, and leisure. It reflects how the coast has always been used — not in separate categories, but as a continuous landscape where livelihood, community, and recreation overlap.
Every gathering becomes part of a living tradition. Using the boathouse is an act of care: keeping a coastal structure active, meaningful, and maintained through presence rather than preservation alone. This is heritage as a resource — contributing to knowledge, engagement, and sustainable use of the coastal environment.
The building remains simple and robust. It is not redesigned to impress, but to endure. Its value lies in continuity — in allowing people to experience the coast as it is, and to understand how life here has always been shaped by the sea.
Facilities
Naustet offers indoor and outdoor seating areas, an outdoor cold-water shower, an on-site toilet, a swimming ladder on the pier for easy sea access, and parking directly in front of the boathouse.
Photo: Visit Fjordkysten og Sunnfjord