Hegra Fortress, Mountain fortress in Stjørdal Municipality, Norway.
Hegra is a mountain fortress in Stjørdal Municipality built into the Ingstadkleiva mountain, featuring approximately 300 meters of underground passages with parallel corridors and a central cross tunnel. The military installation includes barracks, storage areas, and administrative buildings spread across the plateau surrounding the mountain fortification.
The fortress was built between 1908 and 1910 following Norway's separation from Sweden to protect the border region. Its role as an active military post ended in 1926 due to budget constraints, though circumstances during the war would reshape its purpose once more.
The site functioned as a summer camp run by the Norwegian Red Cross for children from 1934 to 1939, marking a period when it served a different purpose than military defense. This chapter in its past shapes how locals view the place today.
Visitors can walk through the underground tunnels and view exhibitions about military history and wartime events displayed in the attached museum. A café on the grounds provides refreshments and rest areas as you explore the fortification complex.
Around 250 defenders held the fortress for three weeks against German forces during the 1940 invasion, causing significant losses among the attackers. This unexpected stand made the small installation a symbol of Norwegian resistance during occupation.
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