Very Easy Lindesnes is the southernmost point of mainland Norway. The name comes from Old Norse and means "where the land sinks into the sea." This is where the North Sea meets the Skagerrak, and the waters here have always been treacherous. Currents, wind and sudden storms caused countless shipwrecks over the centuries.
Norway's first lighthouse was lit here on 27 February 1656. It consisted of thirty tallow candles burning at the top of a three-storey tower. The solution was poor, and after complaints from sailors, the light was extinguished after just a few months. It wasn't relit until 1725. The current cast-iron tower dates from 1915. It's only 16 metres tall, but the light sits 50 metres above sea level and can be seen for about 37 kilometres in clear weather. The lighthouse still operates today – it's the only one in Norway that still has a keeper.
During World War II, German forces fortified Lindesnes with bunkers and tunnels as part of the Atlantic Wall defences. You can still see the remains around the site.
The visitor centre is built into the rock behind the lighthouse. There are exhibitions about maritime history, a cinema and a café serving their signature "fyrbrød" – bread made with seawater and seaweed. You can also stay overnight in the old keeper's apartment. Over 100,000 people visit each year.