Name and Location

Kvitsøy Lighthouse (Kvitsøy fyr) is located at Fv551 23, 4180 Kvitsøy, Norway on the island of Kvitsøy in Rogaland county. Its official OpenStreetMap ID is way/183503794.

Construction and History

The Kvitsøy lighthouse station has guided vessels through the busy shipping lanes of the Boknafjorden for over a century. Although its exact date of first construction is not recorded, some maritime sources suggest early 19th-century origins. The light was automated in the late 20th century and no longer requires on-site keepers.

Architecture and Materials

The structure type is a coastal lighthouse station with attached service building(s). Construction materials include traditional masonry and wood, typical of pleasure lighthouses in Rogaland. The exterior is painted white (wooden/stone tower and service annex).

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse functions as a minor coastal light for vessels in the Boknafjorden approach. It is managed by the Norwegian Coastal Administration (Kystverket) and remains an active aid to navigation.

Accessibility and Visiting

The outside area is freely accessible, but the interior and keeper’s quarters are closed to the public. There is parking along Fv551 and a short walk to the station.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers panoramic seascape views of shipping lanes, distant islands of Solund and Rennesøy, and low rocky skerries. The surrounding landscape features typical west-coast heath and pasture.

Anecdotes and Folklore

• Local fishermen recall seeing the first foghorn installations at Kvits��y in the mid-20th century.
• Stories of harsh keeper winters are preserved in Kvitsøy municipal archives (not digitized).

Technical and Operational Details

The power source is electricity, with a backup battery arrangement. There is no AIS or radar recorded.

Further Information

For further details on the lighthouse's cultural heritage, please consult the Riksantikvaren database or the Norwegian Coastal Administration's official lighthouse publications.