Fredheim, Spitsbergen’s most famous trapper hut, is now accessible online in shape of a virtual tour. The wooden hut, with a luxurious two floors, was built and used by the legendary Norwegian hunter Hilmar Nøis. It is beautifully situated in Tempelfjord, but difficult to reach outside the snow mobile season, and if you manage to get there, then you will face closed doors.
Now it is possible to visit every room in Villa Fredheim (including the two adjacent huts) any time from anywhere without any effort: In late March, I have had the opportunity to panorama-photograph Fredheim in detail, and I have put the results together to create a virtual tour, which is now online, making it possible to visit Fredheim inside, every room. The tour runs automatically like a film; alternatively, it is possible to select individual rooms (panoramas). Short explanatory texts give some background information and stories from the wild years of the trappers in Spitsbergen.
The local newspaper Svalbardposten has already turned their readers’ attention to this possibility to visit Fredheim online. More than 1000 virtual visitors have been there within a few days, more than visited Fredheim physically at the “open day” that is held there twice during the winter season: the only possibility for the public so far to get some inside impressions from Fredheim.