Today Ørnes is the centre of the Meløy Municipality. The buildings comprising the trading settlement Ørnes are huddled in a group on a small foreland with a lovely west facing view of the islands, the fairway and the sea. Situated in front of the main building was a protected cove, and on the backside of the buildings was a lush slope inclining up to foot of the mountains. Today the area surrounding the buildings has changed. Currently this area is encircled by a roadway and modern buildings. As this area has become more densely populated, it is difficult to distinguish the old landscape. Large areas have been developed near the sea in order to provide space for the new ferry quay and Hurtigrute quay. At this point the natural foreland and inlet are nearly non-existent. Alongside the edge of the sea large buildings of various types, all belonging to the functions of a modern society, have been erected.

The old buildings at Ørnes were built towards the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. The two white painted buildings which stand today, are made of cogging jointed timber and have vertical panelling on the walls, the roof is slate covered. Surrounding the Rococo style windows and door portals are lovely and painstakingly made mouldings, and their style is indicative of the early 19th century. The main building is two-storied and the bakery is one-and-a-half-storied. All of the structures are listed buildings and are currently owned by the Meløy Municipality.

Trading settlement

farm site

Woodwork

cogging joint method

trading settlement

farm

woodwork

log construction

Hage, Ingebjørg: "Freda anlegg i Nord-Norge", pp.111-140, in Årbok for Foreningen til norske Fortidsminnesmerkers Bevaring 1989.

Svendsen, Ola Øgard: Fredede hus og anlegg 1, pp. 64-65, Sarpsborg 1981.