A private island located in a Norwegian fjord is back on the market. Ulvsnesøy, with nearly 4,000 square meters of built space and its own beach, is situated in the municipality of Osterøy, near Bruvik, in the Vestland region.
The land, covering 94,800 square meters, currently has no announced price but is described as a “unicorn property” due to its rarity in the global real estate market. The property includes a manor house with fjord views, several independent residences, barns, workshops, a greenhouse, and a deep-water dock, totaling over 1,600 meters of private coastline, its own beaches, trails, and a helipad, according to the listing.
The island’s popular name has an interesting history. In the past, it was part of a monastery and later became ecclesiastical property connected to a farm called Kirkebruvik. In 1881, a correctional boarding school for boys aged 10 to 15 considered “wayward” was established there, leading to the local nickname “Fanteøya,” which translates to “Devil’s Island” by the international press.
The listing suggests several possibilities for the island’s use, such as a luxury boutique resort, a wellness retreat, an international leadership campus, or a private corporate headquarters. The possibility of converting it into an exclusive club or a family complex that can be passed down through generations is also mentioned. However, any tourist development must respect the cultural heritage and environmental values of the area, according to municipal regulations that require any future activities to be linked to “service provision.”
Despite the sense of isolation it offers, the island has relatively easy access from the mainland, just 45 minutes by car from Bergen Airport, followed by a 25-minute train ride to Vaksdal and a short trip by private boat. There is also the option to access it by helicopter, with a short 10-minute flight from Bergen.
The property, which has already changed hands twice, was first put up for sale for 8.2 million Norwegian kroner (approximately 758,250 euros) after the closure of the school in 1981, and was subsequently purchased in 2019 for 11.8 million kroner (1,060,200 euros) by a buyer who established a functioning farm on the island. In the same year, it was revalued at approximately 30 million kroner or 2.5 million euros.
Source: www.infobae.com
