Karmsundet sound to the east, the old King’s Road and the thoroughfare to the north, where seafarers for centuries sought and found a safe fairway and a secure harbour. It is this fairway, “Nordvegen” that has given our country its name. Avaldsnes is Rogaland County’s millennium site, and this is also the site of the beautiful Olavskirken. Next to the church is the new Nordvegen Historiesenter where we meet the king who gathered Norway into one kingdom and who made Avaldsnes Norway’s first royal seat. On Bukkøy nearAvaldsnes, we can find a reconstructed Viking farm.

Images from Karmøy

Avaldsnes

Avaldsnes – Norway’s first king’s seat – was chosen as Rogaland County’s millennium site. Harold the Fair-Haired located his main farm at Avaldsnes in about 870 and the site was a king’s farm up until about 1450. At present the Olavskirken in Avaldsnes, which was constructed by Håkon Håkonsen around 1250, is the most important monument to Avaldsnes’s time of glory. The historical landscape at Avaldsnes tells a story about the Norwegian kings and the legendary characters that are described in myths and lays. The
noblemen that controlled the old “Nordwegen” have left powerful traces: Impressive burial mounds, high stone monuments and abundant findings. Next to the medieval church a new history centre has been built and east of the church is a reconstructed Viking farm which you can visit in the summer.

Nordevegen History Centre

is located in an area that is important to national history. In consideration of the medieval church and the historical landscape, most of the building is placed underground. From the Karmsundet, the glass and concrete façade is visible. From the church plateau only the round entrance part is visible. The centre
measures some 1800 sqm divided between two floors. On the first floor lies Kongshallen, where Harold the Fair-haired is placed at the high end of the table, looking across the Nordvegen. Here we can hear how Harold made Avaldsnes Norway’s eldest royal seat at around the year 870. From Avaldsnes Harold
ruled his kingdom. From here he controlled the shipping along the Nordvegen and the trade with Europe, here he died and here next to the Karmsundet he was buried around 930. In the History Centre Harold acts as our historical guide through the ages. On the ground floor we meet Harold the Fairhaired in a movie theatre where he gives us his version of history. He presents us with some of the chieftains who governed
Nordvegen from Avaldsnes. Some of them we know from archaeology, others from the heroic sagas, and the sagas of the kings and from lays. Harold will also lead us to the magic world that people once believed to be real. here we’ll meet sorcerers, female warriors, personified natural forces and Norse gods. Harold founded a dynasty and was king of all kings! All kings after him had to prove their bloodline to Harold before they were allowed to ascend the throne. Harold and his successors reigned at Avdalsnes for 500 years. Eirik Blood
Axe, Håkon the Good, Olav Tryggvason, St Olav and Håkon Håkonson are but a few names linked to the saga landscape at Avaldsnes.

Skudeneshavn

photo credit: Bertr@nd

At the southernmost tip of Karmøy, with its lighthouses facing the Skudefjorden fjord and the North Sea lies the charming sailing vessel town of Skudeneshavn. Its history goes back to the 1800s when the herring fisheries created a hectic activity in the town and when what we today refer to as the old part of town was built. Virtually all the 130 houses and sea houses have been preserved and can be enjoyed to this day. It could be said that the Mælandsgården Museum presents the town’s history in a nutshell. Today Skudeneshavn is one of the best preserved of all our small towns. It won second prize in NORTA’s competition for Norway’s Best Preserved Small Town in 1990. In 2004, Skudeneshavn was elected Norway’s Summer Town. The visitor’s harbour in the centre of town is an attractive site indeed and a short walk
brings you to countless quaint, attractive boutiques. Care for a round of golf? Just outside of the town limits you can enjoy a beautiful 18-hole course. Children will enjoy the outdoor park near the Skudeneshavn School.

Museums

Åkrehamn Coastal Museum

Located on the harbour front, and completely renovated in 2006, this museum has become a definite
“must-see”. It houses photographs and objects from Karmøy from days gone by and tells of this region’s
history as an important fishing community. This museum also richly depicts the contact enjoyed between
West Karmøy and North America. The Nora Sjøhuset boasts to being one of the few herring salteries in
Norway still in existence. Open during the summer season, otherwise by appointment.

N-4270 Åkrehamn
Tel.: +47 98 64 35 23

Vigsnes Mining Museum

Do not forget to visit the Vigsnes copper mines – one of the finest mining regions in Norway. In the
Vigsnes Mining Museum, you will find the history of the rather special mining community that was one of
Norway’s largest copper mines and had 3,000 inhabitants in the 1800s! Take a stroll in the elegant
garden of managing director Charles de France – Fransehagen – and see the remnants of the smelting
hut by the sea. Children are happy too – the playground is very popular! Open in the summer season,
otherwise by appointment. Please contact Karmøy Kulturopplevelser AS.

Tel.: +47 52 83 84 00 / 95 10 36 12.
Fax: +47 52 83 84 01.
E-mail: post@vikinggarden.no www.vikinggarden.no

Karmøy Lyngsenter

This heather centre is located in Visnes and tells the story of how heather has been used throughout
the ages and how important it was to people. Heather garden and boutique with various heather
plants. The centre is open during the summer season and otherwise by appointment. Contact Karmøy
Kulturopplevelser AS.

Tel.: +47 52 83 84 00 / 95 10 36 12.
Fax: +47 52 83 84 01.
E-mail: post@vikinggarden.no www.vikinggarden.no

Mælandsgården townhouse

A richly equipped town museum showing life in a merchant’s home, general store, shipping, old workshops,
etc. The museum also tells the history of Skudeneshavn through the ages. A town model shows what old Skudeneshavn looked like in the 1900s. The film “Skipper Worse” was shot at the museum
and in the Old Skudeneshavn milieu. Open during the summer season, otherwise by appointment.

N-4280 Skudeneshavn.
Tel. +47 52 84 54 60.
Fax: +47 52 84 54 69.
E-mail: s-histo@online.no http://www.skudenes.no/museum/

Old Skudeneshavn

Especially well-known for its old perfectly-preserved wood buildings dating back to the 1800s, Old Skudeneshavn also offers its visitors museums, art galleries and cafés. Most of the houses in Skudeneshavn
were built in the style of the Late Empire and in all, 130 preserved houses from the 1800s lie nestled
in the narrow bay of Søragda. One seldom sees a town atmosphere that is so defined by its old building
culture and there are very few places where the old city buildings are so well-preserved as in Skudeneshavn.
Why not go on a guided tour through the town?

Tel.: +47 52 84 54 60
Fax: +47 52 84 54 69
E-mail: s-histo@online.no http://www.skudenes.no/museum/

Karmøy Fishery Museum

Exhibits that illustrate developments in the fishery business from the time when the steam engine arrived
and up to the present. The building has a very special form and is definitely worth seeing. It is designed by the Snøhetta firm of architects. Apart from the exhibitions, the museum also contains a saltwater aquarium
and a café. Open during the summer season, otherwise by appointment.

N-4276 Vedavågen
Tel.: +47 52 81 74 55
Telefon 52 81 74 55
www.museumsnett.no/karmoyfiskerimuseum

Sandy Beaches

photo credit: randihausken

On a hot summer’s day there is nothing like visiting one of our local “southern European beaches”. Sandvesanden by Skudeneshavn and Åkrasanden further to the west offer white sandy beaches and clean, clear water. Åkrasanden is a fantastic experience on hot summer days, but also offers speed and excitement on a stormy day when the waves are pounding against the shore. Åkrasanden is a first class beach for both children and adults, and it is possible to take part in activities like board surfing and sand volleyball. There is a kiosk and lifeguards on duty during fine summer days from May to September. Åkrasanden has a reputation for being Norway’s best board surfing beach. The beach is also an important hatching area for several rare species of sea birds, and there are several rare plants and flowers in the sand dunes around the sandy beaches. The municipality has made a culture and nature trail along the shoreline from Åkrehamn to
Ferkingstad.

Festivals

The Viking Festival

The Viking Festival is held at Karmøy, the homeland of the Vikings. On historical grounds you can take part in Viking feasts, study the day-to-day life of Vikings, visit the Viking market, join in an historic walk and
participate in a Viking procession along with visitors from Norway and other countries. On Saturday, you may attend a Saga Evening in Avaldsnes, at the Viking farm. Here you can listen to exciting sagas, take part in various competitions and enjoy the drama, dance and food. The historic seminar related to the festival attracts professionals from Norway and abroad. The Viking Festival is arranged every year in early June.

Vikingfestivalen, Rådhuset, N-4250 Kopervik.
Tel.: +47 52 85 75 00, Fax: +47 52 85 73 60.
http://www.vikingfestivalen.no

The Skude Festival (Skudefestivalen)

Western Norway’s most important coast culture gathering – wooden boats, vintage boats, pleasure boats, small boats, sailing vessels. There is teeming life around the market stalls at the marketplace in the town
centre; craftsmen demonstrate old work methods related to the sea and boating life. Søragadå, the main street in the old town, has a number of art exhibits. Local and international entertainment day and night. Skudefestivalen is always held during the first weekend of July (Wednesday – Sunday).

Skudefestivalen, P.O. Box 83,
N-4297 Skudeneshavn.
Tel./fax: +47 52 82 87 37.
Mob.: +47 90 01 42 80.
http://www.skudefestivalen.no

Fishery Days in Åkrehamn

The Fishery Days in Åkrehamn are slowly becoming a tradition just as the Viking and Skude Festivals. The organisers are gradually increasing their focus on fishery-oriented activities. Local industry and commerce are represented and sell their wares in the many stalls in the harbour area. There is also a fair where children and young people enjoy themselves and an outdoor dance for the adults on Saturday night. On Sunday there is an open-air church service.

Contact Fiskeridagene, N-4296 Åkrehamn.
Tel./fax: +47 52 81 81 37.
www.fiskeridagene.no

The Olav Days (Olavsdagene)

There is an annual Olsok event at the historical Avaldsnes, where the old Olavskirken church is the main arena for the day. The event offers various concerts, seminars, pilgrim wandering and an Olsok service. For
more information, contact Avaldsnes Parish.

Tel.: +47 52 84 21 55.

Gospel Festival

This annual Gospel Festival at Karmøy is an event that caters to young and old. The festival is held in Åkrehamn with a separate day for the youngest (small) and special days for young people and adults (large). Concerts are held in Åkrahallen and Åkra Church. The gospel festival offers with seminars and concerts,
while maintaining the focus on gospel music.

Organisers: Karmøy Gospelfestival.
Tel.: +47 52 83 27 45
Website: http://www.gospel.as

Lots to see

By taking a relaxing walk in Karmøy, there is a lot you can discover and experience. Here are but a few.

The Five Foolish Virgins, Norheim Five single-stone monuments located under the Karmsund Bridge. It is thought that these stones once served as a primitive calendar.

St Olav’s Church and The Virgin Marie’s Sewing Needle An historic church and Norway’s tallest single-stone monument.

Old Skudeneshavn
An arena for historical buildings and culture. Guided tours available.
Information and registration at the museum in Mælandsgården:
Tel.: +47 52 84 54 60
Fax: + 47 52 84 54 69

Kopervik
Kopervik offers a charming mix of old and new settlements.

Rehaugane, Avaldsnes
Six large, ancient burial mounds dating from the Bronze Age.

Nedre Hauge, Utvik and Grønhaug, Avdalsnes
Ancient relics and monuments.

Fransehagen, Visnes
Open air spaces and museum. Park.

Old Boat houses at Hop, Ferkingstad
Based on the large boat houses on King Ferking’s estate during the Iron Age. Information boards located on site.

Ting stones at Åkra
There are three single-stone monuments now located at the cultural centre in Åkrehamn. Originally these monuments stood at the old Åkra farm where they marked the Ting (place of assembly, parliament).

Fisherman’s memorial,Ferkingstad
A memorial to the fishermen who lost their lives at sea along the east and west coasts of the USA. Glockenspiel.

Boating – lighthouses – fishing

For many, boating is synonymous with summer holidays, and there are many opportunities for staying by the jetty. The harbours on the west side of the island offer relaxation and anchoring sites. On the north-west side lies Feøy, a little island kingdom with bays and coves, narrow sounds and fine anchoring places. Karmsundet is made for boating. Stop at Prestøyene in Avaldsnes – ideal for a coffee break. Then sail
your boat in towards Røyksund and continue along Fosnaneset under the bridge and into the Førdesfjorden. At Fosen and Høvring you feel like you have the world to yourself, the way you only can experience in a boat.
Even if you are not a boat owner, you can still experience these idyllic places.

Feøy with its 70 regular inhabitants, and guaranteed to have no cars, has a daily boat service from Haugesund. With the ever-increasing nautical traffic in the 16 and 1700s, private business owners found it good business to build lighthouses along the coast. These lighthouses in turn made it possible to tax all ships in the boating lanes. Some of these lighthouses have now been restored and are available for overnight stays. The quaint Vikholmen lighthouse built in 1849 marks the entrance to Skudnes Harbour. This lighthouse is available for rental from the Norwegian Seamen’s Mission at Skudeneshavn. The Geitungen lighthouse, appropriately named, is majestically located atop Søre Geitungen offSkudeneshavn. It was built in 1924 and has been declared a protected building. For overnight accommodations, please contact the Haugesund Tourist Centre.

Surrounded by the sea, Karmøy offers great opportunities for fishing. Set out on the wide ocean with a spinner or a rod, or try your luck from the bare rock faces! One day of deep-sea fishing is an unforgettable
experience. Take a fishing trip on a fishing smack or a cutter – you will not return empty-handed! If the open sea becomes too rough, take a trip to the many freshwater lakes on Karmøy – where trout, eel and
pike are waiting. There are guest harbours in Skudeneshavn and in Kopervik.

Åkrehamn

To the west, on the edge of the North Sea, lies Åkrehamn. Since prehistoric times, people have being living by the beautiful sandy beaches and bare rock-faces on the western side of Karmøy. Åkrehamn was created by fishermen, farmers and sailors over several generations. Today Åkrehamn is a modern, built-up area with 6,500 inhabitants, and offers various shops and services.

The name Åkrehamn is compiled by Åker (field) and hamn (harbour), but nowadays most of the fields are covered with shops, service buildings and homes. The old Åkra municipality was in its time the largest
fishing municipality in the country and in fact an active fishing community still exists here. From the old harbour area with its idyllic little wooden houses, fishing boats still leave for the fishing banks every morning.

The fishermen bring their catch to the harbour later in the day, and on most days fresh fish, shrimps and crabs can be bought in the harbour. Fishery days are celebrated every year ay the beginning of August.
Come and enjoy fishing activities and entertainment for the young and old at heart!

Kopervik

Kopervik is the municipal administration centre of Karmøy. Already in the early 1800s, there were “buildings
along the bay”. One is still able to find traces of the old buildings of that era – well preserved old wooden
houses. Earlier, Kopervik was known for its canning factories. The factories were often owned by Stavanger companies and nearly all trade was with Stavanger. The building estates surrounding Kopervik were mainly built after the aluminium smelter Karmøy Fabrikker, Norsk Hydro, arrived in 1965. Kopervik is now the junction for scheduled boats headed north and south, carrying passengers and goods.

The Icelandic historian Tormod Torfæus spent most of his adult life at Stangeland in Kopervik. He is best known for his historic work “Historia rerum Norvegicanes”, the history of the Norwegian people from prehistoric times to the present, which he wrote in the 1600s.

The Vikings

THE PERIOD OF THE VIKINGS SPANNED FROM 800 TO 1050 AD. The term “Viking” applied to people from
Scandinavia who travelled abroad to trade, plunder or wage war. The Vikings were blessed with good boats and were skilled sailors. Some Vikings elected to settle in foreign countries, but most returned home bringing with them the goods that they has traded or plundered. They instilled fear and terror in the hearts of everyone when they attacked from the sea. They murdered, stole, plundered and burned. Sometimes they
even took slaves. However, they also acquired great wealth for their country.

Harold the Fair-Haired turned Avaldsnes on Karmøy into the oldest royal seat in Norway. Around 870, after the victory at Hafrsfjord he turned Norway into one kingdom. From Avaldsnes he reigned over his kingdom and controlled the shipping lanes along Nordvegen and, and the trade with Europe.

Many other well-known individuals have spent time at Avaldsnes, and these included King Augvald and St. Olav. Avaldsnes still has countless traces pointing to the Vikings ages.

Vikinggården

THE VIKINGGARDEN MUSEUM IS LOCATED ON A SMALL, WOODCOVERED ISLAND directly below the
medieval church at Avdalsnes, in the vicinity of Skrattaskjær where Olav Tryggvason was reported to have drowned a group of sorcerers more than one thousand years ago. This museum will provide the visitor with knowledge about how our Norwegian ancestors used to build houses, which materials and tools they used
and how they exploited the natural resources available. The museum attempts to present us with a more nuanced picture of what the Vikings were like, that is to say not all of them were pirates and murderers. Vikings were in fact mostly farmers and fishermen as well as craftsmen and tradesmen. They were poets
and inventors. In the museum courtyard you will find a traditional longhouse as well as smaller dwellings, a Viking boat and plants and animals. There are nature trails available outside in the forest for those who want some peace and quiet. The museum is open to visitors in the summertime. During the other seasons it is open for guided visits and organised events. The light from the hearth and the oil lamps will certainly transport you 1000 years back. The building itself is a part of an experimental archaeological research programme where the aim is to acquire more knowledge about prehistoric building techniques.

Communication

Transport to and from Karmøy is simple. The island has good domestic and international connections by air, bus, speedboat service and ferries. Ferries travel from Skudeneshavn to Stavanger several times a day, all year round. The airport, Haugesund Lufthavn, Karmøy, has several flights daily to Oslo, Sandefjord and Bergen. If you are going abroad, Rayanair has daily flights to London. Once a week there is a chartered flight to more southerly destinations.

There are several weekly departures from Haugesund by car ferry to Hanstholm in Denmark and Newcastle in England. A speedboat leaves both Kopervik and Haugesund for Stavanger and Bergen several times a day.
There are buses daily from Haugesund to Bergen, Stavanger and Oslo.

Open all year round

Avdalsnes Tourist Information Centre

Nordvegen Historiesenter
N-4262 Avaldsnes
Tel.: +47 52 81 14 88
Fax: +47 52 83 8401
e-mail: post@vikinggarden.no

Kopervik Tourist Information Centre

Rådhuset, N-4250 Kopervik
Tel.: +47 52 85 75 00
Fax: +47 52 85 73 60
e-mail: turistinfo@online.no

Oasen Tourist Information Centre

Oasen Storsenter, N-5508 Karmsund
Tel.: +47 52 83 10 89
Fax: +47 52 83 05 06
e-mail: post@oasen.no

History

Painting by I. C. Dahl, 1820Before this church there was a wooden church on the same place. That church is assumed to have been built by Olav Trygvason, and it is possible that the present stone church is built around this church originally.

This church has been a landmark for the seafarers passing through the strait of Karmsund for 750 years. King Håkon IV Håkonsson gave permission to build a church around the year 1250. It was not completed until nearly 1320, and was then the fourth largest in the country. The church was dedicated to St. Olav and received the status of ”Royal Chapel”. During the same period it became one of four ”college-churches” ( it appointed a council of theological and juridical scholars). Probably there was a group of four scholars, and it could be there was an octagonal house of stone in close proximity to the quire. This is assumed to have been mentioned by Peder Clausen Friis in 1599. Remaining walls were visible as late as 1840, but are now completely gone. «Kapittelhus» are common for english cathedrals.

photo credit: -Kj.

The history of the church depicts a fine cross-section of Norway`s history. Being one of the largest churches along the coast of Norway, it is certainly to have been visited by many travelers on their pilgrimage to St. Olav`s shrine in Trondheim.

The decay started with the Black Death in 1349-1351. This disaster was followed by 400 years of Danish supremacy. In this period, the church gradually fell into a state of ruin due to lack of repair. In the 17th century a little wooden church was built inside the stone walls. This one was used for more than 200 years.

The first restoration work began in 1830. The old steeple was demolished, the nave was rebuilt, and a small wooden steeple was erected on the top.

In the 1920’s the church was once again restored in a manner which was more similar to its original architecture. A new stone steeple was built and the interior renewed.

The German occupation in World War II became dramatic for the church. The Germans asserted that the high steeple was used as a landmark for allied planes, coming in over the strait of Karmsund to drop bombs in the water. German authorities demanded the steeple to be demolished. Many people were engaged in the task of saving it, and they persuaded the Germans to let them camouflage the whole church with timber! This was to be done in 5 weeks, but the whole job lasted a year.

photo credit: Frans & all

The 700th anniversary of the church in 1950 was a big event for the community, with concerts and a historical outdoor play which pictured the Viking history of the place.

The stained glass windows were ordered for the anniversary. They were made by Bernhard Greve, a Norwegian painter, and present the most important events in the life of Christ : Baptism, passion, ascension and resurrection.

Design and architecture

The pointed arches, but thick walls and no pillars, suggest an early Gothic design. The walls are composed of ordinary gray stone in thickness about 1.2–2.0 meters. The corners and frames around the doors and windows are of steatite (soapstone) from ”Tolgetjønn” near Haugesund.

The sewing needle of Virgin Mary

photo credit: Skygge

The sewing needle of Virgin Mary (Norwegian:Jomfru Marias synål) is the only one remaining of several monumental stones which once stood around the church area. The stone has been somewhat taller, but, towering at 7.2 meters it is still the next largest of its kind in Norway. The stone leans in towards the church wall—the distance to the wall is in fact only 9.2 cm. A saga tells that “the day of Judgement will come when the stone comes into contact with the church wall”. A popular story tells us about the minister in the old ages climbing up the monument and cutting off a piece from the stone when it came dangerously near the church wall!

Sites with more info about Haugalandet and Bukkøy: Destinasjon Haugalandet | Visit Haugesund