Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Information
The
tourist office ( 57 64 12 07;
www.alr.no
;
Øyraplassen 7; 10am-6pm Mon-Sat
mid-Jun-mid-Aug, 9am-3pm rest of year)
occupies a lovely old clapboard house, once
the town's bank, that's set back from the main street. It has a neat little photo exhibition on
early Lærdal and a free internet point.
Getting There & Away
If you're driving south, you have the choice between the world's longest road tunnel link-
ing Aurland and Lærdal (mercifully, it's toll free) or, in summer, climbing up and over the
mountain, following the Snøvegen. Express buses run to/from Bergen (Nkr350, 3¾ hours)
two to six times daily via the tunnel.
Threedailycarferriesrunto/fromGudvangen(caranddriver/passengerNkr600/250,three
hours) via Kaupanger (Nkr595/240).
BORGUND STAVE CHURCH
Some 30km southeast of Lærdalsøyri along the E16, this 12th-century
stave church
(adult/child Nkr65/45; 8am-8pm mid-Jun-mid-Aug, 9.30am-5pm May-mid-
Jun & mid-Aug-Sep)
was raised beside one of the major trade routes between east-
ern and western Norway. Dedicated to St Andrew, it's one of the best known, most
photographed - and certainly the best preserved - of Norway's stave churches.
Beside it is the only freestanding medieval wooden bell tower still standing in Nor-
way. Buy your ticket at the visitors centre, which has a worthwhile exhibition (in-
cluded in the price of your admission) on this peculiarly Norwegian phenomenon as
well as recent early Viking finds from a nearby archaeological dig. If you enjoy
walking, allow time to undertake the two-hour circular hike on ancient paths and
tracks that starts and ends at the church.
