Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
family ever since 1640. Photos of the last five generations (predecessors were pre-camera)
look at you from behind reception, where you'll probably be greeted by Ole Henrik, the
current owner, himself. Not least of the hotel's pleasures is its lovely lawn and garden of
lilac, roses, apple and cherry trees. The hotel occupies three buildings; cheaper rooms are
in the new wing, constructed in 1964. Attached is Galleri Walaker 300, its art gallery with
changing exhibitions.
Urnes
Stave Church
STAVE CHURCH
(adult Nkr55, family Nkr120; 10.30am-5pm late May-Sep)
Norway's oldest pre-
served place of worship is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Directly across the fjord from
Solvorn, it gazes out over Lustrafjord. The original church was built around 1070, while
the majority of today's structure was constructed a century later. Highlights are elaborate
woodencarvings-animalslockedinstruggle,stylisedintertwinedbodiesandabstractmo-
tifs - on the north wall, all recycled from the original church, and the simple crucifixion
carving, set above the chancel wall. Ticket prices include an outstanding 45-minute tour in
English.
FINE TIMING IN URNES
It's a 20-minute uphill walk from the ferry to the church. Don't dawdle - the guided
tour waits for no man.
Your visit over, you won't have time to catch the very next ferry, so relax a while
at
Urnes Gard (
www.urnes.no
; 1030am-5.30pm Jun-Sep)
, just below the
church. Once farm stables, this cafe sells punnets of fruit fresh from the fields, and
its own juices - strawberry, raspberry, gooseberry and blueberry from berries picked
from the hills above. Sample too the homemade cakes, confected by the lady who
lives up the road.
