The West Coast Fjord Country - Norway - page 299

Borstova, the building on the fjord side of the green facing the church, was
constructed partly from the timbers of St. Olav's Guildhall, the meeting place of
the local guild until 1680. It's now a council chamber and social center.
The stone column (minnestein) on the green commemorates the local men
who fought in the wars that led to the end of Norway's union with Denmark in
1814.
The Tillegg i Tekst (Hardanger Recreation Park), in the middle of Kin-
sarvik, is open daily mid-May to mid-August. It is an ideal place for a picnic on
a summer day. You can pick up picnic supplies from the town's only grocery
store, SPAR ( & 53-66-31-77 ), which is located in the town center, a 2-minute
walk from the Best Western Kinsarvik Fjord Hotel (no street address).
Lying 6.5km (4 miles) from Kinsarvik on Route 13 to Odda, a minor road
forks left providing an alternative route to Lofthus. A short distance from the
fork leads to the entrance to the Skredhaugen Museum ( & 90-17-41-15 ), a
branch of the Hardanger Folk Museum at Utne. A collection of 10 timber
houses gathered from the Hardanger area and furnished according to the period
can be viewed here. There is also an art gallery of regional works on view. The
museum is open June 10 to August 20 Monday to Saturday 11am to 4pm, Sun-
day noon to 4pm. Admission is 35NOK ($4.95), and free for children.
Kinsarvik is also an excellent base for exploring all the attractions of the
Hardangerfjord area, including the Hardangervidda mountain plateau. You can
rent rowing boats and canoes here to explore the fjord. The tourist office (see
above) will tell you how to reach the Nykjesøyfossen waterfall, or the best view-
point for taking in the panoramic of the better-known Vøringfossen waterfall.
Many sights in Lotthus, Utne, Eidfjord, and Ulvik can also be easily explored
from a base at Kinsarvik.
WHERE TO STAY & DINE
Best Western Kinsarvik Fjord Hotel Even though it's a Best West-
ern chain member, this hotel is still family-run, offering personal service and
warm fjord hospitality. Built in 1952, it was greatly expanded in 1993 and ren-
ovated in 2002. Right by the Hardangerfjord, it's rich in historical interest and
is a first-class choice for those seeking the experience of combined fjord and
mountain landscapes. It's also one of the best-equipped hotels in the area. Bed-
rooms are completely modern, some with hardwood floors, others with carpets.
Each comes with a newly remodeled bathroom with a tub/shower combination.
Nonguests exploring the area during the day can patronize the hotel's fixed-price
lunch for 130NOK ($18) or the dinner buffet of regional fjord specialties for
300NOK ($43). There is live music 7 nights a week in summer.
N-5782 Kinsarvik. & 800/780-7234 in the U.S. and Canada, or 53-66-31-00. Fax [phone]. www.best
western.com. 70 units. 1,150NOK ($163) double; 1,300NOK ($185) suite. Children under 12 stay free in par-
ent's room. Rates include continental breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Jan. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; fit-
ness center; sauna; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; laundry service/dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms. In room:
TV, coffeemaker (some units), hair dryer.

Kids

4 Eidfjord: Western Gateway to Hardangervidda
149km (93 miles) E of Bergen; 336km (209 miles) W of Oslo
At the northern tip of the Hardangerfjord lies the Eidfjord district. Approximately
1,000 people live here, supporting themselves with agriculture, tourism, and cot-
tage industries. The area is a paradise for hikers and home to the continent's largest
herd of wild reindeer. Mountain trout with sour cream is a regional food specialty.