The West Coast Fjord Country - Norway - page 303

WHERE TO STAY & DINE
Rica Brakanes Hotel There's a famous view of the Hardangerfjord and
the surrounding forest from this well-recommended hotel. It's near the town
center, at the edge of the fjord. The original building, from the 1860s, burned
down during a World War II bombing raid and was reconstructed in 1952.
Today all that remains of the original building is one small dining room. The
rest of the hotel is airy, sunny, and comfortable. The guest rooms are small but
well maintained, with good beds and sparkling-clean bathrooms with
tub/shower combinations. In the summer, plane rides over the fjords can be
arranged, and windsurfing and boat rentals are available.
N-5730 Ulvik. & 56-52-61-05. Fax [phone]. www.brakanes-hotel.no. 144 units. 720NOK-795NOK
($102-$113) double; 828NOK-915NOK ($118-$130) suite. Rates include breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Free park-
ing. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; indoor heated pool; 2 tennis courts; fitness center; sauna; nonsmoking
rooms; rooms for those w/limited mobility. In room: TV, minibar.
Ulvik Fjord Pensjonat Ulvik Fjord Pensjonat, constructed in two
stages, in 1946 and 1977, is one of the finest guesthouses along the Hardanger-
fjord. The rooms are spacious and pleasantly furnished in regional Norwegian
style. Most units contain well-kept bathrooms with tub/shower combinations.
You'll be welcomed by the Hammer family, who won the Norwegian Hospital-
ity Prize in 1989. Almost twenty years later, the family still offers reward-wor-
thy hospitality. A sauna and solarium are available for guests' use.
N-5730 Ulvik. & 56-52-61-70. Fax [phone]. www.ulvikfjordpensjonat.no. 19 units, 17 with bathroom.
350NOK-390NOK ($50-$55) double without bathroom; 780NOK ($111) double with bathroom. Rates
include breakfast. V. Free parking. Closed Oct-Apr. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; lounge. In room: Hair dryer.

Value

6 Voss: A Winter Playground ¡
38km (24 miles) W of Ulvik; 101km (63 miles) E of Bergen
Between two fjords, Voss is a famous year-round resort, also known for its folk-
lore. It was the birthplace of the American football hero Knute Rockne. Maybe the
trolls don't strike fear in the hearts of farm children anymore, but revelers dressed
as trolls still appear in costumed folklore programs to give visitors a little fun.
Voss is a natural base for exploring the two largest fjords in Norway, the
Sognefjord to the north and the Hardangerfjord to the south. In and around
Voss are glaciers, mountains, fjords, waterfalls, orchards, rivers, and lakes.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE From Ulvik, take Highway 20 to Route 13; then follow
Route 13 northwest to Voss. If you're not driving, there's frequent train service
from Bergen (travel time is 1 1 ⁄ 4 hr.) and Oslo (5 1 ⁄ 2 hr.). There are six daily buses
from Bergen (1 3 ⁄ 4 hr.) and one bus a day from Oslo, which takes 9 hours (call
& 56-52-08-00 for the exact time, usually 8am).
VISITOR INFORMATION The Voss Information Center is at Hestavan-
gen 10 ( & 56-52-08-00; www.visitvoss.no). It's open June to August, Monday
to Saturday from 9am to 7pm, Sunday 2 to 7pm; September to May, Monday
to Friday 9am to 4pm.
SEEING THE SIGHTS
St. Olav's Cross, Skulegata, is near the Voss Cinema. It's the oldest relic in Voss,
believed to have been raised when the townspeople adopted Christianity in 1023.
A ride on the Hangursbanen cable car ( & 56-51-12-12 ) will be a memo-
rable part of your visit. It offers panoramic views of Voss and its environs. The