Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Skudeneshavn
HISTORIC SITE
The wonderful Skudeneshavn, 37km south of Haugesund, got very rich on the herring-
trade in the 19th-century and is known for its 'Empire-style' wooden houses, winding main
street Søragadå and pretty gardens. There are a number of year-round cafes and a
tourist
office
(
52 85 80 00;
www.visitskudeneshavn.no
; Kaigata5, Torget;
10am-4pm Mon-Sat,
noon-4pm Sun Jun-Aug)
next to the quay.
St Olav's Church
CHURCH
(
www.visitkarmoy.no
; Avaldsnes; 1pm-3.30pm Sun-Tue Jun-Aug)
King Håkon Håkonsson's huge stone church, about 5km south of Haugesund, was dedic-
ated to St Olav in 1250 and has helped guide sailors through the strait of Karmsund for
more than 750 years. The adjacent 7.2m spire, known as the
Virgin Mary's Needle
, leans
perilously towards the church wall, and legend suggests that when it actually touches the
wall the Day of Judgment is at hand - it was close but still free-standing when we were
there.
Nordvegen Historiesenter
MUSEUM
(
www.vikinggarden.no
; Avaldsnes; adult/child Nkr100/50;
10am-4pm Mon-Fri, 11am-3pm Sat,
noon-5pm Sun Jun-Aug, shorter hours rest of year)
Down a short path from the carpark for St Olav's Church, this history centre recreates the
story of Harald Fair-Hair and other monarchs of the newly unified Nordvegen from the
10th century onwards. Also nearby, on a tiny forested island is a reconstructed
Viking
farm
(Avaldsnes; adult/child Nkr100/50, with Nordvegen ticket Nkr50/25;
noon-4.30pm late
Jun-mid-Aug)
- it's great for kids, with staff in period dress.
Karmøy Fiskerimuseum
MUSEUM
(
www.fiskerimuseum.net
;
Vedavågen; adult/child Nkr30/10;
11am-4pm Mon-Fri, 2-6pm Sun
Jun-mid-Aug)
In Vedavågen, on the island's west coast, this museum explores the region's modern fishing
industry and also has a saltwater aquarium. Designed by Snøhetta, of Oslo Opera House
fame, it's worth the trip here for the architecture alone.
