Things to see and do Vestlandet

The building is an example of Norwegian neoclassical architecture. Whatever one thinks of it, it has been voted the most beautiful building in the city. At the time, in 1921, the building cost 1 million Norwegian kroner to construct, donated by the wealthy shipowner Knut Knutsen. The architects Herman Munthe-Kaas and Gudolf Blakstad were finally chosen to design the future town hall. The construction took a total of 8 years.

Bergen Guide Service offers walking tours, citysigthseeing by bus with licensed guides in Bergen. A la carte tours in more than 20 different languages. Several tour programs are offered, from 2 hours to a full day, in Bergen, in the Hordaland region to see Ole Bull's house in Lysøen for example... Tours are organized on Saturdays at 2pm and 4pm, in Norwegian and English, starting from Holmedalsgarden 4, in Bryggen. Contact them to help you put together your program in Bergen. A good option to get all the information live.

Jaermuseet is a joint science centre and museum for seven municipalities in the region. The museum presents the history, culture and industrialisation of Jaeren. It is divided into two main branches: "Vitengarden" ("Science Farm") in Naerbø and "Vitenfabrikken" ("Science Factory") in Sandnes. A number of other museums in the region are also dependent on it. The central administrative office is located at Vitengarden. Voted Museum of the Year 2009 by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture, it also received the European Micheletti Award in the same year as the best technical museum in Europe. And for good reason, the visit is really exciting and beware, time flies without you realizing it! Both sites offer interactive animations about food, architecture and building methods and materials. The Naerbo Museum is located in an old wooden and stone farmhouse in the heart of the countryside. It tells the story of the history and development of industrialisation and offers interesting exhibits on the daily life of the farmers of the time, and on the evolution of industrial techniques and methods. Extremely educational for young and old. Almost every week there are special events on offer, so check out their website or phone directly to book an event. There is a nice café serving hot and cold food. Wifi. Parking.

The Sandnes Arts Association was founded in 1955. Until 2009, it exhibited in a beautiful Empire building, but it has now moved to the premises of an art cinema centre in the heart of the town. Exhibitions of painters and artists from various backgrounds are on display, such as Yngve Henriksen from the Lofoten Islands, Anna Kristin Ferking and the superb bird photos of Einar Sira. You will see mostly local, regional and national. A nice place to go if you have the time.

This open-air folk museum offers an insight into the traditions and daily life of Norwegians from 1000 years ago to the present day. During the summer, the traditional houses are open to visitors but there are no fixed times, so it is best to check before you visit. You can see houses, boats, textiles, fishing nets and tools. Please note that it is located 13 km from Bergen city centre, so you have to go by car or bus.

The city museum consists of two museums: the Museum of History and the Museum of Natural History. The History Museum tells the story of Norwegian art and cultural heritage and has important archaeological and anthropological collections. The Natural History Museum has many exhibitions and important zoological, botanical and geological collections. A very nice botanical garden and arboretum, if you are there in spring and summer of course.

Tvindefossen Falls are 152 metres high and can be seen from the road. They stand white on the ledges formed by the rocks. It is said that bathing in the waterfall gives you strength and sexual vitality. Up to 200,000 visitors a year (mainly from the USA, Japan and Russia) come to admire the waterfall and of course to fill small (or large!) containers. The Danish-Norwegian painter Johan Christian Dahl painted it in 1830.

Mølstertunet is an old farmhouse with 16 buildings and the original furniture. Finneloftet is a Viking banquet hall from 1250, one of the oldest wooden buildings in Norway, which can only be visited in groups. The museum has about 20,000 instruments and everyday tools from previous centuries. There is also a shop (hand-blown glass, organically grown textiles) and a café with good carrot cakes.

Ole Bull (1810-1880), composer and virtuoso violinist, made a fortune by giving many concerts in Europe and especially in the United States. He bought this little island to build his "madness", a kitsch délire called the Petite Alhambra. It is a wooden villa painted in blue and white blue. A horseshoe staircase rises to the veranda flanked by a turret in onion bulbs. The concert hall inside is a wooden imitation of the Moorish architecture. This summer residence, including the built trails and small pieces of water invited to romantic walks, was a meeting place for the many friends and relations of the artist. The house has remained unchanged since his death. Listed in Historical monuments, it has been open to the public since 1985.

By following the marked trails, visitors come to discover traditional agricultural activities (mowing, burn) that will save the végétation vegetation, which is now threatened. Exhibition, film projection and cafeteria. This natural park received the UNESCO Prize for Cultural Landscape in 2001.

Bergen, Norway's second largest city, offers a multitude of tourist attractions to suit all tastes. One of Bergen's must-sees is Bryggen, the old wharf famous for its colorful wooden houses. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Bryggen is home to the small Bryggen Museum, as well as numerous restaurants and boutiques. The fish market (Fisketorget) is also a popular attraction, where you can sample fresh seafood or buy Norwegian handicrafts. Other popular cultural attractions in downtown Bergen include the Bergen Museum, the medieval Bergenhus Fort and the KODE Art Museums, Scandinavia's largest collection of art, design and music. Lovers of classical music can also visit Troldhaugen, the home of composer Edvard Grieg. Surrounded by mountains and located close to the Sognefjord, Norway's longest and deepest fjord, Bergen is also a dream for active travelers and nature lovers. For the best panoramic views, take the Fløibanen funicular from downtown to Mount Fløyen and enjoy a stroll through the surrounding woods. Or take the Ulriksbanen cable car to the summit of Ulriken, the highest of Bergen's seven hills, for a refreshing hike with superb views. Bergen is also the departure point for the famous Hurtigruten coastal cruise, which follows the magnificent coastline to the town of Kirkenes. This cruise offers breathtaking views of the main sights of Bergen and the west coast. Bergen is easily reached by plane from Oslo International Airport, and by car or train from Oslo.

Bergen, a picturesque city on the west coast of Norway, is a popular tourist destination. With its colorful wooden houses, cobbled streets and charming atmosphere, Bergen offers visitors a unique experience. The Bergen Tourist Office offers a wealth of information to help you plan your stay. Whether you want to visit the famous fish market, explore the historic Bryggen district or take a hike in the surrounding mountains, you'll find all the information you need to make the most of your stay in Bergen.

This standing wooden church was completed in 1897. It belongs to the Church of England and is under the spiritual administration of the Bishop of Gibraltar, who is responsible for all Anglican churches on the European continent. It was erected in memory of Margaret Sophie Green Kvikne, daughter of a Yorkshire vicar, who came to Norway as a pioneer climber and married there. She died in 1894, but on her deathbed her husband promised to build an Anglican church. St Olaf' is today one of the 28 wooden churches.

This incomparable viewpoint (one of the most beautiful in the region), located at 407 meters above sea level at the end of Vardevegen, allows to admire the city of Molde, the archipelagos that populate the fjords, and the snow-covered peaks (more than two hundred visible on a clear day) that cover the horizon. Many walkers get there on foot from Molde along the Green Corridor (about an hour's walk one way for good walkers). A place not to be missed, especially for those who travel in winter.

During the summer season, Fjord X offers a variety of themed cruises on the Sogndalsfjord departing from Sogndal. Whether you're a Viking history buff, a cider connoisseur or a fan of sunsets over the water, Fjord X takes you on a voyage of discovery of the many nuggets the fjord has to offer. It's also possible to take the boat in one direction only and return to Sogndal by electric bike. On the Geirangerfjord side, the company offers a transfer service between Hellesylt and Geiranger, whether you're a pedestrian, cyclist or vehicle (car, van, camper van).

Romsdal Aktik offers a wide range of guided activities all year round. From canoeing and kayaking to cave tours, not forgetting splendid winter snowshoeing and dog sledding. In summer, you can rent a canoe or kayak for the day. If you'd like to spend the night in Åndalsnes, Romsdal Aktiv also offers two apartments or double rooms for rent at very reasonable prices. An interesting alternative for discovering the town and its many attractions, accompanied or on your own.

On Route 64 towards Molde (30 km from Åndalsnes), the standing wooden church at Rødven is worth a visit. The building, beautifully situated on the shores of the Rødven Fjord, dates from the 13th century. Inside the church you can see a crucifix that is as old as the church itself. Parking, WC, guided tours daily during the summer season. The whole northern shore of Romsdalsfjord offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.

Bergen's tourist office is located on the harbor in the city center. At your service, a team who know the city and its surroundings like the back of their hand, and who can easily help you organize your days according to the season and the weather. It's even possible to book certain activities on site. You'll find a wide range of tourist brochures, a souvenir store and plenty of information on the town's history.

The Kunstsilo museum aims to be the catalyst for modern Nordic art. A must-see venue, it houses exhibitions from the former Sørlandet Art Museum alongside the Tangen collection, the heart of the new museum, comprising 5,000 works by 300 artists. The Sørlandet Art Museum presented exhibitions of works by Norwegian artists from 1800 to the present day. Its usually remarkable temporary exhibitions demonstrated a certain open-mindedness when it came to art. Like the old museum, the new one features play areas for children.

The trail starts by bike, bus or car, and it takes a good hour to reach the summit, which is 314 metres high. Since we start from sea level, it is quite a long way. Be careful when it rains as the paths quickly become muddy and slippery. From up there, the 360° view on the city and the fjord is simply breathtaking. It is a very popular place with many walkers and especially the locals who go there on weekends. A must do for the view and for the walk!

North Sea and Fjord Safari takes you on a voyage of discovery through Rogaland's magnificent fjords. You'll set sail aboard the Olav Ringdal Jr, the former search and rescue vessel. The vessel was built in 1952 by the famous shipbuilders Kittelsen in Risør, south-east Norway. Olav Ringdal Jr, after a long service in the bitter cold of the Barents Sea, stationed in northern Norway at Honningsvåg and Hammerfest, retired after 31 years of service in this difficult climate and rough sea. The ship's name and history is truly something to be proud of, and you'll hear about it as you sail through the fjords, and on board, you'll feel the atmosphere and imagine what it was like on a stormy night in the Barents Sea.

A few hours on board, you'll discover Stavanger's surroundings by water. You'll sail on the Lysefjord, passing by the magnificent Ryfylkes Islands and Preikestolen, Norway's flagship rock. During this excursion, you'll be able to observe the flora and fauna of Rogaland's majestic fjords.

If you're a fishing enthusiast or have an adventurous spirit, Olav Ringdal Jr also offers fishing trips in the Ryfylke fjords and on the high seas of the North Sea!

Embark on an atypical local adventure, full of history and breathtaking scenery!