UNESCO Geiranger - Sjøholt - Molde (one way)

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Foto: Øyvind Heen - Visitnorway.com Geiranger - Eidsdal - Sjøholt - Molde Visit one of the world’s most beautiful fjords and enjoy the mighty mountains! The trip goes by bus from Geiranger, up the spectacular Eagle Road, and to Eidsdal where you cross by ferry to Linge. From Linge, you continue via Sjøholt to Molde. The trip from Sjøholt to Molde includes a ferry trip on the Romsdalsfjord, with a magnificent view towards Molde. On the ferry you also have the opportunity to taste the local speciality svele (a type of sweet pancake), which is sold onboard. https://fram.trekksoft.com/en_GB/activity/81957/one-way-trip-unesco-geirangerfjord-sjoholt-molde

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Points of interest

#1

Linge Company

(Photo: wikipedia, okkupasjonen.no, forsvaret.no) Martin Jensen Linge, born in 1894 at Lingering in Norddal, was a Norwegian actor and army captain. He was the leader of some of the first Norwegian Forces in Britain during WW2. Later they became known as Company Linge. He led the Norwegian troops during the raid on Måløy, December 28, 1941, and was shot and killed on the stairs of Ulvesund Hotel in Måløy. He became known through the poem, "Martin Linge", by Nordahl Grieg. Linge was in 1942 posthumously awarded the Military Cross. Troops from Company Linge participated in raids along the Norwegian coast in 1941 and 1942. They conducted a series of sabotage operations. Among the most famous was operation against Vemork in Telemark, and several acts of sabotage against the Thamshavn Railway in Trøndelag. Troops from the company also established a number of resistance cells in Norway. In 1945 there were 64 cells communicating with Great Britain via secret radio stations. During the war 530 Norwegians served in Company Linge. 57 of these were killed in action. Some of the operations Company Linge executed during the war are now used to name units in the National Guard.

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#2

Linge

Linge is a village with a ferry connection between Åndalsnes and Geiranger. It is situated by Norddalsfjorden which is part of the fjord landscape between Storfjorden and Geirangerfjorden. The place is one of the northernmost with climatic conditions that allow fruits and nuts such as walnuts and peaches to be grown, but it is perhaps most well-known thanks to Martin Linge, the actor and member of the Resistance during World War II who grew up here. You can also see here a memorial dedicated to him. Eidsdal - Linge is a ferry connection on county road 63 and crosses Norddalsfjorden. The trip is 2.7 kilometres long and takes about 10 minutes. At Linge ferry terminal, there is a connection between county roads 650 and 63.

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#3

Eidsdal / Norddal / Herdalssetra

You are now on your way down to the agricultural village of Eidsdal in Møre og Romsdal County. The village has about 400 inhabitants. Eidsdal is on the south side of the Norddals Fjord. If you take county road 91 towards Norddal you can visit the beautiful Herdalen with Herdalssetra, which is above the village of Norddal and lies within the Unesco World Heritage Site. At the end of the plains you come to the unique Herdalssetra, which forms a dense cluster of more than 30 old mountain pasture farm houses. This is one of the largest communal mountain goat pastures in the country, and the traditional farming has stayed intact for more than 300 years. Here you may sample goat cheese and goat milk caramel that is made in the old fashioned way. It is also possible to stay overnight in farm houses, buy fishing licenses and hire a boat. The farm also has a simple cafe where sour cream porridge and cured meats are served throughout the summer season. Our journey proceeds by ferry across Norddalsfjorden to Linge. At Linge you have a choice of two routes onwards. One is to go to the strawberry valley of Valldal, and from there to the famous Trollstigen. This is one of the most famous tourist routes with 11 hairpin bends. The road continues towards Åndalsnes, which is the final station for the train from Oslo, and connects with the popular Rauma Railway from Dombås. But for us the journey on this route continues towards Ålesund.

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#4

Sjøholt

We now come to the small village and the traffic hub Sjøholt, which is located where the Ørskogelva River flows into the Storfjorden. Here the traffic is distributed in all directions, whether you are going to Ålesund, Molde, Geiranger or Oslo. The popular petrol station has been a favorite stop for both large and small cars for many decades. Sjøholt has some minor industries within repairs, furniture, plastic, and wood. South of the river mouth of Ørskogelva, you will find Ørskog church, a wooden church with a rectangular basilica built in 1873.

Audio guides available in:

English (British), Norsk bokmål

#5

Fjellstova

We are soon passing Fjellstova on Ørskogfjellet, Which was constructed in 1966 by an industrious fellow named Peder O. Bårdsgjerde. His son Olav relates that it started as a small cafe and later expanded with cabins and rooms to accomodate larger social gatherings. Fjellstova offers a restaurant, 15 cabins and a small campsite, and is open throughout the year. This is a great starting point for several activities in the area. The landscape here is well suited for hiking and rumor has it that there are plenty of blueberries to be found. During winter you will find several cross-country trails and excellent opportunities for other alpine activities. Necessary equipment can be rented, and you can also attend a skiing school. Mountain biking, fishing or just simply enjoying Norwegian nature are other options. Golfing and horseback riding are also offered inn the area.

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#6

The Swedish border on Ørskogfjellet

Perhaps hard to believe in our time yet you are now close to where the border between Norway and Sweden was once drawn. For a short period of time toward the end of the 1650`s, the boundary was equivalent to what today separates the municipalities of Vestnes and Ørskog. The reason behind this border line was a war known as Krabbekrigen (The Crab War). It had nothing to do with crabs; it was named after the commander-in-chief of the Norwegian army in Bohuslen, Iver Krabbe. The war was fought between Denmark-Norway (Norway in those times was a part of Denmark) and Sweden. In 1658 the war came to a peaceful end. Denmark-Norway had to give up the entire Romsdal County to Sweden. Therefore the Swedish border was here - for just a couple of years -before the story took new directions.

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#7

Moldegård

(Photo: Romsdalsmuseet / Digitalt Museum, moldegaard.com) In front you now, you can see Moldegård. Originally, the estate was called Molde, supposedly from Norse "moldar", plural for "mold". Molde became the home of Captain Johan Fredrik von Beverlov, commander of the Romsdal military Company. He settled there and acquired the main farm, in approximately 1677. During his time, the suffix -gård (literally "farm") was used to differentiate between the growing town and the surrounding farms, including Reknes. Moldegård was the County Governor's house from 1705 to 1729, in addition to two short periods in the 1750s, and was supposedly the inspiration for Ibsen's 1886 drama Rosmersholm. The main farm house has been the property of the Møller family since 1789 and was registered in the cadastre of Bolsøy until the two municipalities were joined in 1964.

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#8

Shipyards Vestnes

If you happened to travel through this area around the end of the 19th century, you would have seen several shipyards along the fjord. Shipbuilding has a long tradition in Vestnes. However, most of the former companies are now just a part of the history. Hammeraas, Salthammer, Stenødegård, Helland, Ødegård, Aas, and Vestnes are names that still make people in the area think about boat construction. Boats and ships of all sizes were once constructed and built in this area. One of the first most significant Norwegian boatbuilders was Lars Jensen Hammeraas, who was responsible for the construction of one of the largest wooden ships here toward the end of the 19th century, the full rigged ship Herman Lehmkul. It was 214 feet long and as tall as a three-story house. In fact, the boat was so large that they had to reorganize the factory area in order to get enough space for the building process.

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#9

Vaksvik

The bus now runs along the small village of Vaksvik with its fairytale nature and beautiful surroundings in the middle of the majestic Storfjorden and Vaksvikfjellet. The area, and Vaksvikfjellet in particular, is popular among hiking and outdoor enthusiasts from the whole region and offers many fine hiking trails and ski slopes for the whole family.

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#10

The municipality Stordal

We now arrive at the beautiful furniture village Stordal, which is nicely situated by Storfjorden and is known as the portal to Geirangerfjorden and the UNESCO world heritage area. Stordal is known for its furniture industry, but farming has also traditionally had a strong position in Stordal with good, natural conditions for stock and growing various vegetables. Tourism is also important for the village.

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#11

The Tresfjord Bridge

(Photo: Vidar Moløkken) When Prime Minister Erna Solberg opened Tresfjordbrua on October 24th, 2015, a large public party was arranged. For a long time residents and travelers had looked forward to this bridge to be completed. The opening took place during what the local residents call «a good break», an expression for the interval between the area`s numerous rain showers. People were enjoying themselves by cycling and walking across the bridge in pleasant spring weather during the hours leading up to the official opening. Many brought flags to celebrate this significant day. The Prime Minister was pleased that the drive was cut short by 40 minutes on her commute to visit family in Ålesund. Applause from some 2,000 attendants indicated that she was not alone in her joy. The most important aspect for the locals of course is the greater safety and mobility afforded to pedestrians and drivers alike by this new bridge in the area. The bridge’s construction, with its 1290 meters length, amounted to a price of 1.1 billion kroner. The mast of your boat can reach 30 metres up in the air before the boat is in danger of getting its mast shortened. The Tresfjord bridge is the longest road bridge in Møre og Romsdal and was the 6th longest in the country when it was finished.

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#12

Vestnes

(Photo: Ø. Leren, wikipedia) Vestnes is the center of administration in the municipality of Vestnes in Møre og Romsdal. The village is located west of the mouth of Tresfjorden, on both sides of Vestnesstraumen, which leads from the Tresfjord into the Flatevågen Bay. It features much commercial activity in both the service and construction sectors, shipyards and a maritime museum. The village has a speedboat connection to Vikebukt, Sekken and Molde. From Furneset, some three kilometres north of the village, you can reach Molde with the ferry.

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#13

Vestnes Church

Vestnes Church is located in Vestnes parish within the Indre Romsdal diocese. The first church mentioned in this area dates back to 1589. According to official antiquarian authority this was originally a Norwegian stave church. The original wooden church was torn down and a new one erected in 1682. The beautiful building you can see today was completed in 1872. On the altar you will find a crucifixion far older than the church. It dates back to 1639. The church is a so-called aisleless “long church”, typical for Norway, with 480 seats. The church’s architects were J. W. Nordan and Anders Johnsen Berg from Levanger.

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#14

Liabygda

Photo: Mattias Fredriksson Photography AB - Visitnorway.com Liabygda has about 260 inhabitants and offers a marvellous view of Storfjorden. From here the road continues to Valldal, Trollstigen and Geiranger. There is also a ferry connection to the village of Stranda. The locally renowned Trollbryggeriet (The Troll Brewery) has its production facilities here.

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#15

Ørnesvingen

(Photo: Jarle Wæhler / Statens vegvesen) The Ørnesvingen viewpoint offers a splendid view. From here, you can see Geiranger, Geirangerfjorden, the De syv søstre (The Seven Sisters) waterfalls and the Knivsflå mountain farm. The platform itself was designed by architect Sixten Rahlff. The landscape architects were Smedsvig Landskapsarkitekter AS and artist May Elin Eikaas-Bjerk. Ørnesvingen is 620 metres above sea level and is at the top of the steepest part of the hillside from Geiranger with a gradient of 10%.

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#16

Ørnevegen

(Photo: wikipedia) Ørnevegen (The Eagle Road) is a section of county road 63 between Eidsdal and Geiranger, and has officially been a part of The National Tourist Route since 2012. The road stretches from the fjord at Grande to the mountain passage by Korsmyra and consists of 11 sharp turns, winding upwards along the steep mountain side. Ørnevegen got its name because of the many eagles in the area, especially around the highest turn, called Ørnesvingen. The road was first opened in 1955, and underwent considerable restoration and modernisation in 2012. Before that, the access to Geiranger, was by boat from Valldal and Eidsdal. Ørnevegen is now open all year round, and is the only road connection to Geiranger in the winter time, but it can sometimes be closed for shorter periods when there is a risk of an avalanche. The road has its limitations, for example, the maximum length of a vehicle is 15 metres, only a metre longer than today's buses. Some car manufacturers have used the road to test their newest car models' capacity to drive in winter conditions.

Audio guides available in:

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#17

Håkon Sigurdsson Herdebrei

Herdebrei means “wide shoulder” - was a very young king in Norway from 1159 until he died at 15 years of age. After his father Sigurd and his uncle Øystein Haraldsson were killed by the third brother Inge Krokrygg (Inge Hookback), young Håkon was proclaimed king at the Øretinget in 1159, by the followers of Sigurd and Øystein. With Håkon as king they continued a bitter fight against Inge Krokrygg. In the end, young Håkon Herdebrei`s army was victorious and he was celebrated as king at Øretinget. He was too young though for the great task given. Håkon is referred to as a handsome man, tall and athletic with broad shoulders. Near Veøy and Sekken, Håkon had to fight in a dramatic naval battle that determined his fate. It was a violent engagement; in the confusion, Håkon saved himself on board… a wrong ship. There he was killed against promises to the contrary. For Erling Skakke (Erling the Lopsided) it was very convenient that the rival to his son Magnus was thus removed. Håkon`s body was first taken on shore in Romsdalen and buried there, according to Snorre`s Saga. Later the body was transported to Kaupangen in Trøndelag and buried in the stone wall in the Church of Christ. In modern times monuments were erected at Sekken and Veøy, in memory of the dramatic battle. Every year at Sekken, the «Herdebreimarsjen», a commemorative walk, is arranged in memory of Håkon Herdebrei.

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#18

Eidsdal

(Photo: Jarle Wæhler / Statens vegvesen) Soon we arrive at the small, charming village of Eidsdal, which lies on the south side of the Norddalsfjord. Eidsdal is primarily an agricultural village and most of the farmers run milk production from cows and goats. Here there is a ferry to Linge that takes you on to Ålesund or Tafjord and Trollstigen. The road up the valley goes to Geiranger and is part of the national tourist road Geiranger-Trollstigen. There is also a narrow road along the fjord that takes you to Norddal and on to the well-known tourist destination, Herdalssetra. There you can enjoy the mountainlife in beautiful surroundings as it has been for several hundreds of years.

Audio guides available in:

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#19

Liabygda og Strandafjellet skisenter

On the other side for the fjord you can see Stranda and Strandafjellet. Strandafjellet is a large skiing resort. It first opened in February 1957. The capacity at the time was 140 people per hour. The surface lift was powered by a station wagon engine running on gasoline. Today there is a cable car and a chair lift taking passengers to two different pavilions and starting points for different downhill slopes. The resort has been nominated several times for Norway's best skiing resort for off-piste skiing. The cable car also runs outside the winter season and offers an incredible view of Storfjorden..

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#20

Molde Coat of Arms

The water blowing whale in the city's coat of arms alludes to a fortuitous legend. 1739 was a catastrophic year for the farmers in Romsdal county and food supplies in winter were depleted. City records recount that it was an "extremely cruel winter“. In April 1740, the county governor warned about a high risk of famine. In the summer he announced that "an incredible number of cattle are diseased or dead”. Most of the agricultural land no longer yielded any grain and less than half of the land was sown. In August winter had already begun. Cold, frost and deep snow marked the landscape and Denmark was asked to provide grain at a reasonable price. These dire conditions lasted for three consecutive years, and the grain that came from Denmark was not enough to keep famine away. What prevented further catastrophe was the herring fish: exceptionally good fishing at the time kept the local people from starving. The locals believed that it was the whale that had driven herring into the fjords. Usually, the whales remained 100-120 km from shore. Thus, the Molde coat of arms alludes both to salvation from famine and is the symbol of happiness and prosperity for the city.

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#21

Rosekirka

(Photo: fortidsminneforeningen.no) In the furniture village of Stordal, you can visit the Rosekirka church built in 1789. Its characteristic decorations in renaissance style on the walls, ceiling and pillars, make this a truly unique church building. Much of the interior comes from the old stave church that once stood here in The Middle Ages, including a beautiful crucifix and a baptismal font. The church is also part of the Stordal smallholding, where four beautiful buildings stand close together. The Prestestova from 1850, a granary from 1750 and the charming Løsetstova, a typical home from Sunnmøre from 1790, can be found next to the Rosekirka church.

Audio guides available in:

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#22

Ytste-Skotet

(Photo: ytsteskotet @ Facebook) On the opposite side of Storfjord, on top of a steep ledge, there is a small farm called Ytste-Skotet, where people have been subsistence farmers since the Viking Era. It has now been restored and is open to visitors. The farm lay fallow until 1989 when it was donated to the organization, Storfjordens Venner (friends of Storfjorden), and it is currently operated by the foundation, Ytste-Skotet, in collaboration with Sunnmøre Museum. The buildings and landscape have been restored, and now serves as a living museum, where both school groups and individuals are welcome. In the summer there is a boat from Dyrkorn every Sunday.

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#23

Dyrkorn

Norwegians have worn quality clothing from Devold since 1853 to protect themselves against weather and wind. Devold Sommerbutikk is a factory outlet for the historic company Devold. The outlet in the fjord village Dyrkorn has a large selection of traditional Norwegian knitted products made at Devold's factory in Langevåg right outside Ålesund.

Audio guides available in:

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UNESCO Geiranger - Sjøholt - Molde (one way)

Points of interest