Fred. Olsens guide Norway
Provided by:
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Press the "DOWNLOAD" button and then "START" to open the map.
Provided by:
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Press the "DOWNLOAD" button and then "START" to open the map.
We are now passing Kvitneset battery at Hareidlandet. The German occupation of Norway during World War II brought the war to the Norwegian people, and has left traces in folk memory and on the landscape. In Hareid, the Germans built fortifications at Kvitneset. These were fairly extensive structures, and included, among other things, 9 gun enplacements, 19 barracks, 4 bunkers and much more. Building work started in the spring of 1941, and at its height there were 140 men working here. Many Norwegians were employed in building the fortifications - unemployment had been high in Sunnmøre before the occupation, so the opportunity to earn money proved too tempting for many. More than 50 people were convicted of abetting the occupying forces in trials after the war. From 1942, Russian prisoners of war were used as forced labour at Kvitneset. A prison camp with 4 barracks was built just south of the fortifications, where up to 105 prisoners lived during the construction period. The fortress was part of 'Festung Norwegen', which was in turn a part of the Atlantic Wall defences that stretched along large parts of the European coast facing the Atlantic Ocean, from the North Cape to the Bay of Biscay. Today, most of these positions are still visible despite some being ruined and overgrown. Today, the area is a popular hiking area that also provides pasture for sheep. At Kvitneset you can experience history, nature, sea air and fantastic sunsets, and watch the big waves rolling in from the ocean on stormy days.
You can probably see one or two ferries on the fjord right now. Between Hareid and the Sulesund ferry quay at Sula, there are two to three ferries plying these routes at all times. Since ancient times, the Norwegians have been a seafaring people. Today, people in western and northern Norway are particularly dependent on car ferries, as the fjords cut deep into the landscape and make it impossible - or at least difficult - to travel directly up or down the coast. Especially in Western Norway, where there are so many long fjords, travelers depend on the ferry to get around. In this fjord alone, there are at least 6 ferry routes, if one includes the smaller fjord inlets. Most ferries and speedboats run so often that queueing is rarely an issue. In addition to regular ferry services, several boat companies offer fjord cruises. A ferry trip on the idyllic fjords of Sunnmøre is a unique experience. There are about 130 ferry connections in Norway, and ferries are a major part of the Norwegian transport system. 20 million vehicles and 40 million passengers are transported annually on Norwegian car ferries.
Are you fascinated by wild plunging waterfalls? Then you should look towards land now. You can see Ædnafossen, or Sagfossen as it is also known, it has a total fall of over 320 metres. Which makes it a medium sized waterfall in Norway, but also perhaps one of the most beautiful due to its special shape, at its widest it spreads 170 metres and narrows beautifully both above and below the fall. It is continuously fed from Folgefonna, which is one of the largest glaciers in Norway. The Hardanger area is teeming with beautiful waterfalls and few places in the world can boast such a diversity of large, beautiful, thundering waterfalls. Låtefossen, Espelandsfossen, Langfossen, Vidfoss, Strondsfossen, Tjørnadalsfossen, Skrikjofossen, Nyastølsfossen Nykkjesøyfossen, Tveitafossen, Søtefossen and perhaps Norway’s most famous Vøringsfossen, to name just a few.
We are now passing the wild Lægda waterfall, or sag waterfall as it is also known. It falls from around 600 metres from the plateau above the fjord and runs out to sea. As you can probably understand, this waterfall is only accessible by boat unless you are hiking on the other side of the fjord. In many ways Norwegian tourism originated in these fjords in the middle of the 19th century. The English privileged upper classes, and Lords, were fascinated by the Norwegian fjord landscape, where they could catch large salmon in the thundering rivers or hunt the lively deer that grazed on the far-reaching plains. They sailed into the fjords in their yachts and laid anchor up in the arms of the fjord. There they would stay for weeks, year after year living a luxury life a world away from what the farmers of Vestland were accustomed to. Nevertheless, their arrival meant money to the farmers and that is how entrepreneurship around the tourist industry grew. The yachts would stop right where we are now, and they too were dazzled by the magical beauty of the waterfalls.
The boat is now passing through the middle of Utnefjorden, Sørfjorden, and Eidfjorden, all part of Norway's second longest fjord, Hardangerfjorden. It stretches all the way out to the coast in various branches from Haugesund to Bergen. The nature and culture you find here have enchanted visitors of all times, and the beautiful fjords are considered by many as the very symbol of Norway, the foremost fjord country in the world. Humans have taken root here since the ice retreated 10,000 years ago. They harvested what nature had to offer, whether it was in the fjord, on the valley sides, or in the high mountains. For the last 150 years, scientists, artists, and tourists have flocked to the fjords to experience the dramatic, contrasting, and magical nature. The magnificent fjord landscape has made a strong impression on many and has inspired both poets and artists. Perhaps Norway's most famous painting, "Brudeferden i Hardanger" , in english "The Bridal Procession in Hardanger" by Tidemand and Gude, was inspired by this area.
"If you live by a waterfall, you won't hear it." These words belong to the Ulvik poet Olav Hauge. Hardanger is one of those places in the world where you will always see, hear, and experience something beautiful, no matter where you turn. Therefore, enjoy every minute! Those who live here are caught up in their daily routines and may have stopped appreciating it. We are now passing through a characteristic Hardanger landscape, where lush valley slopes rise up from the mighty fjord and stretch majestically almost 2000 meters upwards. Behind Ringøy camping to the south lies the 1600 meter high "Storeflåtten", and on the opposite side lies the popular peak destination, "Oksen", or the bull. The hike to "Oksen" is one of the most beautiful activities that the West Coast has to offer, but it is demanding because many meters of altitude have to be climbed. "Oksen" can be tamed and climbed in good weather, but hikers are advised to stay away when the weather is bad. Those who reach the top are rewarded with a panoramic view over the Hardangerfjord, Granvinfjorden, Sørfjorden, and Eidfjord, and can see large parts of the Hardangervidda, Folgefonna, Vossefjella, and the Raundalsryggen peaks in the northwest.
Here, at the innermost point of the Hardangerfjord's fjord arm, "Ulvikfjorden", lies the true pearl of Hardanger, Ulvik. For more than 150 years, tourists have found their way to this beautiful village in search of spectacular nature and cultural experiences of world-class standard. In Ulvik, you will find the only fruit and cider route in Norway, a variety of diverse hiking trails, and a rich selection of attractions and activities. It is also the birthplace of the well-known writer Olav H. Hauge, who, like many other artists, was inspired by the uniquely Norwegian national-romantic landscape. You can learn more about him and other great poets at the Hauge Center here in Ulvik. Beautiful nature not only provides pleasure for the eyes and ears but also for the mouth and stomach. The lush western Norwegian nature conjures up fantastic ingredients, and the local population has learned to process and refine these delicious ingredients over centuries. And to our delight, just a short walk from the pier, you will find the famous fruit farms Ulvik Frukt & Cideri, Syse Gard, and Hardanger Saft- og Siderfabrikk, as well as several exciting eateries. Bon appetit!