Hardangerfjorden

Introducing Hardangerfjorden

A notch less jagged and steep than Sognefjord, Hardangerfjord’s slopes support more farms and wildflowers, which picturesquely enhance the green hills as they plunge into the water. The second-longest fjord in Norway, it stretches inland from a cluster of rocky coastal islands to the frozen heights of the Folgefonn and Hardangerjøkulen icecaps. The area is known for its orchards (apples, cherries and plums) and bursts into bloom from mid-May to mid-June. Route 13 between Brimnes and Lofthus is particularly pretty farm country, with bleating goats and stands selling eggs, honey and fruit.

The villages along the east coast of the central part of the fjord (also called Kvinnheradsfjorden) are connected to the national road network by an 11km tunnel under the Folgefonn; Rosendal and Sunndal are popular destinations, with great mountain and glacier scenery. At Rosendal there’s the Baroniet Rosendal (53 48 29 99; www.baro niet.no; adult/child Nkr75/10; from 11am May-Sep), Norway’s only baronial mansion, dating from 1665 and surrounded by flowering gardens and mountains. From Sunndal, an easy walk leads 3km to lake Bondhusvatnet and the glacier Bondhusbreen.

On the other side of Folgefonn, Odda is an ugly industrial town with a dramatic location. For information on hikes and glacier tours, contact the tourist office (53 65 40 05; www.visitodda.com; 7.30am-4pm Mon-Fri) located near the Sørfjorden shore. Tyssedal, 6km north of Odda, has a hydroelectric power plant museum (53 65 00 50; adult/student/child Nkr70/35/free; 10am-5pm mid-May-Aug, shorter hrs Sep–mid-May) and an impressive funicular railway.

At the innermost reaches of Hardangerfjorden you’ll find the Eidfjord area, with sheer mountains, huge waterfalls, spiral road tunnels and the extraordinary Kjeåsen, a deserted farm perched on a mountain ledge about 6km northeast of Eidfjord. The Hardangervidda Natursenter (53 66 59 00; Øvre Eidfjord; adult/child Nkr80/40; 9am-8pm Jun-Aug, 10am-6pm Apr, May, Sep & Oct) has an excellent 19-minute movie, interactive displays and interesting natural history exhibits. For information, contact Eidfjord tourist office (53 67 34 00; www.visiteidfjord.no; 10am-8pm Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Fri & Sat Jun-Aug, shorter otherwise).

At picturesque Utne, 55km north of Odda, you’ll find an interesting collection of old buildings at the Hardanger Folk Museum (53 67 00 40; www.hardanger.museum.no; adult/child Nkr40/free; 10am-4pm May & Jun, 10am-6pm Jul & Aug), and the pretty Utne Hotel.

Helpful regional information can be found at www.hardangerfjord.com.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009