Haraldshaugen

Bergen & the Southwestern Fjords


The burial site of Viking King Harald Fairhair, the first king of a unified Norway, is 1.5km north of Haugesund. The obelisk memorial, erected in 1872, commemorates the decisive 872 Battle of Hafrsfjord, which effectively led to Harald's conquest of western Norway.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Bergen & the Southwestern Fjords attractions

1. Vår Frelsers Church

1.08 MILES

With its arrow straight spire and redbrick exterior, this church in the centre of Haugesund is a local landmark.

2. Marilyn Monroe Memorial

1.35 MILES

Bizarrely, Haugesund claims to be the ancestral home of Marilyn Monroe, whose father, a local baker, emigrated from here to the USA. This monument on the…

3. St Olav's Church

5.2 MILES

This ancient stone church was built under the reign of King Håkon Håkonsson. Work began in 1250, although it's thought that a much earlier wooden chapel…

4. Nordvegen Historiesenter

5.28 MILES

Down a short path from the car park for St Olav's Church, this history centre recreates the story of Harald Fairhair and other monarchs of the newly…

5. Avaldsnes Viking Farm

5.43 MILES

This living history centre brings Viking culture to life, with a number of reconstructed Viking buildings, and regular displays of handicrafts, metalwork,…

6. Visnes Grubeområde

5.45 MILES

From 1865 to 1972, the village of Visnes, 4km west of Avaldsnes, was home to the largest and most sophisticated copper mine in Norway. Over its lifetime,…

7. Karmoy Fishery Museum

10.13 MILES

In Vedavågen, on the island's west coast, this striking museum explores the region's modern fishing industry and also has a saltwater aquarium. It's…

8. Utsira

15.79 MILES

Around 18km west of Haugesund, the tiny island of Utsira barely covers 6 sq km and is home to just 235 people, but its size belies its reputation in the…