Hardanger

Hardanger is a traditional region in Hordaland, Norway. It comprises the Hardangerfjord, the surrounding shores and valleys, and related uplands, mountains and glaciers. Despite its location below the glacier and the rough highlands, Hardanger enjoys a mild climate and has for centuries been a centre for fruit production in Norway. Hardanger also include wild waterfalls, alpine summits, high plateaus and major glaciers.

Hardangerfjord is 180 km long and about 850 m deep. This the second longest and second deepest fjord in Norway, only surpassed by Sognefjord, and outside Norway these are only surpassed by fjords in Greenland. Hardangerfjord is complex with branches and underwater thresholds. At Utne/Kvanndal the fjord makes a u-turn and with Åkrafjord in Sunnhordland district it creates a peninsula. The highest parts of this peninsula is covered by the Folgefonna glacier.

"All that is grand, all that is beautiful, will be found in the Hardanger, and even if an English visitor went nowhere else, he would have seen typical Norwegian scenery of every possible kind."

- A. F. Mockler-Ferryman (1911)

Regions


Hardanger consists of the following municipalities: Kvam, Granvin, Ulvik, Eidfjord, Ullensvang (former Ullensvang, Odda and Jondal).

Towns

 * &mdash; The only real town in the region. Industrial centre at the far end of Sørfjorden branch of Hardangerfjord.
 * - Commercial centre of the region. Entrance point when arriving from Bergen.
 * - Commercial centre. Almost merged with Norheimsund.
 * - Small village that is a popular stop among tourists. Famous for Norway's only barony, dated back to 1665.
 * - Small village around a sheltered bay in the far end of the Hardangerfjord.
 * - Small village. Entrance point when arriving from Voss.
 * - Small village. Entrance point when arriving from Oslo.
 * - Small village. Home to the annual cherry-festival

Other destinations

 * - largest mountain plateau in Europe and the largest national park in Norway.
 * - a glacier located on the mountain plateau the east side of the Hardangerfjord and west of Sørfjorden, mostly protected as national park. Available mostly by hiking as there are no roads within. The main glacier is visible from far and low altitude branches are visible at Buerbreen (Ullensvang) and Bondhusbreen (Mauranger).
 * – upland area with several ski resorts.

Understand


When thinking of Norway, most people think of fjords and mountains, and to that degree, Hardanger is one the most stereotypical Norwegian areas in Norway. The region covers the area from Kvam in the west, up north along the Hardangerfjord to Granvin and Ulvik in the north, Eidfjord in the east, and down along the Sørfjord to Odda in the south. Roads cling to the mountainsides along the fjord, and there are three ferries crossing the fjords. Apart from the grand nature, the region is known for its extensive fruit production with almost half of all fruit growing in Norway. Apple growing was probably introduced by British monks in the 14th century. Farms growing apples, pears, cherries and plums cover almost all the space along the fjords. This makes the region a lovely place during the fruit blooming in May and early June. The region is also home of several notable artists, musicians and writers. The mountain-areas of the region are good locations for skiing and winter sports. The Folgefonna glacier also has a summer-ski centre.



Ulvik is a village and the administration centre of Ulvik municipality (pop. 1,107 as of 2008) which also includes Finse and parts of Hardangervidda, some small settlements, and a number of farms (many of which are abandoned). Ulvik village sits at the end of Ulvik fjord. The inner part of the fjord is relatively shallow and almost closed off from the main fjord like a lagoon. The village is surrounded by fine small farms and fruit gardens. One of these farms were run by poet Olav H. Hauge, his "This is the Dream" was voted Norway's best poem of all times. His poems often reflects life among the apple trees in pretty, sheltered Ulvik. The well-known final words of the poem "...that one early morning we will slip into a bay we have never known" may resonate with sailing up Ulvik fjord.

People of Hardanger are known as harding and the dialect is also known as harding. Modern Hardanger dialect has guttural R but lighter than in Bergen. Widespread use of unusual, ancient diphthongs such as baot (båt in most dialects) makes the dialect stand out. Harding people are well aware where they are from. Origin of the name Hardanger is not known for certain, one possibility is the germanic tribe hǫrð (English: harudes) that is assumed to have settled in the area in prehistory. The suffix -anger is an ancient word for fjord such that Hardanger was in fact the fjord itself. The name of the fjord later transferred to the surrounding district and eventually -fjord was added to distinguish the watercourse from the land.

By car
From Bergen
 * Follow E39 to Arna where you enter E16, at Trengereid junction switch to road 49 which will take you to Norheimsund, the first village at the Hardangerfjord. 74km.

From Voss
 * Follow RV13 south to Granvin. 26km.

From Oslo and East Norway From Oslo there are several routes.
 * Route 7 from Hønefoss (E18 to Sandvika, E16 to Hønefoss). This is the shortest route and includes a drive through Hallingdal and across Hardangervidda. 330 km to Eidfjord
 * Instead of road 7 through Hallingdal follow E18 to Drammen, then E134 to Kongsberg and from Kongsberg road for about 150 km to road junction with 7. 350 km
 * Route E134 from Drammen via Røldal connects to road 13 from the south

From Stavanger
 * Road 13 from Sandnes near Stavanger via Suldal to Odda. Slow but scenic
 * Road E39 to Haugesund, then E134 towards Odda and road 13.

By bus


From Bergen
 * Skyss operates the Hardangerline from Bergen to Norheimsund, Øystese and Odda.

From Voss
 * Skyss operates lines to Odda, Granvin, Øystese and Norheimsund

From Oslo
 * Nor-way Bussekspress operates a line to Odda

By train
Bergen and Voss are the nearest railway stations. Finse station is the only railway station in Hardanger, but at the high plateau and without road connections. Finse is an excellent starting point for hiking (summer) and skiing (winter until about mid-May). Haugastøl and Geilo are the nearest stations east of the plateau.
 * Vy operates the railway from Oslo and Bergen to Voss. Use bus from Voss.

By boat

 * There are no regular boat lines serving Hardanger, however you can easily sail here in your own boat. Follow the Hardangerfjord to Norheimsund where you will find a well equipped guest-harbor.
 * Hardangerfjordekspress is a sightseeing trip by fast catamaran from Bergen to Rosendal and back.

Get around


If you bring a bicycle, the area is well suited for biking trips. Hiking in Hardanger is also recommended.

By car
The easiest way of getting around once you reach Hardanger, is by using a car. Because the mighty Hardangerfjord and its arms cuts through the area roads continue onto ferries across the fjord, these ferry crossings are part of the road network and road numbers include the crossing. There are 3 major crossings, the fourth crossing near Eidfjord is now replaced by a huge bridge.

The two key roads are # 7 from Geilo via Eidfjord and Norheimsund (east-west), and # 13 Odda-Granvin-Voss (north-south). Folgefunntunnelen is a short cut under the glacier from Odda to the western part of Hardanger.

By bus
If you would like to travel by bus or coach, the national coach operator is called NOR-WAY Bussekspress. Further regional and local buses are managed by the public transport authority in Hordaland, Skyss on Public Service Obligations. In Hardanger, you may find some lines to be rather infrequent. Some lines run only a handful of times per day, some only on schooldays and so on. Even so, the network does cover most areas.

See
The hardanger fiddle (hardingfele) is a characteristic instrument from Norway. The oldest existing hardanger fiddle was built i 1651 by Ole Jaastad, sheriff of Ullensvang. Master fiddlemakers in Hardanger produced a large number hardingfele around 1700 and later some of which are still in use. This idiosyncratic violin has four or five sympatheic or resonance strings beneath the standard four strings, and made from thin, delicate and decorated wood. The haunting, powerful sound is used to create traditional folk music: dance music as well as "listening music". The oldest hardanger fiddles are from the 17th centuries and one from 1650 is held at Bergen museum. Edvard Grieg and other modern composers incorporated folk music for the hardanger fiddle in their own music.

Eat
Hardanger is famous for its fruit. Small fruit stalls can be found along all major roads from late summer 'till mid-fall. Most of these stalls are not manned, but rely on the honesty of the customer. Most often there is a small jar where you leave the money for the purchased products. Stealing from these jars would be considered extremely rude.



Drink
Several apple farmers produce fine apple juice and cider from various types of apple. The cider comes in alcoholic and non-alcoholic variants.

Sleep
Three of Ulvik's four hotels are owned by the same hotel chain. All four are located in Ulvik village.
 * Ulvik

Stay safe
Visitors should keep a generous distance to glaciers. Hiking on glaciers is only for experts and visitors must join a guided tour for a walk on the ice. Waterfalls are surrounded by slippery and treacherous areas.

Itineraries

 * National tourist route Hardanger, roads 7, 13, 550 around Hardangerfjord
 * National tourist route Hardangervidda, road 7 Hardangervidda continues towards Geilo

Go next

 * Voss
 * Bergen
 * Sunnhordland
 * Telemark
 * Hallingdal, Geilo
 * Ryfylke
 * Haugesund
 * Setesdal