Since the hike up to the Preikestolen did not yield the desired view, I started a hunt for a fjord hike! On Saturday we took a very short ferry from Lauvik to Oanes, right at the point where the Lysefjorden and Hogsfjorden meet. I picked out a hike that would take us up to Uberen peak. It was high enough that you could get a spectacular view of the Hogsfjorden and the mouth of the Lysefjorden, but not too high that there would be ice and snow as we experienced with the Preikestolen hike. It was a rocky climb, we forded quite a few streams and although there was no ice, halfway up it started snowing. Thankfully it didn't last long. The view from Uberen peak was indeed breathtaking with the land rising high above the water and little houses dotting the coast! We were about 1000 ft above the fjords looking down! After the hike we took a short drive up the Lysefjorden to get a better view. We could see the Preikestolen but the very top was swathed in clouds.
At the top of Uberen looking down to where the Hogsfjorden and Lysefjorden meet.
Standing by the Hogsfjorden
Our next stop was the Steinstjerna (Stone Star) which is a 3 armed star made from stones from the sea. The entire area is full of ancient graves.
Steinstjerna burial mound
Then we went onto Tjora to see the stone crosses. These two crosses date back to around 1150 A.D. Before churches were built, these crosses were the gathering place for religious services.
At Ytraberget are the ruins of a stone fortress that dates back to 300 years before the Viking invasion (550 - 1050A.D.). The fortress was also probably used during the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872 A.D. This battle was instrumental in the unification of Norway under one ruler. Harald won the battle and is commemorated by a stone monument among the fortress ruins. The monument was erected in 1972 in celebration of the 1100th anniversary of the unification of Norway.
On top of the hill where the main part of the fortress was situated. You can see the remnants of walls.
In the area of Alvaldsnes lie six large burial mounds, although there were more at one time. This burial mound area is also called Blodheia or Blood Heath named after a battle that took place around 853 A.D. between Hakon den gode and the sons of Erik Bloodaxe. It was thought that these burial mounds were from this battle and that Guttorm Eriksson, one of Erik Bloodaxe's sons, was buried in the one that is now called Guttormshaugen. However, archaeological evidence shows that these burial mounds date back to the Bronze Age, before the time of the legendary battle. Fyrstegrav princely burial mound is also from the early Bronze Age 1300-1100 BC. The skeleton of man still wrapped in birch bark and remnants of clothing was found as well as several artifacts: sword dagger, spear point and two buttons.
Guttormshaugen burial mound also dates to the early Bronze Age and artifacts found in this mound include a bronze sword gold, a gold bracelet and pieces of gold leaf.
St. Olav's Church is about 1 km from Blodheia. The oldest section of the church was started in 1250 A.D. by King Hakon Hakonsson. However, it is believed that the stone church replaced a wooden church built by Olav Tyggvason 250 years earlier. St. Olav's was built on an old cult ritual site surrounded by stone monuments. Today only the largest stone remains, called the Virgin Mother's Needle. Research shows the monument is gradually sinking towards the church which has given rise to the legend that Judgment Day will arrive when the stone touches the church. Many believe that the chip marks at the top of the stone were caused by various priests who over the years climbed the stone at night and hacked bits of it away to prevent it from reaching the church wall, hence speeding the arrival of Judgment Day.
North of St. Olav's Church in Haugesund is a monument, burial mound and stone cross. The Viking king Harald Harfagre is believed to be buried beneath this burial mound. A large granite obelisk sits on top of the mound and is ringed by 29 stone monuments, one for each of the Old Norwegian Counties. Harald united Norway into one kingdom with the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872. The burial mound and monument is situated at the ruins of Gard Church which was probably deserted after the Black Death in 1349 A.D. Just a little ways from the monument up a small hill is a solitary stone cross. In early Christian times such crosses were erected to Christianize heathen graves as well as serve as a gathering place to hold religious services before churches were built. It is believed the cross may be a monument to King Harald's (the unifier of Norway) son Erik who died in England in 945 A.D.
On Bomlo island in a town called Mosterhamn is Mostor church. It is one of the oldest churches in Norway and holds a special place in Norwegian hutch history. In 995 Olav Tyggavson set fire to the pagan temple at Moster and established a church on the same spot. As it was wood, it was rebuilt in the 1100s out of soapstone. It is a beautiful example of 1100s church architecture and very unique. It only has two windows and both are quite small.
It is so neat to see the various layers of Norwegian history...the Bronze Age, Viking era, Christian influence, the 1700-1800s buildings still intact...and it all intermingles wth each other into the present day!
Cheers!
Elizabeth
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