Stavanger Tourist Attractions
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Stavanger, chief town of Rogaland county, lies on the southwestern coast of Norway on the Byfjord or Boknafjord, an arm of the Stavangerfjord.
Stavanger Cathedral
In the center of Stavanger, at the north end of Kongsgata, stands the Cathedral, the most important in Norway after Trondheim Cathedral. It was built at the end of the 11th century by Bishop Reinald, an Englishman also known as Reginald of Worcester (d. 1135), as a three-aisle Romanesque basilica. The choir was rebuilt in Gothic style after a fire in 1272, and the whole church was renovated in the 19th century. Notable features of the interior are the richly carved Baroque pulpit (1658), a stone font of the Gothic period and the stained glass in the east window (by Victor Sparre, 1957) depicting New Testament scenes.
Kongsgård
To the south of the Stavanger Cathedral, on the northern shore of the Breiavatn, is the Kongsgård, originally the Bishop's Palace. Later a grammar school, the Kongsgård Skole, was built on the foundations of the palace. The bishop's private chapel (Bispekapellet) has been restored.
Market Square
Northwest of Stavanger's Cathedral, extending to the harbor inlet (Vågen), is the Market Square (Torget), the scene of lively activity on weekdays. In the square can be seen a bronze statue (by Magnus Vigrestad) of the Stavanger-born novelist and playwright Alexander Kielland (1849-1906).
Valbergtårn
To the north of Stavanger's Market Square, between Vågen and the East Harbor (Østre Havn), is the Holmen peninsula, the oldest part of the town. In this area, near Kirkegata, which runs north from the Cathedral, stands the Valbergtårn, an old watch-tower on the highest point in the town (views; exhibition of arts and crafts).
Old Town
Northwest of the Market Square, on the far side of Vågen, lies Gamle Stavanger (Old Stavanger), with many old houses. In Nedre Strandgate, occupying an old merchant's house, is the Maritime Museum (history of seafaring, etc.).
Archaeological Museum
To the southwest of the Stavanger Municipal Museum, in Storgate, are the Archaeological Museum (with a special exhibition, "Kaleidoscope") and the Vestland School Museum (old furnishings, equipment and teaching material).
Stavanger Art Gallery
West of Stavanger's Archaeological Museum, at Madlaveien 33, the Art Gallery houses works by the painter Lars Hertervig.
Ledaal House
To the west of Stavanger is Ledaal House, a mansion built about 1800 for the Kielland family. It features in Alexander Kielland's novels under the name of Sandsgård. The house is now used for receptions and other functions.
Emigration Festival
This annual festival pays tribute to Norwegian emigrants to the United States. Events include folk concerts, theatrical performances and visual arts exhibitions. An emigration center is also opened at Bergjelandsgt. 30, to trace family histories.
Cruise Port
From here, majestic cruise ships depart for distant ports of call. While docked, these mighty ships are a spectacle for all to see.
Flyhistorisk Museum Sola
This museum focuses on aircraft that were used at the Sola military base and the Stavanger airport. Includes parts of wartime aircraft retrieved from wreck-sites.
Municipal Museum
Immediately south of the Breivatn is the railroad station, and beyond this are the Theater and, in Muségata, the Municipal Museum (antiquities, natural history, ethnography, ships and the sea). An item of particular interest in the museum is the earliest skeleton found in Norway (at Viste, 10km/6mi northwest of Stavanger, where there are caves which were inhabited in Stone Age times).
Surroundings
Vålandshaugen
The best views of Stavanger, the fjord and the surrounding hills are to be had from the Vålandshaug (85m/280ft), in a park to the south of the town. It is reached by way of Hornklovesgate.
Bjergsted Park
To the northwest of Stavanger, reached by way of Løkkeveien, is Bjergsted Park, with a restaurant and several viewpoints.
Byhaugen
To the west of Stavanger is Byhaugen (76m/250ft), from which there is a fine view of the Ryfylkefjell to the northeast.
Ullandhaugen
3.5km/2mi southwest of Stavanger is Ullandhaugen (131m/417ft), with a telecommunications tower (viewing platform) and a plaque commemorating Harald Fairhair's naval victory in 872, which gave him control of the whole country.
Klosterøy - Utstein Abbey
In the fjord to the north of Stavanger are numerous islands and islets. On the little Klosterøy, which is linked with the larger island of Mosterøy by a bridge, is the Augustinian abbey of Utstein (first mentioned in the records in the 13th century), the best preserved monastic house in Norway. Klosterøy can be reached from Stavanger by motor launch.
Lysefjord
To the east of Stavanger, beyond the Høgsfjord (pleasant trip by motor launch from the Strandkai), lies the Lysefjord, a cleft in the mountains 37km/23mi long, up to 2km/1.25mi wide and up to 457m/1,500ft deep, with bright green water. The fjord is enclosed by sheer walls of rock rising to above 1,000m/3,300ft.
Prekestolen
The most striking feature in the Stavanger fjord is the Prekestol ("Pulpit"), a flat-topped crag 597m/1,960ft high. It can be reached from Stavanger on Road 13, which comes in 24km/15mi to Lauvvik, on the Høgsfjord, from which there is a ferry across the fjord to Oanes. From there Road 13 continues north to Jøssang, where a side road goes off on the right to the Prekestolhytta, from which it is a two-hour walk to the Prekestol.
Map of Stavanger Attractions
Map - Stavanger
