Stavanger City Highlights & The 3 Swords

One of the most picturesque areas of the city is Gamle Stavanger, a historic area where a collection of quaint older homes lie along meandering stone-paved streets. This is, in fact, the largest surviving wooden house settlement in northern Europe. Its streets are well worth exploring, as are its galleries and museums.

Hafrsfjord or Hafrsfjorden is a fjord in the Stavanger Peninsula in Rogaland county, Norway. The 9-kilometer (5.6 mi) long fjord forms the border between the municipalities of Stavanger and Sola. On the west side of the fjord is the large village of Tananger, on the south is the village of Solakrossen, and on the east end of the fjord is the borough of Madla in the city of Stavanger. The Møllebukta bay area, located on the innermost part of the fjord, is the site of a popular beach and the Sverd i Fjell statues. The only bridge over the fjord is the Hafrsfjord Bridge which runs between Kvernevik in Stavanger and Jåsund in the village of Tananger in Sola.

The city of natural highs, surrounded by beautiful fjords, mountains, and long, white beaches, Stavanger and Sandnes also boasts an impressive assortment of museums and cultural events. Famed for its many natural attractions and old wooden houses, the Stavanger region is on the radar of nearly every visitor to Norway. Here, you can explore scenic landmarks such as the Lysefjord, Sola beach, and the famous cliff Preikestolen (The Pulpit Rock). Stavanger is both a university city and Europe’s oil and energy capital. Many different nationalities are attracted to the region, making it a highly international destination. This is all reflected in Stavanger’s urban and lively atmosphere, with cutting-edge food menus and a booming cultural scene. Though Stavanger is an ever-evolving city, the city’s proud history shines through. Old Stavanger has Europe’s best preserved wooden house settlement with more than 170 white wooden houses.

Located in the city center, Stavanger Cathedral was built in the 12th century by Englishman Reginald of Worcester (later known as Bishop Reinald) as a three-aisle Romanesque basilica. The choir was rebuilt in the Gothic style after a fire in 1272, and the whole church was renovated in the 19th century. Notable interior features include the richly carved Baroque pulpit (1658), a stone font of the Gothic period, and the stained glass in the east window depicting New Testament scenes.

Sverd i fjell (English: Swords in Rock) is a commemorative monument located in the Hafrsfjord neighborhood of Madla, a borough of the city of Stavanger in Rogaland, Norway. The monument was created by sculptor Fritz Røed from Bryne and was unveiled by King Olav V of Norway in 1983. The three bronze swords stand 10 metres (33 ft) tall and are planted into the rock of a small hill next to the fjord. They commemorate the historic Battle of Hafrsfjord which by tradition took place there in the year 872, when King Harald Fairhair gathered all of Norway under one crown. The largest sword represents the victorious Harald, and the two smaller swords represent the defeated petty kings. The monument also represents peace, since the swords are planted into solid rock, so they may never be removed.

Ullandhaug tower - The telecommunications tower was built in 1964. The tower rises 64 meters on a hill 135 m above sea level. From here you have a marvelous view of Stavanger, Ryfylke, and Nordjæren. Each year the tower is decorated with lights for Christmas.