Norway Day Three - getting to the other side

Day 3 in Norway was a big day. It was a little wet and at times wild. It was also a long one distance wise with lots to see and do.

We set off from Blefjell and travelled along the Numedal Valley, one of the main routes between Oslo and Bergen since medieval times. This route traverses Norway from Kongsberg in the south, to Geilo and over the Hardangervidda Plateau, in the North west, and then down into Hardangerfjord.

Stabbur

Because of its history, the Numedal Valley is renowned for its medieval buildings, including stave churches, or stavekirkes – you can see the link between the Norse and Scotland at least right there. Those Vikings left their mark. Kenneth had done his research and had three to stop at on the way up the valley. Sadly, because it was now October, they were all closed, so we could not see inside them or visit the museums. But it really interesting to see them and the traditional barns or Stabbur, which are designed to keep food from being eaten by rodents or spoiling in winter. They clearly do not have earthquakes here – the buildings are built on foundations of rocks piled up. It looks very precarious.

Nore stavekirke

First, we stopped at Nore Stave Church. First built in 11677, possibly on top of an earlier church, it was extensively remodelled between 1650-1750, as many stave churches have been. It was saved from demolition in the late 1800’s when the locals wanted a bigger church. The church has a much older cemetery around it with some grave markings.

Uvdal stavekirke

Then on up the road to Uvdal StaveChurch. Like the Nore Stavekirke “ the Uvdal Stave Church was built with one simple room – an almost square nave in which the belfry was borne by a central post. The chancel was quite small and ended in a semicircular apse. Nore and Uvdal Stave Churches are the only ones we have at preserved with this construction…” This church is part of a larger complex of farm buildings from the last centuries and apparently had a museum.

Then a little drive up the road was another larger and much more imposing stave church. Again, we could not get in.You can find more of my photos on Facebook here.

Then we drove on up the valley and over the Hardangervidda National Park past the Hardangervidda ski field. it was wet and cold and dramatic. The snow was starting to fall leaving the white highlights on the landscape. Such a great drive. The ski failed was really interesting from a New Zealand viewpoint. I’m used to driving up mountains like Ruapehu to get to one, but here it was on the side of the road. Park, ski, carry on.

Our next stop was the Vøringsfossen, an iconic 163m high waterfall which you access down a dodgy path and then amazing metal bridge system. 

We drove on down to the Hardangerfjord. The rain was heavy and there we waterfalls crashing on down beside the road. Kenneth as I were excited and Bonnie thought we should be a lot more terrified, like her. I have no photos of this sadly. It felt like the roads were designed to cater for this, and the water fell next to the road rather than on the road and us. But Bonnie was unconvinced and was not having as much fun as we were. It was one of my highlights to be honest.

We then crossed over the Hardanger Bridge which has dramatic views up and down Hardangerfjord, except there were none due to the rain. The road onto the bridge at either end is underground and entails going around blue and pink lit roundabouts. I should have taken a video, but stuck with a few photos. You can find my Facebook photos here

Our last stop was Steinsdalsfossen, a village with another dramatic waterfall, this time with path behind it. And then on to Bergen. We were on the other side of Norway now. More importantly, shortly after we arrived so did Rebekah Hebenton who was now with us for 4 days.

The rest of my photos from this grand day are hiding here.