Where Europe´s longest fjord, Sognefjorden, stretches deep into the country and meets Jotunheimen and Jostedalsbreen, you’ll find the municipality of Luster. Luster, which by area is one of the largest municipalities in southern Norway, is a fascinating part of Norway, a miniature of western Norway, with breathtaking fjords, steep mountains, water-abundant waterfalls, blue glaciers and luxuriant valleys.
Many of its arms reach down into wild, narrow valleys. The best known arms are Nigard glacier, Bergset glacier, Austerdal glacier and Fåbergstøl glacier. A large part of The Jotunheim National Park lies in Luster. The Jotunheim is characterised by majestic mountains, glaciers, lakes and a rich flora.
LUSTER
Luster municipality in Norway has approximately 4.900 inhabitants and covers a area of 2.706,6 km2. The inhabitants make their living out of agriculture, production of berries and fruit, industry and hydropower. Luster is at its busiest in the summer, since summer is the main tourist season. For those who can choose we recommend the spring and the autumn seasons. They are just as beautiful, but far more peaceful and quiet.
The green and luxuriant spring in Luster is particularly beautiful. The contrasts in the nature are strong, with blooming fruit trees near the fjord and snow still covering the hill sides. Spring skiing has become a popular activity.
The autumn has other qualities. The high mountains are at their most beautiful when the woods and heather change colour. Store Skagastølstind is 2.405 meteres. The mountain area near Sognefjellet, Fortun and Skjolden offers favourable conditions for small-game shooting. In the fjord, rivers and lakes you are in for hours of fun, fighting salmon, trout, cod and coalfish. In the wintertime we can offer you the longest ski tow in the country, Heggmyrane, as well as prepared cross-country ski tracks.
Many use the winter for adventure ski-roving to the glaciers of Nigardsbreen, Jostedalsbreen or Breheimen / Jotunheimen where the peaks are easy to reach and the view breathtaking.
HAFSLO
Hafslo is a former municipality included the villages of Kinsedalen, Ornes, and Kroken on the east side of the Lustrafjorden. It also included the villages of Solvorn, Hafslo, Joranger, and the whole Veitastrond valley on the west side of the Lustrafjorden. Hafslo surrounded the lakes Hafslovatnet and Veitastrondvatnet.
NIGARDSBREEN GLACIER
Nigardsbreen is a glacier arm of the large Jostedalsbreen glacier. Nigardsbreen lies about 30 kilometres north of the village of Gaupne in the Jostedalen valley. It is located just west of the Jostedøla river.
URNES STAVE CHURCH
Urnes Stave Church was built around 1150 and is Norway’s oldest Stave Church. The Church lies majestically on the top of Urnes, appr. 15 min. walk from the ferry. The Stave Church is one of four Norwegian Churches on UNESCO`s list of the most precious cultural monuments in the world.
The Stave Churches are constructions of high quality, richly decorated with carvings. In virtually all of them the door frames are decorated from top to bottom with carvings. This tradition of rich ornamentation appears to go back to the animal carvings of the Viking age. The dragons are lovingly executed and transformed into long-limbed creatures of fantasy, here and there entwined with tendrils of vine, with winding stems and serrated leaves. The elaborate designs are executed with supreme artistic skill. The stave church doorways are, therefore, among the most distinctive works of art to be found in Norway. However, it is difficult to connect them with the Christian gospel.
With a vertical drop of 218 metres (about 720 feet) the Feigum Waterfall is one of the highest in Scandinavia. From the sightseeing boat on the fjord you will have the best view of this waterfall on the southern side of the Luster Fjord. You can also walk from the road all the way to the foot of the waterfall.
DRIVANDEFOSSEN WATERFALL
Drivandefossen waterfall is found in beautiful and lush Mørkridsdalen in Skjolden, only a 15-20 minutes walk from the road. This is also the route to Åsetevatnet and the DNT-cabin.
GAUPNE OLD CHURCH
This magnificent Church was built in 1647 AD on a hill directly opposite Gaupne centre.
DALE CHURCH
Stone Church in gothic style built in 1250 AD.
SOLVORN
Solvorn is located on the western shore of the Lustrafjorden, the innermost part of the Sognefjorden. Solvorn has a long history as a trade center, a church site, a courthouse site, and it was the seat of the district magistrate for Inner Sogn. Solvorn was a natural place to go to for all the people who lived around the lake Hafslovatnet and its surrounding villages when they would sell or buy anything.
The village has car transportation and become more important that fjord travel, and the Norwegian County Road 55 was built on the other side of the mountains, closer to Hafslo, so Solvorn is no longer located along the main transportation route. Gallery Walaker exhibits both local and other works of high quality. Most exhibits are for sale. Ferry connection between Solvorn and Ornes (Urnes Stave Church).
THE BREHEIM CENTRE
The Breheim centre contains a comprehensive exhibition. A journey through 20 000 years – from the ice age to the present day, an audio / visual show takes you inside the glacier. Glacier boat M/S “Jostedalsrypa” crosses the Nigard Glacier Lake. Jostedalen Glacier Guide Team. Internationally approved guides, glacier and climbing courses, ski-trips.
Daily guided tours on the blue ice. The Nigard Glacier, Fåbergstøl Glacier and Austerdal Glacier. The Austerdal Glacier is easily reached by foot, approximately 2 hrs. from Tungastølen. Do not enter the ice fields without spikes and an ice pick.
POWER STATIONS
Jostedal Power Station, Guided tours. The entrance to the power station. Season is approximately June – August.
Fortun Power Station, Bjørk road about 1 km from the R 55. Guided tours. Season is June – September.
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
Climbing School/ Mountain Sports Courses at Turtagrø Hotel, Sognefjellet. One week course, Sunday to Sunday. Courses start in July for a 6 week season.
SOGNEFJELL MOUNTAIN ROAD
Experience the excitement of the Sogn Mountain Road (R 55) from Gudbrandsdalen (Lom to Sogn). Magnficient mountain scenery and plenty of lay bys. Sognefjellsvegen’s highest point is 1.400 metres over sea level with a fantastic view. Special brochure.
SOGNEFJELLET SUMMER SKI CENTRE
First class prepared cross country trails in magnificent surroundings 1.400 metres over sea level near the R 55 on the Sogn Mountain. This is were the pro’s train! Equipment for hire from the Centre.
MOUNTAINS OVER 2.000 METERS
Store Skagastølstind 2.405 metres, Jervvasstind 2.351 metres, Store Raudalseggi 2.168 metres, Store Raudalstind 2.157 metres, Uranostind 2.157 metres, Store Dyrhaugstind 2.147 metres, Mjølkedalstind 2.137 metres, Store Ringstind 2.124 metres, Tverrådalskyrkja 2.088 metresLodalskåpa 2.083 metres, Store Soleiebotntind 2.083 metres, Søre Dyrhaugstind 2.072 metres, Fannaråken 2.068 metres and Stetind i Jotunheimen 2.020 metres.
HUNTING
The mountain area near Sognefjellet, Fortun and Skjolden offers favourable conditions for small-game shooting.
FISHING
In the fjord, rivers and lakes you are in for hours of fun, fighting salmon, trout, cod and coalfish. There is great variation here between fjord fishing, fishing in among the islands and skerries and deep-sea fishing. You can catch most kinds of fish in this area. The currents and the nutritional content of the seawater make for unusually rich fishing. The most common species of fish are cod, haddock, saithe, pollack and mackerel. A certain amount of deepwater fish such as tusk and ling are also caught in the area.
GOLF
Golfclubs in Sogn & Fjordane.