Averøy, an island is one of Norway´s largest fishiry communities. The main island lies out in the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by numerous smaller islands and covers a area of 175,9 km2. There is life and exitement everywhere, and the approximately 5.450 inhibitants can wish you welcome to a modern Island community characterized by prosperity with a varied economic basis. Mountains, fjords and rocky shoreline makes the possibilities for activities many, in this picturesque piece of Norway. Averøy is blessed with a lot of open space, which offer unique possibilities to enjoy the woods and the mountains – although there are rules on how to respect the environment. For caravanning, we suggest our exellent camping sites at various price ranges around the island. Help us keep the environment nice and tidy!
People have Iived out here for almost 10.000 years and traces from all periods of its history can still be found. The lovely stave church, the interesting museum, stone age settlements, The Bremsnes Cave and the internationally known Atlantic Ocean Road which connects Averøy to the main land, all these together with the sea, rich in fish, cutting into the land in bays, sounds and fiords, make Averøy a first class holiday spot.
THE ATLANTIC OCEAN ROAD
The Atlantic Ocean Road is a unique road connection between the municipalities Averøy and Eide. This highway will bring you out to the very farthest point where the land ends and the ocean begins. And once there, the boundless 9 majesty of the ocean will provide you with a sight you will never forget. No more than a few stones’ throw towards the west an important 9 shipping fairway crosses the notorious Hustadvika, where in numerable ships’ wrecks on the seabed bear silent witness to the dramas of the past.
Did the Creator perhaps have motorists in mind when one sunrise. He cast this myriad of islets – Strømsholmen, Skarvøya, Lyngholmen, Geitøya, Kuholmen, and whatever they´re all called around as a protection against the forces of the sea? For the sea itself was hardly cooperative. All of 12 hurricanes tried to prevent the building of this road, which now winds its way across bridges and embank ments from islet to islet, and connects Averøya with the mainland.
Although these tiny, windswept islands were home to a total of 120 souls in around 1900, all making a living from fishing and drying tish, they are now deserted. The fish is still there, though thronging the rocky shoreline, just waiting to be caught!
Throughout history, although the sea has been both larger and transport route to our coastal populations, in storm it has been a dreaded enemy. The fairways along our coasts have some notorious stretches of open sea, of which Hustadvika probably stands out as most frequently associated with storm and shipwreck, brave fishermen and seamen, and daring rescues.
“He”, say the coastal people when referring to the elements.
- He’s rough today or !
- He´s bringing rain – showing marked respect for the weather!
Today, the new Atlantic Highway provides you with the best opportunity of experiencing life along the ocean’s edge. Here are just a few ideas:
The Atlantic Ocean Road takes you over 8 brigdes from islet to islet out to the very point where the land ends and the ocean begins. Hustadvika, an infamous stretch of ocean, is an unforgettable experience whatever the weather. There is excellent fishing and scuba-divers from all over the world gather here.
Svevestien walking path and the very special service house built on Eldhusøya is a project at the interface between building and art. The elevated walking path at Eldhusøya island is a round trip that everybody can manage, and it open every day, all year.
THE FISHING VILLAGE of HÅHOLMEN
The adventurer Ragnar Thorseth’s fishing community from the 18th century. Original wharfs, fishermen’s cottages and a bakery from the 18th and 19th centuries. Viking ship exhibition.
KVERNES STAVE CHURCH
From ancient times Kvernes has been of great religious and cultural importance at Nordmøre. The excavation of a white phallus stone, a sacred symbol of fertility, support this fact. The stave church was built around year 1300 and has a rather large main nave (16 x 7,5m) with external diagonal props supporting the walls.
Seueral repairs / reconstructions have been carried out. In 1633 the stave-built chancel was torn down, and a new one erected in log construction. A baptistry was raised at the western end, windows were put in, and the chancel was decorated with painted scenes from the Bible. In the following decade, the nave and baptistry were decorated with acantus paintings. The vicar, Mr. Anders Ericksen (1603 – 62) paid all those expences himself.
The king sold the church in 1725, and it was in priuate ownership until 1872 when it was bought by the parish. A new church was built in 1893, and the stave church was saved from demolition when the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Monuments (Fortidsminneforeningen) bought it in 1896.
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.
KVERNES FOLK MUSEUM
The museum is located in close proximity to the Kvernes Stave Church, and is one of the largest and most visited museums in the county of Møre and Romsdal. It is an open-air museum, with 11 buildings gathered from Averøy and neighboring communities. The museum has a collection of more than 10.000 items. The main courtyard gives an impression of the farming communities in the 18th century.
The museum has an archeological section, and a costal department. Every year in July, on the sunday closest to the 29th of July, a celebration takes place at the museum in connection with St. Olafs day. After a service at the stave church, the festivities continue at the museum with activities, entertainment, and opportunities to taste many traditional dishes.
BREMSNES CAVE
The oldest traces of settlement at Averøy is the Fosna Culture. There have been several discoveries around the Bremsnes Cave, and scientists believe that Bremsnes and Averøy have been settled for 10,000 years. The Cave is the largest in the northern part of the region Møre and Romsdal. The cave streches approximately 80 meters into the mountain. A trail leads you from place to place, and within an hour or two you can experience several sites from the Stone Age.
THE STONE RING
The Bremsnes Farm might have been a chieftains seat for more than 1500 years already. Legend has it that King Harald Hårfagre (Harald Fairhair) took over this seat and gave it to his friend Ragnvald Mørejarl. It also says that King Harald made a bet with Ragnvald Mørejarl that he would neither cut his hair nor beard before all of Norway had been united as one single kingdom. The King kept his promise, and after the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872 AD, he returned to Bremsnes. The famous haircut supposely took place at this Stone Ring, witch is still there today. The Stone Ring is located in a meadow right by the highway at Bremsnes, by the ferry station.
BURIAL MOUND
Håkkårøysa is the largest burial mound in the nothern part of Møre and Romsdal, and it is also large on a national scale, measuring approximately 40 meters in diameter. When considering its distance above sea level, it can be dated back 1.000 years. It is said that one of the Viking chiefs that fell in the Battle of Rastarkalv in Frei in 995 AD is buried at Håkkårrøysa.
ROCK CARVINGS from THE STONE AGE
The rock carvings at Søbstad consists of 17 drawings, whales being the main motif. The carvings were magical pictures intended to give the hunter power over the animals he wanted to catch. These carvings were discovered only 30 years ago, and they are presumed to be 6,000 years old.
BEACHES
Røsandbukta, Røsand is an attractive and popular sandy beach, with a public parking area nearby. Omfarøya, Bådalen, offers both safe, shallow pebble beach for the familiy and abruptly shelving rocks which are ideal for diving and Skovikneset at Atlanterhavsveien.
MOUNTAIN
The central mountain area with the peaks Meekknoken and Gulltanna as natural viewpoints. On your way to the top you can visit old coppermines in Dyrsetlia. Mountains in the area is Gulltanna (594 metres) and Meekknoken (751 metres).
Bremsneshatten with settlements from the Stone Age. The old path to the Church from Bådalen to Kvernes.
FISHING
The Atlantic Ocean Road, bridges of Vevangstraumen and Hulvågen.
RIVER FISHING
Bådalselva, Bae: Fishing permit can be bought at Coop Marked, Bådalen.
DEEP-SEA FISHING (for groups) Contact Einar Ramsøy at Ramsøy.