The municipality of Bjerkreim is one of four municipalities in the Dalane region in Southern Rogaland, Norway. The region´s landscape is lush with deep valleys in the interior and barren along the coast. The administrative centre is Vikeså which, along with the town of Bjerkreim, are the two urban areas in the municipality. Bjerkreim is an inland mountain town surrounded by varied landscape. Bjerkreim is located in the lush interior. Bjerkreim muncipality has approximately 2.800 inhabitants and covers a area of 650,4 km2. The municipality covers an area that stretches from about 10 km from the coast to far into the uplands towards Sirdal.

The landscape holds evetything from flat farming communities to talI mountain perks reaching more than 900 metres above sea level. The tallest peaks are the Skykula and Vinjakula peaks at 906 and 907 metres respectively. Both of these can be reached by foot and offer an incredible view of the ocean and the uplands – from the flat and gentle landscape of Jæren to the mountain wilds of the Sirdal and Ryfylke uplands.

Bjerkreim is a veritable Eldorado for anyone interested in fishing and has perhaps become best known for the salmon in the Bjerkreimselva river in addition, you will find well-prepared sites for fishing trout.

Or how about a cruise on the Ørsdalsvatnet lake! The landscape is reminiscent of a fjord in Western Norway with steep mountains and small farms clinging to the mountainsides.

This is the area for anyone looking for an active holiday filled with nature and outdoor experiences or who just wants to settle in to enjoy lazy days in front of the cabin with a view of sparkling lakes and farm animals grazing lush fields!

THE WATERCOURSE

The Bjerkreim watercourse winds its way through scenic agricultural landscape from Bjerkreim to Egersund, where the river flows into the ocean. The salmon population has grown significantly in recent years, and the river is currently one of the best salmon rivers due to liming and cultivation efforts. The yield in 2000 was 14 tonnes of salmon and sea trout. With a spawning ground that covers 80 km, the river has the potential for yielding even more fish.

ØRDALSVATNET LAKE

The “Lillegutt” steamer was purchased in Kristiania (now Oslo) in 1900 and began operating the Ørsdalsvatnet lake. It was replaced by the wooden boat “Ørsdalen” in 1922. Ørsdalen I was built in Skoredalen, a valley running in the opposite direction of the lake, where there was a cabinetmaker´s shop and boat builder´s yard. “M/K Ørsdølen II” was purchased in 1964 and had a regular run on the lake until the steamer operations were shut down when Ørsdalen valley and Lauperak were connected by road.

The privat boat association “M/K Ørsdølen” acquired the steamer and now offers “inland cruises” between Odlandsstø and Vassbø each Sunday during the summer. It is also possible to stop off at Dyrskog, an abandoned farm with more than 200 apple trees and a rich cultural heritage. A voyage with the steamer along the 18-km long lake isa voyage into the past.

ØRSDALEN VALLEY

People have lived in Ørsdalen valley since the Iron Age with large burial fields and rock mounds from field-clearing work dating back to the Migration Period, i.e. 1500 years ago. You will find beautiful bronze jewellery from the Migration Period, swords and axes from the Viking Age found at Vassbø in the museums in Stavanger. There are many intriguing minerals in the bedrock, and geologists and stone collectors have for decades made pilgrimages to kmown and more or less secret locations in the Ørsdalen uplands. The quartz crystals are perhaps the most famous. The molybdenum and tungsten mines in Ørsdalen are also well known. Various owners have intermittently mined for molybdenum and rungsten in several small mines in the valley since 1901.

In 1918,100 men were at work, many from outside the valley. The high prices during WW I was the reason for the large-scale operations. In 1919 the operations were reduced to almost nothing, but the mining continued until 1952. One of the mines is open for visitors, and you can view tools and pictures from the mining in a small museum.

STAVTJØRN

Stavtjørn is great starting point for family trips, both summer and winter The area is a regional winter sport centre with prepared cross-country trails, an a pine centre with four ski rows, snowboard facility, cafereria, ski rentals and skiing school. The Stavrjørn area is also a great hiking area during the summer. You may enjoy short walks or follow marked trails to the Sirdal uplands or all the way down to the coast. Fishing, wild berries and farmers bringing the sheep down from the mountains during the autumn are other experiences awaiting you in the area.

KLØGETVEDTTUNET

Rural museum. Old farmstead with farmhouse, barn, stables and smithy. The oldest building dates back to the 16th century. Implements from the old farming community. Open every Sunday from 13:00 to 17:00 hours from the middle of June to the end of August. Refreshments available.

DALANE FOLK MUSEUM

Dalane Folk Museum is the regional museum for Dalane. The main museum is located at Slettebø and has a varied cultural-historical collection that covers handcrafts and agriculture, civil servant and clergy culture and farm community culture. Open Sundays 13:00-18:00 and weekdays 11:00-17:00 from mid-June to mid-August.

ØRSDALEN MINES and MINING MUSEUM

Shut down molybdenum and tungsten mining operations. One of the old mining shafts is open to visitots. Small mining museum with tools and pictures from the mining operations. Open with guided tours every Sunday from the end of May to the end of August. Contact the municipality of Bjerkreim for other times.

AUSTRUMDAL FARM MUSEUM

15th-century grain barn housing Dalane Folk Museum´s collection of old implements and items from the farm. Open by appointment.

TORES TEMPO COLLECTION

Norway´s largest collection of Tempo motorcycles.

SETTLEMENT

There have been people living in Bjerkreim going back 5-6000 years as documented by finds from the Stone Age. The Uadal area in Storsheia 2-3 km north of downtown Vikeså off E39 is an example of an ancient farm settlement. People lived here from 350 AD up to the Black Plague in 1349. The area is very distinctive and is the most intact settlement in the county. In the same belt, you will find Auglænd with clear indications of the longhouses that were built here. These sites show that the people hunted, fished and conducted a simple form of farming.

THE UN PARK

The UN Park is a memorial over soldiers from Rogaland that have fallen while serving the UN. The memorial is located in the municipality of Bjerkreim because the first soldier from Rogaland that fell in the service of the UN came from Bjerkreim.

WAR STORIES

Bjerkreim was the scene of several skirmishes during the war years from 1940 to 1945. The Battle of the Gloppedalsura Scree that took place following the invasion in April 1940 is regarded as a testimony to the Norwegian resistance with several lives losr among the enemy. Several people from Bjerkreim were involved in the Resistance and during the autumn of 1944, the Nazis attacked Gjedrem where several Norwegian refugees were hidden. This has later been called the Battle of Gjedrem. About 100 people from Bjerkreim were taken prisoners by the Nazis, but all of them were able to return home. If the war had lasted but a few days longer, many would probably never have seen their homes again.

FISHING

If you are looking to catch some freshwater fish (trout and char), fishing along Route 504 is a very good alternative. There are several good fishing lakes in scenic Jæren landscape easily accessible just a short drive from E39 at Bue towards Varhaug. The fishing lakes are also popular with ice fishers during the winter. The parking areas are sign-posted and there are maps showing the fishing lakes at each parking area. Fishing permits may be purchased at the Søyland, Karlsbu, the Vikeså and from the property owners along the road.

Most of the river is open to everyone and permits may be purchased locally at a reasonable cost. Fly-fishing (fly rod or fly and casting float) and fishing with spinners and worms are allowed, which makes the river attractive for most people. It is easy to purchase permits and information about fishing sites is yours for the asking. If you need more information, please visit the river owners web site: Bjerkreimselva.