Hjelmeland municipality in Norway with about 2.900 inhabitants is the second largest municipality in Rogaland. It has an area of 1.092,0 km2. The centre of the municipality is the town of Hjelmelandsvågen. The name comes from the mountain called “Hjelmen” – the helmet. Hjelmeland is a very beautiful municipality, with deep fjords, mountains, archipelago, and good opportunities for outdoor activities, like fishing and mountain-trekking.
Fruit and berries have been cultivated for many years, while fish farming is a more recent venture. Salmon has been important for the fish industry in Hjelmeland for a couple of decades, but white fish such as cod and halibut has increased its value in the latter years. Several new firms have become established in new industrial areas, the largest of these is the roof tile factory on Mælsøyrane in Årdal.
The Vigatun, on the road between Hjelmeland and Fister, is a well-kept old farm complex. As it stands today it dates from 1821 but the oldest of the buildings, a smoke house, was built in the 1600s. A large part of Hjelmeland is hilly or mountainous. Much of the watershed in this area is exploited by the power stations of Ulla Førre and of Lyse Kraft.
SAND
Sand is quarried at several locations in the municipality, among them Årdal, Tøtlandsvik and Vadla. The manufacture of traditional “Jær stoler” – upright pine chairs with rush seats – and of baskets woven of strips of wooden shavings goes back to the beginning of this century.
ÅRDAL OLD CHURCH
One of the most unique Renaissance churches in western Norway is Årdal church, built during three periods in the 17th century and so called long-church style.
“Nibbå”, as it´s locally known, is a characteristic peak, and from the mountains here, you can enjoy a magnificent panorama of fjords and sea. The trail to the top is well-marked.
FISHING
Hjelmeland is a very beautiful municipality, with deep fjords, mountains, archipelago, and good opportunities for outdoor activities. Hjelmeland offers excellent fjord fishing, idyllic islands, roads that wind along the stunningly beautiful fjord – such as near Skomakarnibbå by the Jøsenfjord