Stryn municipality in Norway has a population of about 7.500 with by far the heaviest concentration in Stryn centre itself and covers a area of 1.388,8 km2. The municipality is located along the innermost part of the Nordfjord. The Huffington post has Nordfjord as The Most Relaxing Places On Earth. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Stryn. Stryn, a busy and developing small town and shopping centre for a large community and the junction of roads which connect inner Nordfjord with the rest of Norway. Some other villages in Stryn include Loen, Innvik, Utvik, Olden, and Flo. Farming, forestry, fruit growing, animal breeding for furs, small manufacturing industries, tourism and the service trades provide the main occupations. Stryn is world famous for its beautiful scenery with glaciers and majestic mountains running into the mirroring fjords and lakes.
The most famous glacier is Oldedalen valley, but the Stryn area offers numerous spectacular valley glaciers including Tindefjellbreen glacier. Most of the valley glaciers in Stryn are originating from the great Jostedal glacier (Jostedalsbreen). Ramnefjellsfossen waterfall, the third highest free-falling waterfall in the world, is located in the municipality. Stryn also has the largest linden forest in Northern Europe. The largest lakes are Oppstrynsvatn, Lovatnet, and Oldevatnet. The mountains Skåla, Lodalskåpa, and Høgstre Breakulen are all located in Stryn.
Moods of Norway is a Norwegian clothing brand started by Stefan Dahlquist, Peder Børresen, and Simen Staalnacke in Stryn.
A wide river enters the town from the east after meandering through the fertile lower valley, Stryn Valley, from the charming Stryn Lake. At the shore of the lake the Jostedalsbreen National Park Centre is situated. At the east end of the lake the road enters the narrower Hjelledalen and shortly zigzags up some three hundred metres to the entrance of the first of the three tunnels of the mountain highway leading to Geiranger and Grotli.
The Jostedalsbreen glacier gives the rivers and lakes a special green hue that is found only near the glacier. Here, there is plenty of refreshing water and fresh air for everyone. The noumerous attractions of Nordfjord lie waiting for you. You can take part in some of our many activities or just wander in the sun along white sandy beaches, breathing in the fresh air. Or maybe you would like to explore our cultural history? Regardless of where you are, whether on the glacier or mountains, by the fjord or sea, you will find the small idyllic places that you’ve always been looking for. Such places that you can only see afterwards by closing your eyes.
A journey along the Nordfjord offers an exceptional variety of scenery ranging from blue glacier arms and towering mountains to fertile valleys and deep lakes, and taking you right out to the coast and the relentless breakers of the Stadhavet sea.
On the old, well-travelled tourist route between Sunnmøre and the upper reaches of the Nordfjord lies Stryn. Nordfjord consists of the municipalities of Stryn, Hornindal, Gloppen, Eid, Bremanger, Vågsøy and Selje.
JOSTEDAL GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
The National Park has a area of approximately 1.230 sq.kms. A breathtakingly beautiful flora and fauna area situated between fjord and glacier. You will discover here; the Golden Eagle (Aquila Chrysaetos). Roughlegged Buzzard (Bueto Lagopus) and White-Backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopus Leucotos). Also in this area; a large herd of Red Deer (Cervus Elaphus) and numbers of Wolverines (Gulo Gulo) and Lynxes (Lynx Lynx).
The Centre, beautifully situated on the shore of the Strynsvatnet lake, Oppstryn, offers a wide range of activities, including films shows, exhititions on natural and cultural history, and a botanical garden. Boats, kayaks and fishing equipment for hire. The centre also provides a good starting point for the nature and culture trails. If you wish to learn more about the natural features of this impressive area, Jostedalsbreen National Park is well worth a visit. It is forbidden to damage plants or disturb the animals in the National Park.
BRIKSDAL GLACIER
Visitors from all over the world come to see the beautiful Briksdals glacier outlet, so beautifully situated amid waterfalls and high peaks. From the mountain inn, you can either walk or take a horse and carriage up to the Briksdal glacier. With proper equipment and expert glacier guides, you will be part of an absolutely safe but incredibly exciting trip over the thousands of years old ice masses.
Briksdal glacier is a part of the Jostedal glacier icefield, which is the largest glacier on the European mainland. The highest point of the glacier lies at 1950 m.a.s. and in some places measures 400 metres in depth. The glacier is a fantastic work of Nature but dangerous. Never go up on to the glacier without a glacier guide and the correct equipment.
The traditional ponytraps the only authorised form of transport allowed between Briksdalsbre Fjellstove and the glacier where replaced in 2003 by a safer transport in “Trollbilar”, battery-driven golf cars that do the journey in 20 minutes each way, with a stop at the glacier of about 45 minutes. As the track winds its way up the valley it crosses the bridge over the spectacular Briksdalsfossen waterfall and offers fantastic views as it climbs to the final stop at Kleivane, from where there is an easy footpath to the very edge of the glacier in the national park.
The trip through Oldedalen valley to Briksdal glacier is an amazing symphony of scenic splendour. From wild flowers to awe-inspiring mountains that are reflected in crystal clear lake waters, to great waterfalls that cascade from vertical mountainsides. If you have a transport problem to get up Oldedalen valley to Briksdal glacier rent a Taxi.
LOEN
Loen is located in the inner part of the Nordfjord region. Loen is located about 6 kilometres north of Olden and about 11 kilometres southeast of the municipal center of Stryn. The Lovatnet lake is located just to the southeast. The Hotel Alexandra was established in Loen in 1884.
Loen Skylift will bring you from the fjord to the top of Hoven mountain (1011 meters) in only 5 minutes, and is one of the steepest cable cars in the world. The Official opening of Loen Skylift will take place on the 20th of May 2017. Ordinary operation from May 21st at 9 am. Each cabin (two) have room for 40-45 persons. The ride takes 5-7 minutes one way. Loen Skylift run continously during operating hours, without fixed departures.
With panoramic viewst all the way to the edge of the steep hill you will find Hoven Restaurant. After a long day in the mountains, Hoven Bar with an intimate indoor environment and large outdoor terrace.
LOVATNET LAKE
Lovatnet is a lake located about 2 kilometres southeast of the village of Loen and about 6 kilometres east of the village of Olden. The lake lies just 2 kilometres southwest of the mountain Skåla. The water from the lake flows down from the mountains; especially from the Jostedalsbreen and Tindefjellbreen glaciers. It then flows out through the Loelva river into the Nordfjorden.
HOVEN MOUNTAIN
In May 2017 one of the greatest and most spectacular tourism projects in Norway opens. From the Fjord Station you start the ascent with the Cable Car to Hoven mountain (1011 meters). After aprox. 8 airy minutes you arrive at the Mountain Station, and the restaurant where you will have a 210 degree panoramic view overlooking mount Skåla and Lovatnet lake in the east, Jostedalsbreen Glacier and Olden in the south, and the Nordfjord that winds its way towards Stryn in the west.
GJØLMUNNEBRIDGE
The 118 meters long suspension bridge and climb the trail Via Ferrata Loen between the mountains Hoven and Middle Tongue. The Gjølmunnebridge is 750 meters above sea level, in the middle of the bridge is 160 meters straight down.
SKÅLA MOUNTAIN
Skåla mountain is 1,843 metres and located about 7 kilometres east of Loen and about 7 kilometres south of the Oppstrynsvatn lake. The latter one is sometimes called Stryneskåla. Every year there is a race from Loen up the mountain.
SKÅLA TOWER / KLOMAN TOWER
The tower at the top of the 1.848 metres summit is built from rocks. It is called Skålatårnet or Kloumantårnet. The construction of the tower was initiated by Dr. Hans Henrik Gerhard Klouman from Innvik. It was built as a means to cure tuberculosis, which was widespread in the late 19th century. The walls in the tower are 50 centimetres wide, and there are two floors. Today, the tower is accessible to the public, with 22 beds.
LODALEN – KJENNDALEN
The impressive scenery and the valley´s dramtic history make a visit to Lodalen a special experience not to be missed. On two occasions, enormous rockslides from Ramnefjellet hit the lake below. The resulting flood wave wiped out the settlements of Nesdal and Bødal, killing 135 people. The years 1905 and 1936 will forever remind the people of Inner Nordfjord of the Lodalen disasters.
OLDEN and OLDEN VALLEY
Olden is located at the mouth of the Oldeelva river in the Oldedalen valley along the Nordfjord. The southernmost of the three short branches at the inner end of Nordfjord terminates at Olden from which a lovely valley, strikes due south for some 20 kilometres between slopes rising sharply to more than 1.700 metres to the edge of the Jostedals glacier. Central to the valley Oldevatnet lake and Olden river that flows through the valley and into the scenery. The turbulent river which feeds the Oldevatnet lake and Floen lake and forms magnificent falls two kilometres from the village, comes from the glacier tongues of the Jostedals glacier, lining the head of the valley around the pointed Middagsnibba (1440 metres).
The road here is an experience in itself: you pass several fantastic waterfalls and glacier arms of the major Jostedal Glacier, among others the Brenndal Glacier and the Melkevoll Glacier that lies at the end of the Oldevatn lake. On your way through the Oldedalen valley to the Briksdalsbreen glacier, you will see a host of wild and wonderful waterfalls cascading down the mountainsides. Gytrifossen, Nelkjifossen, Yrifossen, Kvamsfossen, Rustøyfossen, Høgalmefossen, Volefossen, Svadåna, Kjøtabreelva and Briksdalsfossen. In Oldedalen valley also Hansa Borg Brewery bottler for the glacier water Olden together with Norsk Brevatn.
Olden has two churches. The one in the village was built in 1759 on the site of a stave church dating from around 1300. Its pew doors and jambs are made from timbers of the stave church. The “new” church, a short distance along the valley, was built in 1934 so that the old church could be preserved.
MB OLDEN
MB Olden, a modern, well-equipped vessel with a large sundeck. This boat trip offer the beauty of the Oldedalen valley and the Briksdal Glacier. MB Olden is a charter service and runs along the age-old route from Eide to Rustøen, calling at a number of places along the lake. MB Olden serves meals and has a licensed bar.
INNVIK and UTVIK
On the southern shore of Nordfjord, between Hildaneset and Utvikfjellet, lie the lovely villages of Innvik and Utvik, in the area known as Vikane. The main road (Rv 60) skirts the fjord past Innvik and ascends from Utvik to Utvikfjellet. At Hildaneset, beside tbe main road, there is a sculpture of Mr. Singer. Mr Singer financed the building of the road.
FLO
Flo is located on the northern shore of the lake Oppstrynsvatn lake, about 18 kilometres east of the municipal center of Stryn. Directly south across the lake is the Jostedalsbreen National Park Center, a visitor´s center for the nearby Jostedalsbreen National Park. Flo has become famous for raising national and international footballers, all of whom are related.
Hjelle was previously a center in Hjelledalen between Strynevatnet and Strynefjellet. Strynevatnet (also known as Oppstrynsvatnet or Strynevatn) is a lake located about 8 kilometres east of the village of Stryn. The villages of Flo, Oppstryn, and Erdal are located on the shores of the lake.
ANDERS SVOR MUSEUM
Museum dedicated to the art of the well-known local sculptor, Anders Svor (1864-1929), with most of his original work displayed, 450 pieces in all. His art celebrates simplicity, clarity and genuineness. Also guest exhibitions.
THE FJORD HORSE
National centre for breeding and use of the Fjord horse. Open all summer or by appointment. Mountain trekking on horseback. Riding camp. Riding lessons for children. Accomodation available in hotel, cabins and camping. The Døla stallion “Rimfakse” was bought in to Nordfjord at the end of the 19th century. The intention was to use him for breeding purposes to make the Fjord horse a bigger and sturdier working horse, but after some time weaknesses became apparent in Rimfakse´s descendants. Their colouring was unattractive and they became bad-tempered. At a meeting in Innvik a decision was made to remove horses of Døla descent from breeding.
The Fjord stallion Njål, sold to Sunnmøre in Rimfakse´s time, was bought back and along with his descendants devoted 100% to breeding. Njål from Oppstryn is therefore reckoned to be the common ancestor of all today´s Fjord horses both in Norway and abroad. You can get better acquainted with these beautiful beasts by visiting one of the riding schools in Nordfjord and letting the Fjord horse itself give you a guided tour of its beautiful realm.
VINGENFELTET
At the head of the narrow Vingenpollen fjord lies Vingen, one of North Europe´s largest and most unique rock carving sites. It includes between 1000 and 1.500 figures, probably carved by hunters in the neolithic age, i.e. 4000 – 6000 years ago. Straight across the fjord lies Hornelen, Nord Europe´s highest sea cliff (860 meters above sealevel).
NORDFJORD FOLKMUSEUM
District museum for Nordfjord with 40 buildings, most from the 18. and 19. centuries. Permanent display of cultural history, plus various other exhibitions. Main building open all year. Open air museum open 16.06 – 31.08.
Nordfjord is a traditional district of Norway. The region is located in the northern part of Sogn & Fjordane. The Nordfjord region covers an area of about 4,295 square kilometres.
The fjord is the sixth longest in Norway stretching 106 kilometres from the island of Husevågøy at the mouth to the village of Loen at the other end. The region encompasses the rough coastline of the Stadlandet peninsula to the Jostedalsbreen, Europe´s largest mainland glacier. The region also includes the Hornindalsvatnet lake, Europe´s deepest lake at 514 metres below sea level. The glacier Briksdalsbreen is particularly scenic. The Stryn area provides year-round alpine skiing, and there are numerous old fishing communities along the fjord going back to pre-Viking times.
HJELLEDALEN VALLEY
The Gamle Strynefjellsvegen national touristic road winds down the Hjelledalen Valley to the distant Oppstrynsvatnet lake. The central theme of Hjelledalen Valley is the cultural history of the old farms and settlements. The Nature path winds through the farming district, and provides insight into farming in Stryn. The cultural landscape and flora, with traces of the old fields of wild flowers are also features of this path.
The Øvstefossen waterfall, cascading down into Hjelledalen Valley, has impressed travellers over Strynefjellet for more than a century. Øvstefossen waterfall is situated along the National Tourist Road RV 15 in the end of Hjelledalen Valley.
SKIING
Try Norway´s number one summer skiing facility, Stryn Sommarskisenter. Access is by the old Strynefjell road (RV 258) from Grotli or Videseter. Excellent skiing conditions in summer, with lifts and tracks for all types of skiing, including cross country, alpine and Telemark, plus snowboard. Special skiing facility for children, “Fantaski”. Ski rental, skiing shop and cafeteria.
FISHING
Stryn river is a good salmon river. The Stryn river has its springs in the Jotunheimen National Park, is 20 kilometres long and is famous for its green/blue coloured water which is due to melting snow and ice from a number of glaciers. Because of these melt waters, the Stryn River usually has a good water level throughout the fishing season. The river is renowned for its big salmon stocks. The biggest salmon ever caught on the Stryn River weighed in at 29.5 kilos. The river also has big sea trout and the largest ever caught weighed 14 kilos.
GOLF
Stryn Golfclub is a golf course with 6 holes and a variation of difficulties. The course lies at Sætre 3 km from the centre of Stryn.