Sykkylven municipality in Norway has approximately 7.700 inhabitants and covers a area of 337,7 km2. We can safely say that Sykkylven is a great piece of nature. We have many impressive mountain tops to climb both summer and winter. The landscape here can give you the greatest nature experiences, and a lot of possibilities for fishing, in rivers, mountain lakes as well as the fjord. The furniture industry in Sykkylven is the most important source of employment here. The furniture production has made Sykkylven famous. For a close encounter with an icebear, a moose or an eagle, Sykkylven has something to offer.
The new bridge across Sykkylvsfjorden opened at October 14th, 2000, and is a construction that the people of Sykkylven are proud of. Sykkylvsbrua eliminates time and distance, and is important both to the industry and to the cultural life. The bridge has also become a popular attraction in itself, as the view from the middle of the bridge is fantastic.
Sykkylven’s histrorical roots date at Ieast back into the late Stone Age. In 1989, traces of prehistoric civilization were found in the fields next to the church at Aure. Archaeologists discovered a house built in the Iron Age (500 BC – 500 AC). A reconstruction of these houses has been planned, but the work has not yet started. Some other archeological findings in the same area indicate settlement in Sykkylven earlier than the Bronze Age, dating back to the late Stone Age (4000 BC – 1800 BC).
When the work on the new bridge across the fjord in Sykkylven started, findings were also made at Vik. Archaeologists discovered a grave dating back to the Viking Age. The grave belonged to a woman, and in it they tound 140 blue, green and white glass beads. These findings date back to around 800 AC. A CD-ROM about the archaelogical findings in Sykkylven can be viewed at the tourist information at the church.
FURNITURE
Sykkylven is very well known for its furniture industry. A large percentage of the population is involved in the production of furniture. The district of Sunnmøre holds a lot of knowledge and skilled people in this craft – the furniture tradition started already in the 1930s. One of the reasons why the furniture industry was so successful here, is that the workers union did not really get involved here until the 1950s, causing little upward pressure on wages. The flat social structure also caused everyone to pull togehter with litlle antagonism between capital and labour. So the industry in the outlying districts of Sunnmøre had major competitive advantages because their products where cheap.
The Sunnmøre business also figured out the advantages of cooperating at an earIy stage. In the 1950s the protective duties were removed in Norway, and the industry had to compete with foreign manutactures on the Norwegian market. Increased competition created growing grounds for an environment of furniture design, and Sykkylven early established itself as a centre.
Today, some of the largest factories for production of home furniture in the country are located along the fjord in Sykkylven, and some quite famous pieces of furniture are produced here. We name Ekornes, Hellegjerde, Brunstad as the biggest.
STRESSLESS
The Stressless is, as the name suggests, a comfortable chair, and you might have heard of it before, made by Ekornes.
At some of the factories workers, if they have the time, show visitors around, but a better hint is to contact Norsk Møbelfaglig Senter which arranges guided tours to some of the factories.
SYKKYLVEN NATURE HISTORY MUSEUM
Sykkylven Nature History Museum is situated in the Elvetun building (an old factory building) at Vik, two kilometres from Aure, the centre of Sykkylven. The museum collection includes around 250 animals and birds from Norway and Svalbard. They are placed in showcases with their natural surroundings reproduced by vegetation, paintings and sound effects. The Elvetun building also houses the Elvetun Gallery with its art exhibition.
SYKKYLVEN CHURCH
It´s modern and distinguished architecturc makes Syklcylven Church well wortn a visit. After the old wooden church, erccted in 882 AD, was destroyed by fire February 2, 1983, Sykkylven built a new church in 1990. It was important to replace the old church in a respectfill, yet distinctive manner; and with a distinctive architecture, interior, and art, the church has become a landmark in Sykkylven. The motivation behind the shape of the church is an overturned rose. The roof consists of the petals, and the altar and the congregation are the seeds that are being protected.
The inspiration behind the altarpiece is taken from the Easter gospel. The stained glass on the windows of the roof is an extension of the altarpiece, which draws inspiration from the Old and the New Testament. A glass pigeon with a red flame on the breast hangs in the centre of the chandelier, symbolizing the Holy Spirit.
The church has a new Marcussen-organ, and people can hear the organist J. William Kay’s beautiful playing every Wednesday. Sykkylven Church has an active congregation and many of the town’s inhabitants are engaged. In the summer, the church is open for everyone during office hours, whether one chooses to enjoy a peaceful moment, or to use the nursing or play rooms.
SUNNMØRE
Sunnmøre is the southernmost traditional district of the western Norwegian. Its main city is Ålesund. Though it is one of the three traditional districts in Møre og Romsdal, Sunnmøre is home to more than half the population of the county. The district is made up of mainland as well as several large islands such as Gurskøy and Hareidlandet, plus many small islands.
There are many local newspapers throughout Sunnmøre, as well as one that aims to cover the entire region, published from Ålesund, called Sunnmørsposten.
THE SUNNMØRS ALPS
It is a great pieature for us to welcome you to our “kingdom” – in the centre of Northern Europe´s fjord and alpine country. The region is spectacular, stretching from deep-blue fjords, via verdant valleys with emerald-green slopes way up to the highest wild peaks with their white glaciers. This is not just a picture, but reality, a landscape which you can become fond of.
Majestic peaks and a rugged alpine massif distinguish the Sunnmørs Alps from other mountain areas. Mountains plunge vertically into the fjord from a height of 1.500 – 1.600 metres and from the summit of Jakta at 1.588 metres, ther is a perpendicular fall of 1.821 metres to the bottom of the fjord. This will give you some idea of the enormous dimensions between the summits and the seabed below the waters of the fjords.
SKIING
Sunnmørsalpane Skiarena Fjellseter has challenging runs for skiers of all skill levels, easy runs for children and beginners or challenging runs for the advanced skiers. By the top station you will find one of the best offpiste areas in Western-Norway, in the heart of the Alp-like landscape of Sunnmøre. There are 5 ski lifts providing access to 13 runs, a total of 17 km of prepared slopes. 4 of the ski lifts are open for night skiing, giving skiers and snowboarders access to 4.5 km of floodlit runs after dark.
By Slettegjerde stadion in Straumgjerde, the members of the football club VRF have made a trail in the woods. This has become a nice area for hiking and physical activities. There are three alternative routes. The shortest one takes about 30 minutes to walk, the longest one about an hour. In the winter, the area can be used for skiing.
FISHING
The fjord and the many lakes and rivers give plenty of opportunities for fishing. Quite av few tourists come to Sykkylven mainly to try their fishing luck. Try fishing for salmon in Aureelva, Velledalselva or in Northern Europes shortest salmon river, Straumen. Many of the mountain lakes are also ideal for fishing, but fishing in the fjord is always the safest way to get fish on the hook. A good advice is to ask local fishermen where to fish and what bate to use.
Remember that in order to fish in the most popular rivers and lakes, you need to purchase a fishing card. When fishing in lakes where purchasing a fishing card is not necessary, ask the landowner for permission first.