Vaksdal offer world class textiles and nature experiences only one hour from Bergen.
Travel to Dale in Vaksdal municipality with the railway Bergensbanen, described as one of the world's most beautiful train journeys.
Vaksdal is easy to get reach by car. The municipal center Dale is located along the E16 between Bergen and Voss, about an hour drive from the center of Bergen. When driving in this area, it is well worth taking a detour to Hesjedalsfossen Waterfall, which is located on road 569.
Photo: Visit Bergen / Linn Kjos Falkenberg - visitBergen.com
The world-famous Dale sweater
If you are interested in winter sports, you might have seen products from Dale in Vaksdal on TV or at sports events. The textile factory Dale of Norway produces the famous Dale sweater. Dale has produced the official sweaters for the Norwegian national team athletes for every Ski World Cup and Winter Olympics since the Olympic games in Cortina in 1956!
Photo: Visit Bergen / Anders Nyland - visitBergen.com
At the factory outlet in Dale outside Bergen, you get a unique insight into Norwegian design and clothing history. You can also make a great bargain on Norwegian-made knitted garments made of 100 percent wool. The access to parts of the factory museum is free, including an exhibition with the official World Cup and Olympic sweaters of the Norwegian national ski team.
Photo: Visit Bergen / Anders Nyland - visitBergen.com
Book in advance to visit the entire museum, as well as get a tour of the whole factory.
The wild and beautiful Bergsdalen
For nature enthusiasts, Bergsdalen in Vaksdal is a great place to visit. Bergsdalen is a 45 kilometer long old road between Bergen and Voss. In the Bergsdalen mountains, DNT (The Norwegian Trekking Association) offers several cabins where you can spend the night.
In Bergsdalen you can stay overnight at Bergsdalstunet where the hosts offer accommodation and serve local food.
Photo: Visit Bergen / Anders Nyland - visitBergen.com
Photo: Visit Bergen / Anders Nyland - visitBergen.com
At Bergsdalstunet you get to taste local food harvested from the fjord, the rivers, the mountain waters and the forest. It is also possible to stay the night at Bergsdalshytta.
In Eksingedalen, between Voss and Modalen, there are several options for mountain hiking and fishing. Spend the night at Haugen Fjellgard, which is located in the middle of the valley. In Eksingedalen you can rent a boat, canoe or kayak from Bergo Fjellflyt. Ekso Villfisk offers guided fishing trips on request.
Fishing and farming have been an important part of life and industry in Vaksdal. In earlier years, the fishing method called “laksegilje” (fixed seine) was used to catch salmon on the west coast of Norway. This particular fishing method probably has roots going back as far as the Stone Age. Nets, fish pots and traps have been used in the rivers right up to our times. In the fjords the use of nets was developed into a salmon seine around 1500, and later into what today is known as fixed seine. The seine was lowered into the water from a high scaffolding build by the fjord in a place where the fish were known to gather.
A small fisherman’s cabin was placed up on the mountainside and the fisherman used the hut to sit and watch the salmon below.
Photo: Visit Bergen / Anders Nyland - visitBergen.com
When the fish swam over the net, the net was tightened, and the fish caught. At Stamnes in Vaksdal, one of these salmon seines 20 meters above the fjord has been renovated and are now open for visitors on guided tours. Photo: Visit Bergen / Anders Nyland - visitBergen.com
The municipality of Vaksdal has a lot to offer, except perhaps for city life. However, being close to Bergen you can get the best of both worlds, nature and culture. Vaksdal is a part of Nordhordland and in the what’s on calendar you can find events in the area.
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