Solvorn is an idyllic village located by the Lustrafjord, which is the innermost arm of the 204 kilometer long Sognefjord. In Solvorn you can experience calm and peace while taking a break from the hectic everyday life.
Walaker Hotel in Solvorn is the oldest hotel in Norway, and one of the finest. The hotel has been owned and run by the same family since year 1690. Ole Henrik, who runs the hotel today, is the ninth generation Nitter Walaker at Walaker Hotel.
Visit Sognefjord
Visit Sognefjord is the official destination company for the Lustrafjord and Sognefjord area.
Solvorn by the Lustrafjord
Solvorn is a typical fjordvillage from the time when the fjord was the most important transport route. Today, the boathouses lie in a row and bear witness to a bygone era from when Solvorn was an important trading center with bustling life both on the Lustrafjord and in the village.
Around the middle of the 19th century there were several shops, two bakeries, a hotel and a post office in Solvorn. The church in Solvorn dates from 1883, but it is mentioned in sources that there has been a church in Solvorn as early as the 14th century.
Today, Solvorn is a popular place to visit for both locals and tourists from far and wide. Especially in summer, Solvorn has many visitors. The beach is bustling with life, and is often packed with people going to swim and to sunbathe. It is not without reason that the village is called Solvorn (Sol is Sun in English). Although the sun is gone for large parts of the winter, it shines on the village from morning to evening in the summer.
Solvorn is a great starting point for walking and hiking, both along the fjord and in the terrain around the village. There are also opportunities to rent bicycles and kayaks at some of the accommodations. There you can also find brochures with information about the village and the surrounding area, experiences, hiking trails and activities that you can do in and around Solvorn.
Solvorn is also the place where the ferry crosses to Ornes, which is on the other side of the Lustrafjord. Many of those who are going to see and visit Urnes Stave Church at Ornes take this ferry instead of driving the long trip around the Lustrafjord via Skjolden to Ornes.
Solvorn has its own atmosphere. Visitors can experience peace and tranquility while taking a break from the hectic everyday life. In Solvorn, they have welcomed tourists since they started visiting Norway in the 17th century. At the same time, time has in a way stood still in Solvorn. Many of the original buildings have been preserved and refined.
Accommodation and eateries in Solvorn
Walaker Hotel in Solvorn is Norway’s oldest hotel, and has been owned and run by the same family since year 1690 AD. The hotel has been operating there since year 1640 AD.
Ole Henrik runs the hotel today and is the ninth generation Nitter Walaker at Walaker Hotel. Walaker Hotel is part of De Historiske – Historic Hotels & Restaurants, which is a collection of some of Norway’s finest hotels and restaurants.
The restaurant at Walaker Hotel mainly serves short-travelled food based on ingredients that are supplied by local food producers. The ingredients used will vary, depending on the season. The hotel is one of few hotels in Western Norway recommended by the Michelin Guide. Remember to book a table well in advance. The restaurant at Walaker Hotel is popular and has a limited number of table seats.
Galleri Walaker 300 is located in a building adjacent to Walaker Hotel. In connection with the hotel’s 300-year anniversary in 1990, the art gallery was opened in the old barn behind the hotel.
The barn, which has now been renovated, was built in 1883 with materials from the old wooden church in Solvorn, which was built around year 1600. In the barn, paintings and works of art from both national and international artists are exhibited. See the gallery’s website for more information about the gallery and opening hours.
Eplet Hostel og Jusfabrikk, Villa Solvorn and Solvorn Gjestehus are great accommodations that are also located in Solvorn.
Matnaustet Kvitabui is located in a boathouse down by the fjord in Solvorn. There they serve first-class food that has been harvested from the fjord and mountains in the immediate area. The food you get at Kvitabui has therefore not traveled far. Kvitabui is open in summer, see the Kvitabui website for information about the season and opening hours.
Bryggehuset grocery store and café is located in the center of Solvorn.
See the websites of the various accommodation and eateries for information on the season and opening times.
The neighbourhood of Solvorn
From Solvorn, it is only a short and charming ferry ride over to Urnes Stave Church, which is also part of our common world heritage. Urnes Stave Church is the oldest of the remaining stave churches in Norway, and is one of four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Western Norway. Urnes Stave Church was built around 1130 AD. In the summer, you can join a guided tour both outside and inside the church.
At Urnes Gard near by, there is also a small café where you can buy short travelled and local made refreshments. They produces fruit and berries, as well as juice and jam. There is also the option of overnight accommodation at Urnes Gard.
Urnes Stave Church and Urnes Gard are open in the summer. See the official website of Urnes Stave Church for more information about the season, opening times and guiding at Urnes Stave Church.
It is about 13 kilometers from Ornes to Feigum. A nice hike is the hike from Feigum to the viewpoint where you can see the Feigefossen Waterfall from up close.
Especially early summer, this is a great sight, when the snowmelt is at its maximum and the water flow in the waterfall is at its most powerful. The hike to the viewpoint is nice and takes around an hour each way, the trail is marked. There is about a 150 meter climb from the start at Feigum to the viewpoint. The trail is rocky in the end and it can be slippery due to water splash from the waterfall. Feigefossen Waterfall has a vertical drop of 229 meters. Season: Summer.
Feigesagi Café is an idyllic café down by the fjord at Feigum, it is open from time to time.
Mt Molden in Luster is a popular hiking destination among the locals. The hike to Molden starts from the road towards Mollandsmarki, a short drive from Solvorn.
The trail is marked, and it takes about an hour to hike to the abandoned mountain farm Svarthiller. From Svarthiller you have a great view towards the southern part of the Lustrafjord.
The hike continues from Svarthiller (865 masl) to Mt Molden at 1116 masl. Parts of the trail to Mt Molden consist of stone stairs built by Sherpas from Nepal. From the top of Mt Molden you can see the Lustrafjord in all directions. Locals claim that this is the best view in Luster, and in Luster there are many great viewpoints.
Nigardsbreen Glacier in Jostedal is one of the easiest accessible glaciers in the fjords area in Western Norway.
The hikes on Nigardsbreen Glacier can be done in small or large groups. All hikes on the glacier are guided by experienced guides, and all necessary equipment are provided.
Age limit on Glacier Hikes on the Nigardsbreen Glacier is minimum 8, 10 or 12 years old, depending on which glacier hike you choose. It is recommended to book Glacier Hikes in advance at Jostedal Breførarlag. At Breheimsenteret Glacier Center in Jostedal, more information are provided about the activities, the glacier and the surrounding area.
Solvorn, Fjærland and Undredal – Vibrant Fjord Villages by the Sognefjord
The Sognefjord is the lifeblood, indeed the main artery of the villages that lie along the fjord and of the fjord people who live there. The longest fjord is the very reason why these fjord villages exist and that they are located where they do.
Solvorn by the Lustrafjord, Fjærland by the Fjærlandsfjord and Undredal by the Aurlandsfjord are three great examples of vibrant fjord villages in the area around the Sognefjord.
These fjord villages have welcomed tourists since they began visiting Norway in the 17th century. At the same time, time has in a way stood still in these beautiful fjord villages. Many of the original buildings have been preserved and refined.
Lustrafjord – What to See and Do
The Lustrafjord and Luster area is deemed to be one of the most beautiful spots in the country. It is where the fjords meet the top of Norway and the mountains and glaciers never ends. There are many wonderful and exciting things to see and do there.
Solvorn is an idyllic village located down by the Lustrafjord. The oldest historical hotel and one of the finest, the Walaker Hotel, is located in the village. Time has in a way stood still in Solvorn. Many of the original buildings have been preserved and refined.
From Solvorn, you can take the small ferry across the Lustrafjord to Ornes and visit Urnes Stave Church and see the mighty Feigefossen waterfall which reveals itself in the spring. Urnes Stave Church is the oldest of our remaining stave churches in Norway, and is one of four world heritage sites in Western Norway.
The hike to Mt Molden gives you a fantastic view both in and out of the Lustrafjord. The locals claim this is the best view in Luster, and in Luster there are many great viewpoints.
Nigardsbreen glacier in Jostedal and Austerdalsbreen glacier at Veitastrond are two of the most beautiful and most easily accessible glaciers in Norway. Mørkridsdalen and Fortunsdalen are two classic areas for mountain hikes near Skjolden, which is located at the innermost part of the Lustrafjord. Stay at Skjolden Hotel in Skjolden, a great hotel with short-travelled food and drinks from the top shelf.
High in the Jotunheimen mountains, the Sognefjellet Mountain Road runs between the Lustrafjord and the Gudbrandsdalen Valley. The Sognefjellet National Tourist Route is the highest mountain pass in Northern Europe with its 1434 meters above sea level at the highest point. Along the road is Turtagrø Hotel, Sognefjellshytta and Krossbu where you can stay and get information and guide to Hurrungane and the mountains and glaciers around Sognefjellet, which is one of Norway’s wildest mountain areas.
The Lustrafjord is approximately 40 kilometers long and is the innermost branch of the 204 kilometer long Sognefjord which is located in the middle of Western Norway.
References
Wikipedia
The Lustrafjord – Hotels and Accommodation
Jostedal – Jostedal Hotell
Jostedal – Jostedal Camping
Fortun/Hurrungane – Turtagrø Hotel
Skjolden – Skjolden Hotel
Skjolden – Skjolden Resort
Lustrafjord – Sørheim Fjordpanorama
Luster – Dalsøren Camping
Luster – Luster Fjordhytter
Luster – Nes Gard
Marifjøra – Marifjøra Sjøbuer
Mollandsmarki – Heil pao kanten
Norway’s oldest hotel – Walaker Hotell in Solvorn
Bed & Breakfast in Solvorn – Eplet Hostel & Juicefabrikk
Bed & Breakfast in Solvorn – Villa Solvorn
Guesthouse in Solvorn – Solvorn Gjestehus
Exclusivity and well-being at Hafslo – BesteBakken
Hotel in Hafslo – Eikum Hotel
Tungestølen at Veitastrond – Tungestølen Turisthytte
The Lustrafjord – Useful Links
Skjolden – Where fjord meets the mountains: Skjolden.com
Activities in Luster: Visit Skjolden
Solvorn – The idyllic village by the Lustrafjord
The UNESCO Protected Urnes Stave Church
Ferry across the Lustrafjord: Lustrabaatane
Glacier Guiding on Nigardsbreen Glacier: Jostedalen Breførarlag
Breheimsenteret Glacier Center in Jostedal: Breheimsenteret
Mountain Hotel in the Hurrungane Mountains: Turtagrø Hotel
Sognefjellet National Tourist Route: Norwegian Scenic Routes
Guided Kayak Trip on the Lustrafjord: Fjordseal at Marifjøra
Guided Motor Boat Tours at Lake Styggevatnet: Ice Troll