Three historic treehouse towns in three days

Experience Flekkefjord, Sogndalstrand and Egersund along the coast of Magma UNESCO Global Geopark

Along the coast between Kristiansand and Stavanger are three small towns with well-preserved wooden houses and a long coastal history. Flekkefjord, Sogndalstrand and Egersund are just a short drive away from each other and make a great three-day trip along the south-west coast.

Each town has its own distinctive character. In Flekkefjord, you'll find white wooden houses and narrow streets in the historic Hollenderbyen. In Sogndalstrand, you'll find a small fishing village with old sea houses along the river. In Egersund, you'll experience one of Norway's best-preserved wooden villages with colourful facades along the harbour.

Along the way, the tour passes through the landscape of Magma UNESCO Global Geopark, with stops in small towns and views of the coast and fjord.

The journey can start in either the south or the north. In this article, we follow Reidun and Frode as they start in Flekkefjord and travel on to Sogndalstrand before finishing in Egersund.

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Briefly about the trip

The wooden towns: A three-day route through Three Historic Wooden Towns.
Travelling: A beautiful drive along one of Norway's 18 National Scenic Routes, with dramatic coastlines, open sea views and striking geological formations.
The landscape: An area with a unique geology, recognised by UNESCO. Nowhere on earth will you get closer to a true lunar landscape than in Magma UNESCO Global Geopark.

Egersund: The colourful wooden house town. One of Norway's best-preserved wooden towns, with narrow streets, colourful houses, an active harbour and short walks just outside the centre.
Sogndalstrand: A protected, small old town where historic sea houses and a calm coastal pace set the mood.
Flekkefjord: The Dutch Town, white wooden houses, canals and vibrant street art.

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Day 1 - Flekkefjord

Hollenderbyen – The Dutch Town

The journey starts in Flekkefjord, a coastal town with long traditions as a trading centre. In the 18th century, the town had close contact with the Netherlands, and many of the wooden houses in the town centre are still painted white. The area with the oldest houses is called Hollenderbyen.

Narrow streets, historic houses and small shops make the city easy to explore on foot. Distances are short and it's easy to move between experiences in the city centre.

Utforsk Flekkefjord - Se høydepunkter

Accommodation at Grand Hotell Flekkefjord

The town has two hotels with long traditions of welcoming travellers. Reidun and Frode are staying at Grand Hotell Flekkefjord, which has been welcoming travellers since 1897.

- Wow! Look at that chandelier. We can cosy up here," says Reidun, running her hand over the brocade wallpaper as they enter one of the tower rooms. The bed, with its carved details, gives the room a distinctly historic feel.

The next morning, the day starts with breakfast in the hotel's dining room.

- "It's both homely and formal at the same time," says Frode. The green-painted buffet areas are reminiscent of a classic kitchen, while chandeliers hang over the tables.

The buffet offers a wide selection of breakfast dishes.

Street art and museum

After breakfast, Reidun and Frode head out to explore the city. In the narrow streets, street art appears on walls and facades. Flekkefjord has become an outdoor gallery where both local and international artists create new works every year.

- "It feels like a modern gallery in the middle of a historic city centre," says Reidun.

The couple continues their walk around the neighbourhood, to Flekkefjord Museum.

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Coffee by the river

- Just look at it. It looks very cosy.

Reidun points to a boat passing under the footbridge over the canal. The boat driver waves back.

After the museum visit, they walk through the streets of the city centre and find a spot along the riverbank for a break.

Maritim Fjordhotell is located right by the water and is a great place to sit down. At Elva Bistro you can eat out on the terrace and watch the boats passing along the river.

From Flekkefjord to Sogndalstrand

The next day, the journey continues northwards along the coast. Although the distance is not long, this is a drive that can take some time. The landscape alternates between mountains, sea and narrow valleys, and along the way there are several stops that make the journey an experience in itself.

Jøssingfjord is a natural stop on the way. Here you can visit Jøssingfjord Science Museum and walk over to the houses under Helleren, two small houses located under a large rock ledge. The Jøssingfjord Science Museum tells the story of mining, industry and technology that has characterised the area for generations.

It has been raining in Jøssingfjord for the past few days, and water is still dripping from the rock face above Helleren. Nevertheless, the small houses are dry under the large rock shelf, the Helleren.

- "I've seen this in pictures before, but to experience it up close is impressive," says Reidun.

Reidun and Frode look up the mountainside and spot a tunnel. One of the museum staff advises them to drive up to the viewpoint over the fjord and go down to take a closer look.

From the viewpoint they walk down to Tunnelstuo. The former road tunnel is now organised as a rest area and an exciting outdoor accommodation option. Inside the tunnel, there are hooks for hammocks and fire pits.

- Imagine spending the night here and waking up to the view of the fjord," says Frode.

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Hollenderbyen – Flekkefjord

Velkommen til Hollenderbyen, Flekkefjords historiske bydel formet av århundrer med handel mot Nederland.

Spasér gjennom smale gater med hvite trehus, der kjøpmanns- og skipsfartshistorien sitter i vegger, brostein og fasader. Ser du litt nærmere etter, møter du også en moderne kontrast. Over 40 fargerike veggmalerier gjør Hollenderbyen til et åpent galleri. Her møtes kulturarv og samtidskunst i hvert eneste kvartal.

Book en byvandring og besøk museet i et kjøpmannshus fra 1724.
Ta sykkeltur på skinner gjennom tunneler og fjordlandskap på den gamle Flekkefjordbanen.
Utforsk øyperlen Hidra på leid el-sykkel. En naturskjønn tur gjennom øysamfunn og kystlandskap.
Nyt en privat badstue på Grønnes. En helt spesiell opplevelse ved sjøen, perfekt etter en dag på tur.
Avslutt dagen med middag ved kanalen og overnatting på Grand Hotel Flekkefjord eller Maritim Fjordhotell. En stemningsfull avslutning ved vannet.

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Day 2 - Sogndalstrand

Norway's best preserved charging point

When you reach Sogndalstrand, the road leads straight into a small historic town centre. The small town is located where the river meets the sea, with old boathouses and wooden houses clustered along the water.

Sogndalstrand is Norway's best-preserved charging centre. Large parts of the buildings have been preserved from the time when it was an important trading centre along the coast. The entire area is protected.

Reidun stops for a moment on the bridge over the river and looks down towards the sea houses along the water.

- It feels like walking through a piece of coastal history," she says.
Reidun and Frode walk through the streets and see how old buildings have been given new functions. A former prison is now a bar and eatery, and several old residential buildings have been converted into hotel rooms.

- "It feels special to live in a house that used to be a private home," says Reidun.

Utforsk Sogndalstrand - Se høydepunkter

Dinner at Sogndalstrand Kulturhotell

In the evening, they have dinner at Sogndalstrand Kulturhotell.

- "This has to be the best fish soup I've ever tasted," says Frode.

The hotel is known for its traditional dishes and a host who emphasises the history of the place. A guided tour with storytelling by the hosts adds that little bit extra. After dinner, the couple spend the night in one of the old houses along the street.

From Sogndalstrand to Egersund

The final stage continues northwards towards Egersund. You can choose to follow the Norwegian Scenic Route or take a detour, as Reidun and Frode decided to do.

- "We took a detour towards Nesvåg. We've heard rumours about a beautiful area and an exciting road to drive," says Frode.

Along the route is the Nesvåg Boat and Motor Museum, a maritime museum that tells the story of boating and motors along the coast. The road continues on towards the hike to Nesvåghålene. Here, the road runs tightly between the mountains and the sea, and in some places it is extra narrow.

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The historic Tall Ship Town of Sogndalstrand

Velkommen til Sogndalstrand, en vernet liten by der tiden ser ut til å ha stått stille.

Mellom elv og hav ligger dette tidligere ladestedet, i dag et levende kulturmiljø med værbitte sjøhus og trehus bevart slik de sto for flere hundre år siden. Ser du litt nærmere etter, finner du mer enn historie. Gallerier, små butikker og lokale ildsjeler holder stedet levende. På sommerkvelder fylles den naturlige amfiscenen av konserter og friluftsteater, med lyden av havet som bakteppe.

Overnatt på Sogndalstrand Kulturhotell, der hvert rom er en del av stedets historie, og nyt middag med elva rennende like utenfor vinduet.
Majestetiske Jøssingfjord, med husene under Helleren, ligger bare ti minutters kjøring unna. En dramatisk avstikker du ikke bør gå glipp av. En reise gjennom trehus- og kysthistorie, rammet inn av bølger og roen langs den værharde kysten.

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Day 3 - Egersund

The colourful treehouse city

The last stop on the journey is Egersund. The town is one of Norway's best-preserved wooden towns and has long traditions as a trading centre and fishing port.

In the town centre, you'll find narrow streets, small shops and many historic wooden houses in different colours. The harbour is close to the centre, and both leisure boats and fishing boats use the area.

Utforsk Egersund - Se høydepunkter

Egersund Fayancemuseum

A short walk through the colourful wooden town takes Reidun and Frode to Egersund Fayance Museum. The museum is housed in the old factory building where Egersunds Fayancefabrik once produced crockery that was exported to many parts of the world.

The factory started up in 1847 and quickly became one of the city's most important workplaces. At its peak, several hundred people worked here, and the factory's working hours set the rhythm of life in the city and the colour of the residential buildings.

- I'm excited to see what they have in the exhibitions and learn more about how the faience from Egersund has travelled the world," says Reidun.

Grand Hotel Egersund

Reidun and Frode are staying at the historic Grand Hotell Egersund, Rogaland's oldest hotel. The hotel consists of several buildings that are connected to the main building. The facade is Swiss-style and painted in colours that blend in with the wooden buildings.

The hotel has around 100 rooms, all decorated differently.

The hotel's restaurant Eigra serves dishes based on local produce. From the restaurant, guests can look straight into the kitchen while the chefs work.

- This is a nice end to the journey," says Reidun.

After dinner, they take a walk along the harbour and look at the boathouses along the water. Fishing boats and pleasure craft lie side by side along the jetties. They pass the floating seafood market and restaurant, cross the square and walk through the narrow cobbled streets back to the hotel.

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Den fargerike trehusbyen – Egersund

Velkommen til Egersund, en av Norges best bevarte trehusbyer.

Ta turen gjennom smale gater med fargerike hus i myke, jordnære toner, der hvert gatehjørne forteller historier fra flere hundre år tilbake. Branner og gjenoppbygging har gitt byen en spennende blanding av stilarter, fra middelalderpreget på Hauen til elegante senempirefasader i Strandgaten. Ser du litt nærmere etter, finner du levende historie. Bli med på guidet tur og oppdag hemmeligheter skjult i veggene, eller utforsk byen i eget tempo langs kulturstien.

Besøk Fayancemuseet og lær hvordan Egersundsfajansen en gang ble eksportert til store deler av Europa.
Smak dagens Egersund hos det lokale bryggeriet og destilleriet. Book en omvisning og prøv øl, whisky og gin laget av engasjerte formidlere.
Overnatt på Grand Hotell Egersund, et historisk hotell med 100 unike rom, nyt en bedre middag og ta en kveldstur langs havna, en av Norges mest aktive fiskerihavner.
Gå tur til det kjente utsiktspunktet Trollpikken. Turen starter mindre enn ti minutters kjøring fra sentrum.