Tuesday, 24 June 2008

A glimpse of Norwegian History

Harold the Fair Hair (Harold Hårfargre in Norwegian) was a fuedal king who wanted to marry a princess from another area in Norway, but she would not marry him until all of Norway was under one king. So he went about through war and diplomacy, uniting all of the different kingdoms. It was in the Haugesund area where this was finalized. Haroldshaugen, Norway's National Unity Monument is just north of the downtown area of Haugesund. The small pillar, next to Sister Humphrey is one of twenty nine representing each county or area ruled by a king. The large pillar in the background is representing the united Norway.
This is St. Olav's church, built aroung 1250 A.D. by Håkon Håkonsen and is still in use today. It is located in Avaldsnes on the island of Karmøy, near the area that was Harlod Hårfarge's royal farm. The Nordvegen (the way north) History Center is beside the church.
On the island of Bukkøy, just east of St. Olav's church is a re-
constructed Viking village. There is a Viking Festival held here the first part of June. The village shows how Vikings lived and constructed their lodgings. This shows a Viking boat turned upside down to form a roof over a communal home, where the meals and household chores were done in common. Then the individual families lived in small tents or buildings surrounding this building.
These men represented the Vikings of old living in their village.
A replica of a Viking boat that was used at the Festival to give children a ride around the bay.

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