3

Ryfylke– Along verdant fjords and stark

mountains

T
he drive along the Ryfylke National Tourist Route is a trip full of contrasts. Here you will encounter
high barren mountains, lush green hillsides, sheer mountainsides and deep fjords. The Saudafjellet
mountain displays special natural characteristics. It is rugged, brutal and unyielding, and you might
find yourself wondering what on earth it was that persuaded someone to lay a road exactly here. At the
Svandalfossen waterfall you can walk up the steps and really feel the force of the rushing water and the might
of the cascade. Sometimes the water runs so high that the police must take charge, directing cars one at a time
through the mist of spray that covers the road. It is quite an exotic experience. At the southern point of this
road you will find Lysefjorden. This fjord is perhaps most en- 48

chanting when dark clouds hover above, only penetrated by E134

E134
E134
E134

bands of golden light. Since Ryfylke National Tourist Route is Håra

Røldal

a long and varied stretch of road, it is worth taking your time. 520
520

There are lots of opportunities on the way to make short de- Svandalsfossen
Sauda

tours and to take a break from driving, whether you are keen 47
47
Allmannajuvet

to find out more about Sauda’s industrial history or just want

13
13
46
46
520
520

Haugesund Høse bru

to explore one of the lovely little shore villages such as Sand.

Along this route you can take part in a salmon fishing safari 13
13

and rafting, or you can set off on a hike in constantly chang- Nesvik

ing terrain. The drive through Ryfylke offers a versatile ex- 47

47 Hjelmelandsvågen

perience on a challenging road with many charming aspects.

Tau

TRAVEL INFORMATION. National Tourist Route Ryfylke is 260 Jørpeland

Stavanger
km long and travels between Oanes at Lysefjorden and Håra. At Preikestolen
Kjeragbolten

Sola
the southern part of the stretch are two ferry crossings: Lau- 13
13 Oanes
Sandnes
vik-Oanes and Hjelmeland-Nesvik.
216 Nasjonale turistveger

© Statens vegvesen 2017

1
2 3
1 LOVRA. The viewing point Lovra lies hidden
in the forest south of Sand in Suldal municipality.
Frome here there is a splendid view of the Lovraei-
det isthmus and the fjord. To reach the viewing point
you take the narrow path that leads from the lay-by
on the road. Architect: Helen & Hard.
2 HØSE BRIDGE/SAND. Høse bridge lies in the
village of Sand, the administration centre of Suldal
municipality. Suldal is a large producer of hydroelec-
tric power, and rural tourism, mining and aquacul-
ture provide supplementary industries. Høse bridge
is a footbridge over the Suldalslågen river. It lights
up beautifully on dark autumn and winter nights and
leads to the recreational area across the river. Ar-
chitect: Sami Rintala/ Eggertsson and Ivan Kroupa.
ROPEID. Ropeid is a peninsula in Suldal municipal-
ity, Rogaland county. On the peninsula there are
several small villages as well as a ferry quay that
links Sand to the other side of the Sandsfjord. The
building has large glass panes that make for close
contact with both the fjord and the mountainside.
Architect: Jensen & Skodvin Arkitektkontor.
nasjonaleturistveger.no
17-0013 grafisk.senter@vegvesen.no. Foto: Statens vegvesen
3 SVANDALSFOSSEN WATERFALL. The Svan-
dalsfossen waterfall is a mighty spectacle when the
river runs high. The 540 steps bring visitors into
close proximity with the powerful waterfall and the
lush, magical vegetation that characterises the area.
Architect: Haga & Grov Sivilarkitekter MNAL
4 ALLMANNAJUVET GORGE. The Allmannajuvet
zinc mines are a disused mining works in Sauda. The
mines were in operation from 1881 to 1899. During
these years a total of 12,000 tonnes of zinc ore were
extracted. Today, the mining area is a museum. The
plain buildings in the gorge are designed in an indus-
trial construction style to embody the story of the
mines. Architect: Atelier Peter Zumthor & Partner.
THE NATIONAL TOURIST ROUTES comprise
18 selected motoring trips through
natural surroundings in Norway.
Viewing points and rest areas
have been created along the
routes employing innova-
tive architecture and
thoughtprovoking works
of art. All of the 18 routes,
from Jæren in the south
to Varanger and in the
north, have their
own unique
character in
terms of the
roads, the
natural surro-
undings and
history.