Ørsta

Ørsta municipality has approximately 10.160 inhabitants and covers a area of 804,8 km2. Ørsta municipality is the largest on the mainland in the county of Møre and Romsdal, and farming is an important way of life. There is also a wide variety of industries, mainly furniture, metal and food-processing. Ørsta enjoys a vigorous cultural life with over 350 clubs and organisations. The main coastal highway E39 and RV 655 meet in Ørsta. Hovden airport has daily flights to Bergen and Oslo.

Vartdal, Nordre-Vartdal and Barstadvik This stretch of the fjord is well-known for its fishing and plastics industries. Here you will find salmon rivers, popular fishing spots on quays and headlands all along the Vartdalsfjord. Cabins and rooms to let, the church, Vartdalsstranda fishing and hunting museum, and Sjøbua Ramoen, a renovated fish wharf with a pub and good food. An ideal area for hiking, with Barstadvik as the gateway to the climbing Mecca of Molladalen and to the summmt of Jønshorn.

Isflåmannen (Årskogsfjellet at Nordre-Vartdal), a phenomenon whereby, under certain weather conditions. Great jets of water are spouted from halfway up the mountainside, accompanied by loud bangs, like shots from a gun. Legend has it mat on a lake inside the mountain sails a ship loaded wim gold. One day the water will flow from the lake and the vessel will appear.

THE IVAR AASEN CENTRE

The centre stands beside the main E39 road, between Ørsta and Volda. In the unique new museum building, the exhibitions deal with language and culture. Here the poet and linguist Ivar Aesen (1813 - 1898) was born. He is recognised as the "father" of the New Norwegian language, a written language based on Norwegian dialects. The Ivar Aasen Centre is a national centre for documenting and experiencing the New Norwegian written culture, and the only museum in the country devoted to Ivar Aasen’s life and work. The Centre lies on the farm where Aasen was born and grew up. There are five buildings spanning three centuries and an outdoor amphitheatre at a spot where people have gathered since the 1880s (to enjoy music, song, dance and the spoken word). The old farmyard is the ideal starting-point for easy walks along sign-posted footpaths. The spectacular new building, opened in 2000, was designed by Sverre Fehn, Norway’s leading architect. The large permanent exhibition on Ivar Aasen, language and literature offers something new every day. There is plenty to see, a lot to listen to and even more to wonder about. The computer-based Dialect Game is a sure winner with visitors of all ages! The indoor amphitheatre is the jewel box in the new museum building. Here we show the dramatised film documentary “Ivar Aasen”, which will not fail to impress everyone. The library and archives contain almost 30,000 volumes and pamphlets.

IVAR AASEN

Ivar Aasen (1813–1896) is the language researcher who rewrote Norwegian history. On the basis of a variety of dialects he laid the foundations for the New Norwegian language. He also wrote some of Norway’s most popular folksongs. New Norwegian and Dano-Norwegian have had equal status and both been official languages since 1885. New Norwegian has become a natural part of everyday Norwegian life and is today the first language of at least 500,000 Norwegians.

IVAR AASEN MONUMENT

Stands beside tbe roundabout to Ivar Aasen street in the centre of Ørsta. The work of sculptor Dyre Vaa.

TROJAN FORTS

At Myklebust in Vartdal, a mountain plateau 900 metres above Isflåmannen, lie two so-called Trojan forts, one known as the Julian fort, the other as the Isflå fort. These are stone labyrinths from the Bronze Age, the only ones of their kind in western Norway and believed to have been used in rituals. The forts comprinse rings of stone slabs laid as a labyrinth, about 5 - 6 metres in diameter. Follow the marked footpath from the farmyard of Bjarte Myklebust.

SÆBØ

This village beside the Hjørundfjord has a very unusual hotel built right on the water's edge, two campsites, cabins to let and the salmou river Bondalselva. Sæbø is the starting point for walks up the side valleys from Bondalen, or to the summit of Skorasalen or the culture walk to Olavshola. If you fancy a boat-trip to fish on the fjord or just for sight-seeing, there are hoats for hire.

HJØRUNDFJORDEN

The Hjørundfjord cuts its way 35 km into the very heart of the Sunnmørs Alps, cuthng the landscape into two halves. The further the bord penetrates the mountains, the higher the peaks, from Jønshornet (1.419 metres) at the mouth of the fjord to Kvitegga (1.717 metres). Along the fjord there is a narrative tradition with "Olav sagas", "Trollgjøttemannen" in the mountain. The mark known as the Nes-staff was stamped onto the rock-face when St.Olav's arrow ricocheted off the mountain. The arrow rebounded across to Standal and was left standing in the ground there, where it can still be seen to this day.

NATURES CATHEDRAL

There is a breath of history over the name Norangsdalen. At the turn of the century tourist ships anchored up at Øye. Many a famous name was transported by pony and trap along me ancient road through the valley to Hellesylt. After the "Silver Cruise" in 1993 to celebrate the Silver Wedding of the King and Queen of Norway, Norangsdalen was given the name "The Queen's Route". It is a valley rich in spectacular scenery and cultural memories. The lake known as Lygnstøylvatnet was formed by a rock fall from Keipen in 1908. Beneath the waters of the lake you can still see the remains of the old road, the foundations of the farmhouses and the gateway.

ØYE

Øye is the point of departure for mountain hikes to Slogen and Smørskredtindane with the Gullmor glacier, or for wandering along the mossy paths of Norangsdalen. Excellent fishing in the rivers and lakes. Union Hotel Øye has been refurbished exactly as it stood in 1891 and is an attraction in its own right. It was a popular place for emperors and representatives of all the Royal Families of Europe. In the visitor's book you can see the signatures of people like Queen Victoria, Karen Blixen and Edvard Grieg.

ØRSTA CHURCH

A wooden church dating from 1864, with a beautiful triptych of Northern German / Dutch origin from the late Middle Ages. Stained-glass window by Olav Straume. Open 20.07 - 20.08. Man-fred 09.30 - 16.00. Sat 09.30 - 14.00.

BRUDAVOLLTUNET

Brudavolltunet and the old mills at Skorgeura is situeted on the main RV 655, 4 km from the centre of Ørsta. The farm remains unchanged and dates from the 1600. It shows how they lived an farmed in times gone by.

SKORGEURA

Beside the waterfall in Skorgeura you will find threee renovated mills where you can see how they ground corn in the old days.

VARTDALSTRANDA FISHING AND HUNTING MUSEUM

Exhibition in Vartdal school.

SVENDSEN GAARDEN

The house is said to be the first in the district built in the Tyroler style (1884). Here you will find "The Old Post Office" with its stamp collection and the Ørstavik book collection. The Art Society hold summer exhibitions in the main building.

ANDERS HOVDEN MONUMENT

Stands at the junction of E39 / Anders Hovden street in Ørsta centre. The statue of this poet and minister (1860-1943) is the work of sculptor Anne Grimdalen.

THE SUNNMØRS ALPS

It is a great pleasure for us to welcome you to our "kingdom" - in the centre of Northern Europe's fjord and alpine country. The region is spectacular, stretching from deep-blue fjords, via verdant valleys with emerald-green slopes way up to the highest wild peaks with their white glaciers. This is not just a picture, but reality, a landscape which you can become fond of.

Majestic peaks and a rugged alpine massif distinguish the Sunnmørs Alps from other mountain areas. Mountains plunge vertically into the fjord from a height of 1.500 - 1.600 metres and from the summit of Jakta at 1.588 metres, ther is a perpendicular fall of 1.821 metres to the bottom of the fjord. This will give you some idea of the enormous dimensions between the summits and the seabed below the waters of the fjords.

The Sunnmørs Alps stretch from Nordfjord in the south to Storfjord in the north. The variety of scenery between peak and fjord reflects a Norway in miniatyre, and has something to offer at every season! We invite you on an open-air holiday - you can choose one full of activity or simply relax in the peace and quiet among our mountains and fjords.

PUBLIC RIGHTS

The countryside is important for all of us and we must protect it. Anyone may onjoy the woods and fields on foot, on skis, on horseback or by bike. You can pick flowers, berries and mushrooms, but be careful of mushrooms you do not know. All rubbish should be put in litter bins at picnic sites or petrol stations. AIways take care when using an open flame. Show respect for birds and animals, especially in the nesting season. Remember to keep dogs on a lead.

HUNTING

The region has many areas that offer rich opportunities for both small and big- game hunting. A permit can be obtained from the individual landowner, from self-service boxes. The general season for hunting in 0rsta and Volda (guidelines): Deer hunting: lO. - 25. September and 10. October - 15. November. Small game: lO. September - 28. February. Black grouse and wood grouse only until 23. December. Hunting is prohibited from 24. - 31. December.

FISHING

In the middle of Sunnmøre we find the village of Ørsta. Flowing through the valley is a small river famous for it's grilse fishing. In good periods huge numbers of grilse and salmon enter the river and the fishing can be very good. The river has two sources, the lake Vatnedal and the snowfields in the Sunnmøre alps. The two branches meet at the top of the Melsgjerde beat. The Melsgjerde beat is possibly the best in the river, but all beats can be good when fish are running and there is enough water in the river. A good waterflow is very important in this river, the best fisning occurs after periods with rain. The river is easy accessible through several beats. Licenses can be had several places, but most beats are covered by the Ørsta Camping site. License period are 6 hours, and there is a 3 fish bag limit.

The river is rather shallow and fast with a lot of small pools and current edges to fish. Worms are the most popular bait among the local fishers. It is great fun to catch fish on light tackle and flies in the small pools, you most certain have to follow the fish downstream. Most of the time small flies is best, but like other grilse rivers it can be rewarding to try huge single irons in between the small ones.

A single handed rod rated for a 8/9 line will be adequate for Ørsta. At some places it can be nice to have a rod of 10' - 11' feet to better control the line in the pocket water found far out in the river. When the water is low and clear, lighter tackle has its place.

Rivers and lakes in 0rsta: In Bondalselva at Sæbu you can fish for salmon and trout. The river is divided into zones, with a separate fly-fishing zone at the estuary. 0rstaelva in the town centre is well-known for its salmon and trout fishing. The river is divided into stretches and you may use fly, hook or bait. Other rivers: Vartdalselva, Storeelva, and Barstadvikelva in Vartdal and Barstadvik. Hovdevatnet is a good lake for fishing trout and char. In Bjørdal you will find lakes such as Bjørdalstjærna, Kvanndalsvatnet, and Vatnevatnet in Åmdalen. Contact the Tourist Imformation in 0rsta for more details about freshwater fishing.

Fjord fishing: From the innermost heads of the fjords in both Volda and Ørsta, and all the way out to the islands on the coast there is plenty to challenge the fishing enthusiast. Both from the shore or from a boat it is possible to land a useful catch of cod, pollack or haddock. The fjords of the district offer many idyllic fishing spots, from sheltered bays to open stretches of the fjord where a more salty experience awaits you. Hobby - fishing for your own consumption is free, you can use rod, line, trolling line or net.