OPENING HOURS
25 June – 14 August: daily 11am – 5pm

INFORMATION
Open in summer
Exhibitions
Museum shop
Café
Water-powered mill

ENTRANCE
Kr 60, children kr 30, family kr 150

KONTAKT
Kolbeinstveit
Suldalsvegen 1995, 4237 Suldalsosen
tlf. (+47) 5279 9304

Ryfylkemuseet: Tlf (+47) 52 79 29 50,  post@ryfylkemuseet.no

GPS
Latitude: 59.5059 / Longitude: 6.566385

Kolbeinstveit is located on highway Rv13, 2 km past Suldalsosen towards 10 Røldal.

The museum farm Kolbeinstveit comes alive in summer with in-house hosts, farm animals, events, concerts and exhibitions. Its largest buildings, the farmhouse and the barn, date to about 1850.

The Guggedal storehouse from 1281, Rogaland County’s oldest wooden building, also stands here. Several old mills lie near the farmyard and the parking area.

The permanent exhibition, “Farm and people”, focuses on the families who once lived here and how they used the farm’s buildings and resources. New thematic exhibitions or sales exhibitions of art and crafts products are held every summer.

Hosts serve traditional local food like butter porridge and Suldal “wraps”. The farmyard is a fine playground where children can play with old toys, jump in hay stacks or try on old-fashioned clothes.

Read and see more about Kolbeinstveit.

OPENING HOURS
Monday til Friday: 9am – 3 pm
Saturday: 11am – 3 pm

Summer season (1 June-31 August):
1 June – 21 June: daily 10am-5pm
22 June – 16 August: daily 10am – 6pm
17 August – 31 August: daily 10am – 5pm

INFORMATION
Open year-round
The Ryfylke Museum’s adminstrative center
Museum shop
Exhibitions
Café with WIFI access
Folk music archive for Rogaland County

Nordenden 14
4230 Sand, Suldal
Tel. (+ 47) 5279 2950

GPS
Latitude: 59.48519
Longitude: 6.248181

Nesa warehouse lying at North End in the shore town of Sand is The Ryfylke Museum’s administrative center. Built at the height of herring fishery around 1850, it was where nets and boats were stored, herring was salted, and local coopers stored their barrels. It was a workshop and storehouse until The Ryfylke Museum took over in 1991.

Both permanent and temporary exhibitions and various events are held here every year. “White Bear” is a permanent inter-active exhibition for children. It tempts children into a fairytale world based on stories by local author Rasmus Løland.

The coaster “Brødrene af Sand” (11) is moored here during the summer whenever she is in port. The museum café is modest but inviting and its shop carries a good selection of local history literature, craft products etc.

OPENING HOURS
1 July – 21 August: Saturdays and Sundays 12 noon – 4pm

INFORMATION
Open in summer
Café

Litunet
Vallskorvegen 347
4237 Suldalsosen

GPS
Latitude: 59.5389
Longitude: 6.4505

On highway Rv13 between Sand and Suldalsosen, follow the signpost to Valskår (11 km).

Li farm lies high up on a slope with a fantastic view over Hylsfjord in Suldal – almost 300 dizzying meters below.

The farm’s 13 buildings from the 17- and 1800s are filled with characteristic old objects. The placement of the buildings gives the yard a medieval feel, although building restoration was done using traditional crafts from an even earlier age. The farmyard, considered to be of national importance, was legally protected in 1974. The surrounding cultural landscape with its tiny fields, stone walls and clearance cairns is typical of western Norway

You will be greeted by farm’s pleasant host. Sale of coffee and waffles. Access is by car from Suldal. Please note that the road is narrow, but well worth driving in order to experience this spectacular site!

OPENING HOURS
1 July – 31 August: Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday: 12 noon – 4 pm

INFORMATION
Open in summer
Exhibition
Fruit orchard

Viga
Vigavegen 30
4130 Hjelmeland

GPS
Latitude: 59.209672
Longitude: 6.115652

Viga lies along the highway between Hjelmeland and Fister.

Viga is a museum farm of great cultural, historical and horticultural value. Its buildings form a compact yard with farmhouse, bake-house, storehouse, barn – and the Sissela House.

Written sources show that the farm existed in the 1500s although its present look dates to 1821. A historical fruit orchard was created within Viga’s old garden walls in 1990. More than 100 traditional types of apple, pear and plum trees from Ryfylke have since been planted.

The Ryfylke Museum carried out intensive restoration between 2009 and 2015, based on the area’s building traditions and methods. The barn, an especially demanding project, is well worth a visit. Here there are special exhibitions on traditional building methods, especially roofing with natural slates, and on fruit and berry growing in Ryfylke.

OPENING HOURS
June: Sunday 12, 19, 26, 1pm – 16pm
July: Saturdays and Sundays, 1pm – 4pm
August: Sundays, 1pm – 4pm
Open during the lobster season in October: Sundays, 1pm-15pm

INFORMATION
Open during the summer and the lobster season
Exhibitions
Museum shop

Hummermuseet
Lobster museum
Grøningen 22,
4180 Kvitsøy
Tel. (+ 47) 51 73 63 00

GPS
Latitude: 59.058675 / Longitude: 5.39889

Take the Mekjarvik to Kvitsøy ferry.

One of The Ryfylke Museum’s finest branch museums can be found in the smallest of the region’s municipalities, Kvitsøy. The lobster museum re-opened in 2013 contains an impressive collection of fishing equipment and tackle.

From Kvitsøy you can’t get farther out towards the sea anywhere else in Ryfylke. The sea has always been the basis for settlement on this island where lobster fishing was begun in the 1600s. Lobster parks and lobster export have been especially important for bringing Kvitsøy renown as a center for lobster fishing.

Exhibitions fill three floors of its building. The main exhibition concentrates on lobsters, lobster fishing and the lobster trade. Other exhibitions deal with other type of fisheries, with life on Kvitsøy and with boats and motors. Kvitsøy is a real gem and well worth visiting!

OPENING HOURS
Guided tours for groups on request. Contact
us for more information (+47 52 79 29 50 / post@ryfylkemuseet.no).

INFORMATION
Open in summer
Little shop selling local products and literature

Jelsa church & school museum
Sandane 33
4234 Jelsa, Suldal

GPS
Latitude: 59.338184
Longitude: 6.027661

Jelsa, the best-preserved shore town in Ryfylke, was chosen in 2008 as the most idyllic place in Rogaland County. Its tiny, white-painted houses dating to the 1700s trace the shore right along the sea. The school museum lies in this unique setting. In addition to teaching children, the school also trained teachers for itinerant schools.

This shore town traces its roots back to the 1200s when it was an important church center. The lovely wooden church at Jelsa looks as it did when built in 1647. The impressive Renaissance décor on its interior walls was painted by Gottfried Hendtzchel.

Guided tours of the church and the school house are arranged during the summer months starting from the town’s little “Shed” (Bua).

OPENING HOURS
Closed for restoration: summer 2016

INFORMATION
The Industrial Worker’s Museum
Håkonsgaten 51-53
4200 Sauda

GPS
Latitude: 59.650631
Longitude: 6.363863

Åbø-byen is one of the best-preserved housing areas for industrial and office workers built during the establishment of energy-intensive industry in Norway.

The town itself, known as the “American Town”, is architecturally unique. This residential area for the Sauda smelting works is clearly divided according to class, with workers’ houses nearest the plant, office workers’ farther away and the director’s villa highest up.

The town’s harmonic appearance, variety, details and obvious architectural qualities add excitement to a stroll along its streets.

The Ryfylke Museum set up The Industrial Workers’ Museum in a four-family house at Haakonsgate 51-53. An apartment on the ground floor is furnished as it would have been when new in the 1920s, while the upper floor’s interior dates to the 1960s. Exhibition rooms are found in another section.

OPENING HOURS
Open year-round. Free admittance

INFORMATION
Open year-round
Exhibitions
Hiking

Jonegarden at Hustveit
4208 Saudasjøen, Sauda

GPS
Latitude: 59.568919
Longitude: 6.267121

Jonegarden is located along Rv13 between Ropeid and Sauda.

Hustveit is an area where nature, culture and outdoor life can be enjoyed. The cultural landscape, museum farm and buildings all look as original and authentic as in the late 1800s. The modernization process that changed most farms in the 1930s and ‘40s never came to Hustveit. Information about this classified landscape protection area can be found on the signs along the hiking path.

Hustveit’s barn has been restored and is open year-round. Its exhibitions tell about the farm and its people, about local building traditions, the forest, and the saw-mill.

A short walk on the old road leads to Kvedna Falls with its interesting flourmill, drying kiln, sawmill, etc. A hike of a few hours along a marked trail leads to the mountain farm, also open to the public.

OPENING HOURS
Open year-round. Free admittance

INFORMATION
Open year-round
Exhibition
Hiking trails

Røynevarden
4237 Suldal
Suldal

GPS
Latitude: 59.602746
Longitude: 6.758995

On highway Rv13 Røynevarden is located over Lake Suldal on Rv13 towards Nesflaten.

Lying just above Lake Suldal, the cottar’s farm Røynevarden was probably cleared about 1834. Its oldets house is the smoke-stove cottage, dating to the 1820s. Røynevarden seems marginal now but it was one of the area’s best cottar’s farms in Suldal. People were living at Røynevarden untill 1946. The farm has six buildings: two farmhouses, barn, sheep barn, goat shed and bake-house.

The Ryfylke Museum has carried out wide-ranging restoration work on these buildings. A little exhibition in one end of the barn tells something about the farm and its people.

A path leads from the county road to the farm (about 500 meters in fairly rugged terrain). Take your lunch with you and enjoy the fine view over Lake Suldal.

OPENING HOURS
No fixed opening hours

INFORMATION
Håland
Hålandsvegen 51
4233 Erfjord, Suldal

GPS
Latitude: 59.353474
Longitude: 6.236737

Exit Rv13 at Hålandosen, and head towards Østerhus. Make a left turn after crossing the bridge.

Håland has always been one of Erfjord’s largest farms. Its farmhouse is the best furnished and equipped of all The Ryfylke Museum’s historic buildings. It gives an idea of what life was like on a large farm and how more well-to-do people lived. Håland was the seat of the local sheriff between 1640 and 1674 and of the area’s court for several periods.

There are three buildings here, all restored. The “Målastova” has great historical importance due to its painted interior dated to about 1640. This is both very early and very rare. The Homann storehouse has probably been used for storing textiles, as a guest house and for meetings of the court when sessions were held here. In the farmhouse painted and papered walls re-create the atmosphere of the 1890s.

Groups can book tours on Brødrene af Sand.
Booking and more information: Contact: post@ryfylkemuseet.no or 52 79 29 50

“Brødrene af Sand” is one of the last Ryfylke-cutters still afloat. Built in the middle of the 19th century for the Baltic herring trade and later for transport on Ryfylke’s fjords, the cutter is now legally protected. She can be chartered for both day- and overnight-tours for groups of up to 20 persons. Participants take part as co-sailors.

OPENING HOURS
Monday 10am – 10pm
Tuesday 10am-2pm
Wednesday 10am-2pm
Thursday and Friday closed
Saturday 10am-2pm

Summer (June-August)
Monday 2pm – 6pm
Tuesday closed
Wednesday 10am-2pm
Thursday closed
Saturday 10am-2pm
Free admittance

INFORMATION
Open year-round

Bibmus
Vikevågveien
4150 Rennesøy
Tel. (+47) 51 72 02 77

GPS
Latitude: 59.097146 / Longitude: 5.69704

Bibmus combines a public library, archive and museum. Historical objects exhibited here are arranged by subject: building traditions, food and mealtimes, bake-house, children and childhood, textiles, agriculture and fishery. The exhibitions include these objects, photographs and texts, with relevant literature placed on library bookshelves between each section. The exhibition was set up by Rennesøy municipality and The Ryfylke Museum in cooperation.

Bibmus is located on the upper floor of Rennesøy Culture Center in Vikevåg center.

OPENING HOURS
Open year-round
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 10am – 3:30pm
Thursday: 10am – 6:30pm
(during school holidays 10am – 3:30pm)
Free admittance

INFORMATION
Hjelmeland
Bygdemuseum
Vågavegen 115
4130 Hjelmeland
Tlf. (+47) 404 39 153

GPS
Latitude: 59.236723
Longitude: 6.179195

Located in Vågahuset in Hjelmelandsvågen next to the library.

This local museum lies next door to Hjelmeland library. Its wide-ranging collection is exhibited thematically: the bake-house where food was cooked, the shoemaker’s workshop and the cottar’s house. Because of the many shoemakers and cottars in Hjelmeland, there was interest in re-creating their settings as a reconstruction of years long past.

OPENING HOURS
No fixed opening hours

INFORMATION
Bethel
Rv 519, no. 590
Judaberg, 4160 Finnøy

GPS
Latitude: 59.171233 / Longitude: 5.875191

Free-church chapels and the life around them were important to Ryfylke’s culture and thus an important element in local character. Chapel culture influenced the building of identities, self-understanding and the important values in local lifestyles. This led The Ryfylke Museum to document chapel culture. An exhibition called “The layman movement and the chapels” is set up on the chapel gallery.

OPENINGHOURS
No fixed opening hours

INFORMATION
Bakken
Østhusvikveien 88
4150 Rennesøy

GPS
Latitude: 59.1083942
Longitude: 5.7157027

On exiting the Rennfasttunnel, drive towards Østhusvik. Bakken lies on your left hand 900 m farther on Fv574

This cottar’s farm from around 1800 represents those where farmhouse and barn were built together. Very few are left in Rogaland. The house is timbered; the barn is in stave construction. Not much could be raised here to live on: a cow and a few sheep, along with potatoes and some wheat. Potatoes were stored in the earth cellar to keep fresh.

OPENING HOURS
No fixed opening hours

INFORMATION
Sjøhuset i Bergevik
Bergevik
4110 Forsand

GPS
Latitude: 58.905333
Longitude: 6.09841

Bergevik warehouse lies on Lyse Fjord. Built in the mid-1800s for conserving and salting herring, bait-shells, and anchovies, it was later a general store, a church-goers’ guesthouse, a furniture workshop and a toy factory. Up to three families lived here at a time. If walls could speak, many tales might be told about it, but it now serves for communicating sea-faring and fishery history.