Located at the inner end of Sunnfjord’s longest fjord, Førde boasts cultural experiences and stunning nature. It is easy to see why one of Norway’s greatest painters often featured the region in his art.
Surrounded by mountains, glaciers and bluer-than-blue water, it is easy to get a feeling of romanticism during your stay in Førde. The painter Nikolai Astrup grew up in this landscape and always came back here for inspiration for his paintings. Visit the Astruptunet museum to see the house he lived in and many of the woodcuts he used.
In the centre of Førde, you will find Sogn and Fjordane Art Museum (Sogn og Fjordane Kunstmuseum), which has temporary and permanent exhibitions with a special focus on contemporary art from the 1970s until today. The Førdehuset cultural centre hosts many exhibitions as well as plays, concerts and dance recitals. The Førdefestivalen of international folk music takes place every July.
The multi-faceted Sunnfjord Museum offers history and activities for young and old. During a holiday in Førde, you can take your family walking along the Mostien trail, which gives you an insight in Sunnfjord’s history as well as fantastic views over Movatnet Lake, Jølstra River and impressive Huldefossen waterfall.
The Animal Trail (Dyreløypa) is an interactive walk where sensory interpretation panels along the way help you learn more about the area’s fauna. If you are interested in fishing, Jølstra River, which splits the city in half, is renowned for salmon fishing. This is why the Laksen sculpture of a salmon can be found in Førde.
Another popular trail with both walkers and cyclists goes up to the top of the Hafstadfjellet Mountain, just south of Førde. During the winter, put your skis on and walk up to the Grovabreen glacier for a great view of the mountains, lakes and rivers below. If you are lucky, you might even get see a herd of reindeer!
Buses go from Bergen, Trondheim and Oslo to Førde, and there is an airport just a few miles away with internal flights to Oslo and Bergen offering a straight-forward connection from the UK. If you’re already in the area, a great nature experience can be had if you take a train to Myrdal, change to the Flåmsbanen Railway to take in the amazing view, and then take a bus to Førde from Flåm.
