Halsnøy
Encyclopedia
Halsnøy is an island in Sunnhordland
in the county of Hordaland
, Norway
. It has c. 2,500 inhabitants, and is 38 square kilometres in area. It is the most populated island in Kvinnherad
and was until 2008 the most populated island in Norway without a direct connection to land.
(dissolved in 1536), once one of the richest monasteries in Norway, and today a highly popular tourist attraction. In 1896, one of the oldest boats recovered in Norway was found in Toftevåg. It was reconstructed full-scale in 2006, and a monument was erected at the location of the recovery.
in Norway
and the main residential and commercial site of the island, Landamarka, one of the fastest growing urban areas in the municipality Høylandsbygd, and several other minor settlements. The inner island is usually considered as Høylandsbygd and its neighbouring settlements. Høylandsbygd is one of Western Norway's shipping capitals, and hosts the headquarters of both Eide Marine Services
and Bergen Group Halsnøy, as well as several subdivisions of the two. During the 1980s and -90s it was one of the biggest industrial zones in the county.
and the Netherlands. Some of its most popular tourism attractions include Radiohola
, the Halsnøy abbey
and the Høylandsbygd shipping mural
.
Sunnhordland
Sunnhordland is a traditional district in the western part of Norway, consisting of the southern, coastal regions of the county of Hordaland, from the mouth of the Hardangerfjord and outwards to the Atlantic Ocean...
in the county of Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It has c. 2,500 inhabitants, and is 38 square kilometres in area. It is the most populated island in Kvinnherad
Kvinnherad
Kvinnherad is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. The parish of Kvindherred was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Fjelberg, most of Varaldsøy and parts of Skånevik merged with Kvinnherad on 1 January 1965.The municipality is the 5th in size in Hordaland...
and was until 2008 the most populated island in Norway without a direct connection to land.
History
It was notable historically as the site of Halsnøy AbbeyHalsnøy Abbey
Halsnøy Abbey was a house of Augustinian Canons located on the island of Halsnøy on the Hardangerfjord in Kvinnherad, Hordaland, Norway, and was one of the richest monasteries in medieval Norway....
(dissolved in 1536), once one of the richest monasteries in Norway, and today a highly popular tourist attraction. In 1896, one of the oldest boats recovered in Norway was found in Toftevåg. It was reconstructed full-scale in 2006, and a monument was erected at the location of the recovery.
Urban areas and industry
Halsnøy is usually divided into two unofficial zones by its locals; "utøyo" (the outer island) and "innøyo" (the inner island). The outer island consists of Sæbøvik, the only remaining official villageVillage
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and the main residential and commercial site of the island, Landamarka, one of the fastest growing urban areas in the municipality Høylandsbygd, and several other minor settlements. The inner island is usually considered as Høylandsbygd and its neighbouring settlements. Høylandsbygd is one of Western Norway's shipping capitals, and hosts the headquarters of both Eide Marine Services
Eide Marine Services
Eide Marine Services is a shipping company based in Western Norway, with its headquarters in Høylandsbygd. The company was founded in 1992, after the restructuring and merging of Eide Contracting and Eide Marine Tech. It is currently run by Georg Eide Jr....
and Bergen Group Halsnøy, as well as several subdivisions of the two. During the 1980s and -90s it was one of the biggest industrial zones in the county.
Tourism and places of interest
Like the rest of its municipality, Halsnøy is a popular place for tourists, especially from GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the Netherlands. Some of its most popular tourism attractions include Radiohola
Radiohola
Radiohòla is a natural shelter used by the Norwegian resistance during the second world war. It served as a hiding place for a radio that brought news from the British, during a time of which radios were banned and the German occupants arrested and prosecuted those found in possession of one.-...
, the Halsnøy abbey
Halsnøy Abbey
Halsnøy Abbey was a house of Augustinian Canons located on the island of Halsnøy on the Hardangerfjord in Kvinnherad, Hordaland, Norway, and was one of the richest monasteries in medieval Norway....
and the Høylandsbygd shipping mural
Høylandsbygd shipping mural
The Høylandsbygd shipping mural is a wall mural located in Høylandsbygd in Kvinnherad. It is currently the biggest painted mural in the world, with the larger of the two painted walls measuring 80 metres long and 16 metres tall...
.
Notable inhabitants
Some famous people from Halsnøy include:- Tor Bjarne Bjelland, drummer for Trucks and Robert PostRobert PostRobert Post is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. Post won two awards, Best Male Artist and Best Video, at Norway's equivalent of the Grammys, Spellemannprisen, in 2005 for his debut album...
, - Magnar Reigstad, from Skaperen,
- Kåre Sandvik, keyboardist and pianist (Stain Monsters, Animal Farm, Nøkken, Rust),
- Johannes EideJohannes EideJohannes Malvin Eide is a Norwegian business man, entrepreneur and ship builder. He is one of the founding owners, and former CEO of Eide Marine Services.- Early life and career :...
, shipping magnate and decorated local activist, - Bjarte Agdestein, one of the creators of Oscar-winning short film The Danish PoetThe Danish PoetThe Danish Poet is a 2006 animated short film written, directed, and animated by Torill Kove and narrated by Liv Ullmann. A co-production of the National Film Board of Canada and Mikrofilm AS of Norway, it has won both the Academy Award and Genie Award for best animated short film.-Synopsis:The...
.