THE NORWEGIAN FJORDS

Cover art

[Frontispiece: Sogne Fjord, Gudvangen (missing from book)]

THE
NORWEGIAN FJORDS

NOTE

The fjords of Norway, by their unique charm, annually attract an increasing number of English and American tourists.

This volume, the artist hopes, may be found useful to the traveller who desires a more intimate acquaintance with the country and its people than may be acquired from a casual visit to its shores.

It is the outcome of periodical visits to Norway extending over the last fifteen years, including two winters spent among the fjords and mountains of that delightful and interesting country.

In claiming for this volume no literary merit whatever, the artist trusts that the reader, whilst accepting it as perhaps a feeble statement of bare facts, will find compensation for any lack in this respect by appreciating his efforts in the illustrations. A.H.C.

CONISTON, R.S.O.,
    LANCASHIRE.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

Bergen—The Hardanger Fjord—A peasant's homestead, and home industry—Horticulture—Land tenure—Boat-building from ancient times—The staple food of the peasants—"The Gothenburg system"

CHAPTER II

The Hardanger Fjord (continued)—Means of communication—A drive by "kariol" from Vossevangen to Ulvik—Ullensvang, the fruit-garden of Hardanger—The ancient and national arts of wood-carving, tapestry weaving, and embroidery—The Hardanger violin—Waterfalls—Glaciers—Fjord formation

CHAPTER III

The "Eddas" and "Sagas"—Heathen mythology—A pagan temple—An ancient "Stav-kirke" at Vik—Folklore and superstition—"Balder's Baal," or midsummer's eve fires, of pagan origin—Wedding customs

CHAPTER IV

The Sogne Fjord—Balholm and the "Frithjof's Saga"—Life at a "sÆter" or mountain out-farm—A bear-hunter's tale—Sea-fight between King Sverre and Magnus ErlingssÖn, A.D. 1184—An ancient farmstead in NÆrÖfjord—A wedding at Gudvangen—The NÆrÖdal

CHAPTER V

The Sogne Fjord (continued)—Forestry

CHAPTER VI

The mining industry—LÆrdal and the Borgund church—The Vettisfos—Lyster Fjord and JÖtunheimen—The Norwegian Tourist Club—JÖstedalsbrÆ, the most extensive ice-field in Europe—UrnÆs "Stav-kirke," the oldest church in Norway

CHAPTER VII

The Nord Fjord—The approach from the sea-coast—Typical fjord scenery—Three beautiful lakes: Loen, Stryn, and Olden—Glaciers and avalanches—A drive from Falejde to Öie—The magnificent gorge of Nordangsdal

CHAPTER VIII

Thee Norwegian Established Church ("den Norske Stats-Kirke")—The Reformation—The Lutheran creeds—The Bishops and clergy—The dioceses, deaneries, and livings—Church missions—Free education obtains in Norway—Schools and colleges—The University

CHAPTER IX

The HjÖrund Fjord—Öie to Hellesylt—An evening idyll—The Geiranger Fjord and its waterfalls—An ancient farm near Meraak—By steamer to NÆs—The grandeur of the Romsdal—The River Rauma—Salmon fishing—The great sea fisheries—The midnight sun—Winter sports in Norway—Wild animals and game—Molde, the most beautifully situated town in Norway

Index

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

SOGNE FJORD, GUDVANGEN (missing from book) . . . . . . Frontispiece

HARDANGER FJORD: ODDE
      GODÖSUND (missing from book)
      ULVIK
      ÖSTENSÖ
      ÖSE FJORD
      SKJÆGGEDALSFOS
      BONDHUS GLACIER

SOGNE FJORD: VIK "STAV-KIRKE"
      ESE FJORD (A WEDDING PARTY)
      A "SÆTER," VETLE FJORD
      FJÆRLAND
      NÆRÖ FJORD
      NÆRÖDAL, FROM STALHEIM
      LÆRDALSÖREN
      URNÆS CHURCH, LYSTER

NORD FJORD: A SALMON RIVER, STRYN
      LOEN VAND AND GLACIER

HJÖRUND FJORD, ÖIE

GEIRANGER FJORD
      MERAAK

THE MOUNTAINS OF ROMSDAL

ROMSDALS FJORD FROM NÆS

MOLDE