Ølve Between Marshland and Mining History

Ølve brings together protected nature and mining history: at Eggja, marshland and rare plants are at the heart of the natural landscape, while guided walks in the mining heritage area introduce visitors to the production of Baksteheller and life in the mining community. Other points of interest include Ølve kyrkje, a listed wooden long church dating from 1861, and a natural monument featuring an unusually large yew tree.

Nature Between Marshland and Woodland

The Ølveshovda Landscape Protection Area was designated to protect a diverse natural environment. Naturally distinct, thriving stands of yew and holly are its main features. Eggja offers a different focus: the nature reserve protects a rich and varied marshland area with characteristic fenland and many interesting and rare plant species. Ølve therefore offers several distinct natural highlights: protected woodland stands and a marshland area with a particularly diverse range of plants.

The Støen natural monument near Skarvatun has its own distinctive feature: an unusually large yew tree is protected there. Unlike the protected areas with their diverse stands and marshland, the focus here is on a single tree. Nature lovers in Ølve can therefore find marshland, protected stands of yew and holly, and a natural monument.

Church, Early Industry and Mining Culture

Ølve kyrkje is a listed wooden long church built in 1861. Its architectural style and timber construction make it a distinct cultural-history attraction alongside the area's mining history. For a trip that combines nature and history, it offers a different way to explore local history than the industrial heritage.

The production of Baksteheller was a distinctive early industry in Ølve. Given the large production volume, Baksteheller was probably an export product. Guided walks in the mining heritage area cover both its production and life in the mining community. The focus is not only on the product, but also on the way of life associated with mining.

The name Ølve gullverk refers to gold mining in Ølve between 1855 and 1887. This should be distinguished from the alleged discovery of visible gold in slag at the innermost end of Hyttevågen, in greenish chlorite schist. Later investigations using modern methods found no traces of gold there; experts view the earlier gold discovery with scepticism.

Access and Getting Your Bearings

Some of the iron, copper pyrite and sulfur pyrite mines can be visited as part of guided tours. At the same time, parts of the mining heritage area are inaccessible and unsecured. If you are planning to explore this aspect of the area, distinguish between the mines that can be visited on guided tours and the inaccessible, unsecured parts of the heritage site.

One specific site is Smiehelleren, a mine shaft about 50 metres deep above Kvitebergsvatnet near Atramadalen. It can only be reached by a narrow path, and there are remains of a smithy at the entrance. Its approximate depth and narrow access route are useful details to consider when deciding whether to include Smiehelleren among the places you would like to explore.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Ølve, you could first consider what matters most for your trip: natural areas with marshland and plant life, cultural-history attractions such as the church, or mining history, with its guided tours and special access conditions. Ølve offers different ways to explore each of these interests; you can decide which ones will shape your trip based on your personal priorities.

More Places to Explore

You can also include the destination pages for Seimsfoss, Fjelberg, Husnes, Onarheim, Sandvoll, Herøysund, Arnavik and Sunde in your further search.

For an overview of the wider area, see: Kvinnherad.