Valevåg

Valevåg lies on the eastern side of the Bømlafjorden. The village combines a distinctive church history with the life story of composer Fartein Valen and marked hiking trails. Nearby Leirvåg adds protected cultural heritage and varied shoreline landscapes. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can therefore consider whether you want to focus your stay mainly on historic sites, hikes, or the fjord landscape.

Church, Composer, and Farm History

Valen Chapel was built after the war at the old church site, above the choir walls of the church dating from 1707. The site thus tells the story of two periods of construction: the church built in 1707 and the later construction of the chapel. There is also a grave monument to Fartein Valen in the northwestern part of the cemetery at Valen Chapel.

Composer Fartein Valen (1887–1952) lived for much of his life in Valevåg. On the “Fartein Valen’s Landscape” experience trail, you can follow in his footsteps and discover the landscape where he lived and worked. The trail combines a walk through the landscape with a glimpse into the composer’s surroundings, so you don’t have to limit your visit to the historic buildings.

Einstadbøvoll gard, a distinctive farm in Valevåg with 18 listed buildings, offers another perspective on the village’s history. Guided tours of the farm are available by prior arrangement. If you would like to explore historic architecture more closely, this is a different focus for your visit than the hiking trail or Valen Chapel. Guided tours are also available at Fartein-Valen-Heimen, on request.

Marked Trails and Nearby Destinations

A marked hiking trail runs from Valevåg via Einstadbøvoll to 432-metre-high Trollavassnipen, the highest mountain in Sveio. The destination and its elevation give your hike a clear objective. Another hiking idea is the “Fartein Valen’s Landscape” experience trail, named after the composer and focused on the landscape where he lived and worked. If you like to plan your days around different themes, you can choose between a mountain destination and a hike shaped by cultural history.

Leirvåg, near Valevåg, is also a destination for an outing. The marked trail starts at Nappabrua and takes about 20 minutes. The Leirvåg outdoor recreation area is home to the protected cholera cemetery “Kirkegården ved havet” (“The Cemetery by the Sea”). The cholera cemetery in Leirvåg is one of the best-preserved cholera cemeteries in Sunnhordland. This makes it possible to combine the site’s history with a walk in the surrounding area.

The shoreline at Leirvåg varies in character: there are rocky shores as well as flat sandy beaches with sandy and clayey ground. Boats can also moor in Leirvåg, and mooring is possible at Valevåg’s former ferry landing.

Planning Your Stay

The Bømlafjord Tunnel begins at Økland, about 1 kilometre south of Valevåg. It runs beneath the Bømlafjorden to Føyno in the municipality of Stord. This geographic reference adds to the picture of Valevåg as a fjordside village. Valevåg also has a campsite with a café.

You can also find other destinations in Fitjar, Alvik and Søfteland.

For the main travel overview: Hordaland.