Discover Førre: Fjord, Helgelandsfjellet and church art

Førre combines a short local hike with a distinctive work of church art and the landscape of a fjord arm. You can explore the area from different angles during your holiday: with a trip up Helgelandsfjellet, a look at the history of Førre Church or an introduction to Førresfjorden.

Helgelandsfjellet: a short trail with wide-ranging views

Helgelandsfjellet is considered a short, easily accessible and popular local hike in Førre, suitable for all ages. Its summit is 219 metres above sea level. From there, the view stretches across Førresfjorden, Bokn and Karmøy. So this outing is about more than reaching the highest point: it also offers views across the fjord and the surrounding communities and islands.

Access to the hiking trail is from the E134, east of the Førre Tunnel. From there, the route passes through the residential area on the east side of the European highway. This is useful to know when planning the hike into your day: the described access point is on the E134, east of the tunnel, and leads through the residential area on the east side of the road.

Førre Church and a painting with its own story

Førre Church was built in 1893 by master builder Tjerand Solheim and consecrated on 19 September of the same year. Its altar contains a copy of Eilif Peterssen’s painting “Ecce homo”. The painting depicts Jesus wearing the crown of thorns; the original was painted in 1882 for Norderhov Church. Thus, two distinct periods come together at Førre Church: the construction and consecration of the church in 1893, and the creation of the original painting eleven years earlier.

For those interested in churches and visual art, this is a good reason to take in the architecture and altarpiece together. It is important to distinguish between the two: Førre has a copy of the painting, while Peterssen created the original for Norderhov Church. The image of the crowning with thorns gives the altarpiece a clearly identifiable subject and adds an art-historical connection to the church’s history.

Fjord landscape and routes around the area

Førdesfjorden lies at the innermost end of the narrow, relatively shallow Førresfjorden. The latter is a north-facing arm of Boknafjorden. The description of the fjord landscape therefore leads from Boknafjorden, along Førresfjorden, to its innermost end at Førdesfjorden. This offers a different focus for planning your trip from a visit to the summit: here, the emphasis is on the fjord’s geographical location, while Helgelandsfjellet offers a specific reason to hike, with views from the summit.

There is also a pedestrian link between two named places within Førre: a new footpath connects Førreparken with Førre Church, providing a continuous, safer pedestrian route along this stretch of Førresvegen. The path is approximately 166 metres long, connects existing footpaths and was designed according to universal design principles. Its short length and the link between the park and the church make it a distinct feature for finding your way around the area.

Getting to know Førre as a destination

The E134 between Drammen, Haugesund and Haugesund Airport on Karmøy runs through Førre or Førdesfjorden. Together with the access to Helgelandsfjellet, this gives your travel plans a specific road and hiking connection. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Førre, you can consider what matters most to you when choosing where to stay: a hike with a view, a church with a story, or a location by the fjord. These different interests describe different sides of the destination without combining them into a single itinerary.

You can also discover Hervik, Skjoldastraumen, Askeland, Nedstrand, Aksdal and Tysvær on other local pages.

For the broader travel overview, see: Tysvær.