Regional Pilgrim Center Avaldsnes

Avaldsnes Regional Pilgrim Center is one of four pilgrim centers along Kystpilegrimsleia. The center can provide assistance and support for pilgrims, businesses, organizations and stakeholders in Rogaland county

Address

Kong Augvaldsveg 103, Avaldsnes

Email

wli@karmoy.kommune.no

Phone

98242083

The Pilgrim Center coordinates and further develops key sites along the Coastal Pilgrimage Route in collaboration with the county administration, municipalities, the Church of Norway, museums, businesses, and other stakeholders. This includes serving as an important supporter of local and regional sustainable tourism and the national pilgrimage initiative at the following five key sites:

Egersund
Obrestad fyr /Hå Gamle Prestegard
Stavanger Cathedral
Utstein Monastery and Utstein Pilgrim´s Guesthouse
Avaldsnes with St. Olav´s Church and the Nordvegen History Centre

In the summer, the Regional Pilgrim Center is located in a 400-year-old storehouse next to St. Olav’s Church at Avaldsnes. The storehouse is staffed Monday-Sunday from 11:00 to 15:30. Here you will find a pilgrim reception, pilgrim products for sale, and historical plants. If the storehouse is closed, you will find a stamp in the box by the entrance door.

At the Nordvegen History Centre, you can get your passport stamped all year round.

The Regional Pilgrim Center is co-located with St. Olav’s Church at Avaldsnes and the Nordvegen History Centre.

Accomodation List

Name	Contact Information	Terms and Conditions
Grand Hotell Egersund	Phone: 51 49 60 60 Email:booking@grand-egersund.no Adress: Johan Feyersgt. 3, Egersund	-10% with a valid pilgrim passport
Huset ved havet	Phone: +47 979 78 962 Email: mail@husetvedhavet.no Adress: Sør Varhaug 39, Varhaug
Kvassheim Coastal Heritage Lighthouse	Phone: 47 51 66 71 70 Email: post@jaerenfri.no Adress: Kvassheim 100, Brusand
Bryne Kro & Hotell	Phone: +47 51 48 77 00 Email: post@bryne-kro.no Adress: Morenefaret 3, Bryne	-10% with a valid pilgrim passport
Obrestad fyr	Phone: +47 911 23 109 Email: leie.obrestadfyr@ha.kommune.no Adress: Håvegen 282, Nærbø	Weekend: Friday-Sunday Weekday: From two nights June, July, August + Easter: Weekly rental
Reveparken Cabin Rental	Phone: +47 901 74 699/905 63 856 Email: jtrefve@gmail.com Adress: Nordsjøvegen 570, Kleppe	NOK 350-450 per cabin
Fredtun Reatreat Center	Phone: +47 959 43 600 Email: geir@sommerfeldt.no Adress: Austre Karmøyvei 820, Skudeneshavn	NOK 250 per cabin
Magasingården	Phone: +47 982 42 083 Email: wli@karmoy.kommune.no Visnesveien 370, Avaldsnes	NOK 200 per bed
Storehouse at Torvastad	Phone: +47 995 35 119 Email: mkbringe@gmail.com Adress: Kyrkjevegen 26, Torvastad	NOK 1883 per night

Avaldsnes is Norway's oldest royal residence and seat of power

The shipping lane north of Stavanger goes through the Karmsund, with the island of Karmøy on the port side and Haugesund on the starboard side. Avaldsnes, Karmøy is located in the middle of Karmsund , in the narrowest part of the shipping lane. Karmsundet – Nordvegen – used to be the main route to Avaldsnes. It was also this shipping lane – Nordvegen – that gave Norway its name. Avaldsnes was an important seat of power for thousands of years. The primary aim was the control and taxation of traffic through Karmsundet

This was likely a king’s estate during the reign of Harald Hårfagre, which means that Avaldsnes was Norway's oldest royal residence and seat of power. St. Olav’s Church, built by King Håkon Håkonsson, still stands at Avaldsnes. It was built around 1250 and completed in 1320.

Just north of St. Olavs Church is Salhus Farm by Salhusstraumen - a former pilgrim hostel. One of the local pilgrim trails to Karmsundet is still known today. This trail came from the east and involved boat transport across Karmsundet. Apparently, the entrance to the church for pilgrims was through a door in the north wall, which is now bricked up. This was known as the “seafarers’ door”, perhaps because pilgrims arrived by sea.

The regional pilgrim center is located in the same place as St. Olav’s Church at Avaldness and the Nordvegen History Centre.