In a nutshell

The culture around Vik has its very own flavor. It has to be tasted to be believed: sample “gamalost”, a local cheese, and you'll be plunged straight into Norwegian tradition. Explore the home of the town's first fishermen, which is still intact. And then observe three symbols that have made history: the Hopperstad Stave wooden church, among the oldest in the country, the stone church of Hove and the Moahaugane tumuli, which tell the story of ancient pagan burials.

Main stops

Vikøyri beach: walk and visit to a local fisherman's cottage
Tasting of 'gamalost' cheese
Sylvringen trail: Hopperstad Stave church, Hove church, Moahaugane tumuli

The programme

You'll get your first taste of Vik's culture on the beach at Vikøyri, where you can wander among the boathouses and the cottages of the first fishermen to settle here. One of these will open its doors to you: it's just like it was back then.
Your exploration continues with a tasting of 'gamalost', the typical Norwegian cheese which is matured for a very long time, with zero food miles.
On the Sylvringen trail which unites the iconic local sites, you will come across the church of Hopperstad Stave, dating back to 1130. It is entirely constructed from wooden staves, using the same technique used to build Viking ships. Guess why?
Follow the trail back in time to Vik's pagan origins. The eight Moahaugane tumuli - tombs that date back to 200-400 AD - rise out of the ground like little hills, but hide a mountain of stories.
The rare sights don't end there: the church of Hove, built in 1170, is constructed from stone, from its foundations to its bell tower. A “noble” material which was favored over the more common wood by rich foreign locals.

Good to know

Wear suitable clothing for the places of worship you will be visiting.