A billion years in front of you
The bare rock along the road to Jøssingfjord began its story far underground. More than a billion years ago, this area lay around 20 kilometres down in the Earth's crust, beneath a great mountain range. Molten rock cooled slowly. The mountains above have since worn away, exposing what once lay deep below.
One of these rocks is anorthosite, also found in the bright areas we see on the Moon. Here, you can look at it close up, in a landscape that ice and water have continued to shape. Deep time is easier to picture with the rock face in front of you.
Magma UNESCO Global Geopark connects geology with cultural history. Jøssingfjord is a good place to start: the same rock has sheltered homes and supported industry.
The houses with a mountain for a roof
A red house and a blue one stand against the rock beneath Helleren. The overhang reaches far enough out to shelter them. Their position makes sense when you see it: people found room for everyday life in a landscape otherwise dominated by rock.
The red house was built around 1840. Dalane Folkemuseum dates the blue one probably to the 18th century, perhaps earlier. A third house stood under the overhang in the mid-19th century before being moved. Those that remain bring the vast landscape down to the scale of a doorway and a window.
Walk carefully around the houses and view them from outside. Entry is not permitted, to protect the fragile buildings. All use of fire is prohibited; take your litter away with you.
When stone became a livelihood
Jøssingfjord Vitenmuseum stands on Titania's historic industrial site. It follows the minerals into mining, technology and working life. The bare mountains on the drive here gain another meaning: this landscape has also supported people's livelihoods.
Nedre Helleren power station, built in 1908, is part of the museum. Alongside the exhibitions, it links natural forces with the industry that developed in the fjord. Encouraging children's and young people's interest in science is part of the museum's work.
Allow time for the museum when it is open. Kafé Dråben follows museum opening hours and can be visited without a museum ticket. Helleren is nearby, so the houses and museum can be reached from the same car park.
Brufjell: a separate, demanding hike
The sea's work is striking at Brufjellhålene, shown in the photograph at the top of this page. The rounded hollows lie in the rock above the sea. Magma explains how waves worked at the same level for a long period, before further land uplift raised the hollows above the water.
The descent to the hollows is graded black and involves very steep climbing using fixed handholds. A fall from the ledge into the open sea can be fatal. Magma advises against the descent for children under ten, in rain and during the winter season. Do not take a dog down this section.
Treat this as a separate outing for experienced hikers. Read current route and seasonal advice before deciding. Visiting Helleren and the museum does not involve this descent.
Planning your Jøssingfjord day
Set Jøssingfjord Vitenmuseum as your destination. From Egenes, the route estimate is around 36 kilometres and 40 minutes each way, before stops or traffic. The museum gives a walk of under five minutes from its car park to Helleren. Contact the museum beforehand if you need step-free access.
Check museum opening hours before leaving. Weather and traffic can affect your day, and the houses are viewed outdoors. Museum tickets are bought separately.
Keep your place by Selura
Give Jøssingfjord one of your holiday days. Your reserved pitch at Egenes remains yours throughout your booked stay. Take the motorhome out; return to the same pitch in the evening.
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