Finnøy

From Hanasand, you can take the ferry to Finnøy, the island municipality consisting of 16 populated islands. With 15 inhabited islands the municipality is much divided, but bridges, ferries and express boats form a close bond between most of them. In the planning stages are several new bridges and an undersea tunnel to the mainland and between the islands. Finnøy muncipality has approximately 2.710 inhabitants and covers a area of 104,3 km2.

The main island, Finnøy - with its municipal centre of Judaberg - measures 25 square kilometres and has about half the total population. Finnøy has long been an agricultural community and fishing is still the most important livelihood. Livestock keeping and greenhouses mainly. Fish farming is in rapid development in the municipality, with several new installations on sea and land. The service industries are also growing, especially in Judaberg.

Finnøy is an paradise of islands, skerries and archipelagos with a rich animal life comprising elk and deer, as well as small skerries which are bird sanctuaries. There are excellent opportunities here for an interesting holiday where you can explore the islands on your own or as part of an organised tour. From Finnøy, there are excellent ferry and express boat links to the north, south and east.

Finnøy municipality has an all-round cultural life, with many interests and study groups. In this context, two lovely stone churches from the 1100s need to be mentioned, plus a nearly 350 year old timber church. Education in Finnøy is localised through necessity because of all the islands. A tertiary college is at Judaberg, offering courses in fish farming, health and social work, catering and serving.

The municipality has a well-developed health and welfare programme. Fertile soil, mild climate, a number of sheltered harbours and good fishing areas, plus a rich social life have made Finnøy a desirable place to live. The municipality can offer fine, large building blocks on all the large islands. Finnøy's lovely nature and its fine shores make this municipality a popular excursion place.

NIELS HENRIK ABEL

Finnøy was the childhood home of Niels Henrik Abel, the mathematician, and this is commemorated with a statue close to the rectory.

KYRKJØY

On Kyrkjøy, you will find a memorial to the poet Alfred Hauge, who wrote about life on the Ryfylke islands and the emigration to America.

HISTORY

Remains of settlements dating back 7-8 thousand years have been found here. Other artefacts from a rich past are the medieval churches Talgje from 1140 and Hesby from 1200. Finnøy was also the seat of the Danish King Ogmund Finnson in the 1300s.

CHURCHES

The mediaeval stone churches of Hesby and Talgje. On Sjernarøyane there is a red wooden Renaissance style church built in 1130–1150. All of these churches are perched in a place of honour, freely overlooking the nearby landscape.

BOAT

Finnøy, is a paradise for those travelling by boat, for nature lovers and travellers interested in the local cultural heritage. You can spend weeks exploring the many islands and islets, sheltered coves and friendly harbours of Finnøy. There are also excellent beaches, with car parking and public toilets. Frequent ferries and express boats make it easy for everyone to travel between the various islands and mainland.

WALK

You will find many excellent walking trails on Finnøy, in Talgje and Fogn, on Halsnøy, at Ombo, on Bjergøy, Rossøy and Nord Talgje. On Norda-Hidle, there is a cultural walk, and you can satisfy your appetite with traditional fare. The cultural landscape is divided by hundreds of miles of drystone fences, and you see newly built greenhouses, sheep and livestock. Cultural monuments abound; at Løland (Ombo), a 15 min walk along a marked path takes you to petroglyphs of ships and other motifs from the Bronze Age.

CYCLING

Perhaps the best way to explore the easygoing roads of the islands is by bicycle. There are lots of things to see and experience, but little car traffic. On Finnøy and Sjernarøyane, there is a good network of bicycle paths.