Gudvangen village nestled by Nærøyfjorden in Aurland
Aurland · Sogn · Vestland

Gudvangen

VikingLifebytheFjord

I t doesn’t get more Viking than this. The village of Gudvangen is located by Nærøyfjorden, the fjord acclaimed by several foreign media outlets as “the world’s most beautiful and spectacular fjord”. Surrounded by towering, majestic mountains, you’ll also find the Viking village “Njardarheimr” in Gudvangen.

Village Snapshot
Residents ~100
Landscape Fjord & Mountain
Region Sogn
Municipality Aurland
County Vestland
UNESCO Nærøyfjorden
Signature Njardarheimr Viking Village

The Fjord

The around 100 villagers in Gudvangen are used to visitors, as least part of the year. The UNESCO-protected Nærøyfjorden is a popular destination with its dramatic and spectacular landscape. For instance, Gudvangen is a popular port of call for cruise ships. Both villagers and visitors enjoy the fjord. It’s popular for paddling, and the landscape is breathtaking from the narrow fjord surrounded by steep mountains and impressive waterfalls. These mountains are also great for hiking, of course.

The dramatic Nærøyfjorden landscape near Gudvangen

The dramatic Nærøyfjorden near Gudvangen. Photo: Lukas Seitz on Unsplash

One of the most spectacular mountain hikes is the trip up Rimstigen. It’ll give you a breathtaking view over the fjord. Rimstigen is a trail with history in every step. Farmers from the village of Bakka used the trail to lead their livestock over the mountain, in order to end up at the summer pastures in the valley of Breidalen. The steep slopes might seem a little scary at first, but the old trail is cleverly constructed, winding through lush forests and ascending sturdy stone steps on the steepest sections. The further you go, the better the view over the glittering fjord hundreds of meters below. And as you walk, you might think about the farmers that walked here a long, long time ago. Not for fun, but to put food on the table. The fjord landscape of the west coast is beautiful — but provided a lot of challenges for the people living their everyday lives here back in the days.

Dramatic mountain and fjord landscape near Gudvangen
Where mountains meet the fjord Photo: Robert Bye on Unsplash

Njardarheimr

Talking about back in the days, Njardarheimr takes you way back. All the way to the era of the Norwegian Vikings. The Viking village in Gudvangen comprises over 20 buildings, constructed primarily with more than 500 cubic meters of timber. Each building showcases craftsmanship, with ironworks for hinges and locks forged by a skilled blacksmith. Authenticity is paramount, evident in the use of traditional paints like ox blood for decorations. The construction materials are sourced locally, mirroring the materials historically found throughout the fjord, such as peat and shingle reminiscent of the old stave churches.

Njardarheimr Viking Village in Gudvangen
Photo: Redcharlie on Unsplash

The name Njardarheimr means the home of the northern god Njord. He is associated with fertility, wealth, seafaring, and fishing, and according to myths, he can also calm the sea and extinguish fire.

In Njardarheimr you can summon your inner Viking and enjoy a journey back in time that is both exciting and educational. The smell of campfire, the captivating stories that are told about the old times, the taste of real Viking food. Oh, and a lot of axe throwing and archery.

Viking activities at Njardarheimr

Life at Njardarheimr. Photo: Veroniki Thetis Chelioti on Unsplash

To sum up, Gudvangen is the place to be if you want to be close to stunning nature and Viking history!

Village Services

What’s Here

Services, activities, and amenities available in Gudvangen and within a short drive.

Public Services

IN THE VILLAGE
  • Fjord cruises
  • Bus connections

Leisure

IN THE VILLAGE
  • Kayaking & paddling
  • Hiking (Rimstigen)
  • Njardarheimr Viking Village
  • Fjord fishing

Within 45 min

REGIONAL ACCESS
  • Flåm
  • Voss
  • Grocery store
  • Hospital
Location

Where is Gudvangen?

Gudvangen lies at the inner end of the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjorden, a branch of Sognefjorden, in Aurland municipality, Vestland county.

Gudvangen

Municipality Aurland
Region Sogn
County Vestland
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Sources & Credits

Photography

Main photo by Redcharlie on Unsplash. Fjord photo by Lukas Seitz on Unsplash. Viking village photo by Redcharlie on Unsplash. Viking scene photo by Veroniki Thetis Chelioti on Unsplash. Landscape photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash.

Text

Text by Marion Solheim, journalist and co-founder of Freysta.