Founded in 1911, the Hardanger Folk Museum, lying near the ferry quay at Utne (tel. 53-67-00-40; www.hardanger.museum.no), celebrates the past of Utne and does so with insight and style. It exhibits old timber buildings, furnished according to their eras, from several parts of Inner Hardanger. By the fjord are old boathouses and a general store that once stood on the quay side. In the administrative building are local arts and crafts, national costumes, and data on the fruit-growing industry. The famous Hardanger fiddle, so beloved by Ole Bull and Edvard Grieg, came from this area. The museum owns several of these antique fiddles, and you can also visit a fiddle-maker's workshop here.
The museum charges NOK40 ($8/£4) for adults and is free for children. In May, June, and September, it's open daily 10am to 4pm. In July and August, hours are daily 10am to 5pm. The rest of the year, hours are daily 10am to 3pm.
When fjords were the highways of western Norway, Utne was an important junction. The Utne Hotel opened in 1772.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
