Stavanger Old & New
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Port
Stavanger, Norway
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
Local Sightseeing,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$159.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Stavanger and its surroundings have played a leading role in Norway's history for centuries.
See the Swords in Rock Monument. It is comprised of three Viking swords forced into the ground, stands more than 30 feet tall, and commemorates the place where Viking King Harald Haarfagre (Fairhair) defeated the last of the regional princes in AD 872 and founded the Kingdom of Norway by uniting the 29 small kingdoms under one crown.
Located in the heart of Stavanger you’ll find ‘Viking House’, a Virtual Reality attraction portraying the Viking-history of the Stavanger-region and the Battle of Hafrsfjord.
Continue to Sola to photograph the Doomstones – an ancient, mysterious monument standing in a stone circle formation. Archeologists and locals have pondered for more than 250 years as to the reason for its purpose.
Afterwards, you'll pass rich agricultural countryside before arriving at an Iron Age farm. Here, the living conditions from 1,500 years ago have been recreated. The farm itself is situated in an area with burial mounds from the Bronze Age as well as from the time of the Vikings.
And now, back to the 21st century! The Petroleum Museum is a striking building characterized by interactive experiences and lots of hands-on interactive exhibits, complete with demonstrations of how oil forms. There are exhibitions on land as well as simulated mini-platforms. A walk out to these installations enables you to catch a glimpse of 'offshore' life in the North Sea.
Before you return to the ship, stroll through Old Stavanger and past the charming, picturesque, well-preserved wooden houses in narrow lanes that date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The houses were originally built for seaman, craftsmen and businessmen. Conservation of Old Stavanger is today considered the city's most important project.
Notes:
Wear comfortable walking shoes. Order of sights may vary.