Local crafts
Local crafts
We want to give our guests time – time to learn about the history and culture of the people who live here and time to absorb the impressions the landscape makes. The time it takes to look after the natural environment. Why not row? Or paddle? Or cycle? Or ski – from the mountains down to the fjord? Leave winter behind in the mountains and greet spring down beside the fjord? Admire a starry sky free of light pollution? Try fly fishing in the river?
Sample the local fare? We have the best goat’s cheese, the best beer, the best goat meat sausages – and definitely the best bread. And we forgot to mention the Aurland shoe. What would Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk have been without a pair of ‘Weejuns’ (NOR-weegians) that are made at Aurlandsskoen skofabrikk, the only shoe factory left in Norway. We are a member of the SAKTE alliance, an organisation of food and artisan producers and activity companies that offer local products based on the World Heritage area.
Marianne Holme
MARIANNES BAKERY
Our dear friend Marianne Holme bakes the best bread, cinnamon buns and raisin buns at her bakery, Mariannes Bakeri! Organic and made with love. Marianne likes to say that ‘A bun without raisins is not a bun’. So that’s you told. She gets up at five in the morning every day to bake, and she never forgets to pick her own organic raspberries when she gets home in the evening. She’s a woman and a half! Her bakery is a place where members of the community can meet, and, not least, enjoy an Italian espresso.
Rein Glass
GLASS ART
Merete Rein and Thomas Petersen have brought the art of glass-blowing to Aurland and have a workshop down beside the fjord. Through a large window, you can watch how this red-hot molten material becomes beautiful fragile glass. Merete is inspired by the scenery of Aurland, as many artists have been before her, along the Sognefjord.
Gøril Lie
LOCAL GOAT FARMER
Our friend is a goat farmer with a passion for what she believes in. Take local food for example, blue cheese, or the fact that she believes it should be possible to make a living as a farmer in Norway. Gøril is one of our highly valued ‘incomers’ to Aurland, and she is a woman of many talents. Not only is she keeping the goat farming tradition alive in our little community, but every 17 May, Gøril leads the national day parade with her fiddle to the delight of young and old alike, and she also plays the accordion!
Li Gard
LEARN ALL ABOUT TRADITIONS
Local farmer Gry Lie can take you on a guided walk to the summer pasture farm Hovdungo, and will let you sample local fare and tell you stories about the nature and culture of the fjord landscape. Lean back and enjoy the view, and the taste of real Norwegian nature.
Aurlandskoen
SHOE FACTORY
The Aurland shoe has its own unique style and has inspired fashion across the world. Michael Jackson did the Moonwalk in his weejuns, copies of the Aurland shoe. And best of all, this traditional shoe is still in production here in Aurland. They can also make you shoes according to your wishes. The Aurland shoe has been in production since the 1930s.
Leim støl
SUMMER FARM TRADITIONS
Enjoy a 30-minute walk up to a unique experience of a summer pasture goat farm, cheese traditions and sample the goat’s cheese and traditional fare. Meet the locals; the four-legged variety and the dairymaids.