Skudeneshavn

Skudeneshavn Skudeneshamn
Town
View of the town on an old postcard, c. 1920s
Skudeneshavn Location in Rogaland county
Coordinates: 59°09′00″N 05°15′23″E / 59.15000°N 5.25639°E / 59.15000; 5.25639Coordinates: 59°09′00″N 05°15′23″E / 59.15000°N 5.25639°E / 59.15000; 5.25639
Country	Norway
Region	Western Norway
County	Rogaland
District	Haugaland
Municipality	Karmøy
Area[2]
• Total	2.5 km2 (1.0 sq mi)
Elevation[3]	4 m (13 ft)
Population (2014)[2]
• Total	3,364
• Density	1,346/km2 (3,490/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+01:00)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+02:00)
Post Code	4280 Skudeneshavn

 Skudeneshavn  (also known as Skudeneshamn or simply Skudenes) is a town in Karmøy municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is located on the southernmost tip of the island of Karmøy at the entrance to the Boknafjorden and Karmsundet strait. The town is part of the traditional district of Haugaland.^[1]

The 2.5-square-kilometre (620-acre) town has a population (2014) of 3,364; giving the town a population density of 1,346 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,490/sq mi).^[2] This makes Skudeneshavn one of the smallest towns in Norway (Kolvereid, with 1,470 inhabitants is the smallest). In 1990, it won second prize in NORTRA's competition for Norway's Best Preserved Small Town.^[4]

History

The village of Skudeneshavn was declared to be a "ladested" (port town) on 10 February 1858. Since towns were not allowed to be part of a rural municipality, Skudeneshavn was removed from the municipality of Skudenes, and it was established as its own urban municipality. Initially, Skudeneshavn municipality had 1,209 residents. On 1 January 1965, the town-municipality of Skudeneshavn was merged into the newly formed municipality of Karmøy (along with Skudenes, Avaldsnes, Stangaland, Kopervik, and Torvastad). Prior to the merger, Skudeneshavn had 1,275 residents. At the time of the merger, Skudeneshavn lost its status as a town. In 1996, after the law on towns had been changed, the municipality of Karmøy declared Skudeneshavn to be a town once again.^[5]

Attractions

Skudeneshavn's old town (Gamle Skudeneshavn), consisting of 225 wooden houses, is regarded as one of the best preserved in Europe. In 2004, it was voted Norway's "Summer Town" by listeners to NRK Radio's Reiseradioen programme.^[6]

Each year the "Skudeneshavn International Literature and Culture festival" (Norwegian: Skudeneshavn Internasjonale Litteratur- og Kulturfestival) (SILK festival) is held on the first weekend of November.

Skudefestival

Every year, Skudeneshavn hosts a "boating" festival known as Skudefestivalen. It usually runs for four days (Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun) at the end of June or beginning of July (it is a 'moveable' date). The festival is the largest gathering of coastal culture in Western Norway, with boats of all categories - old wooden boats, vintage boats, modern boats, sailing boats, tall ships - the town is full of life around the harbour - both on land and on water. Markets stalls are set up in the Town Square. Craftsmen demonstrate handcrafts from olden days connected to sea and shipping. Boat builders, ship models, old engines. An art exhibition in Søragadå - the main and narrow street in "Old Skudeneshavn" is held with a new festival artist chosen every year. Visitors can see the exhibitions in "Bytunet" in the old part of town. Entertainment is provided in the daytime - and in the evenings in the festival tent featuring national and international artists and in the many sea houses Celtic music, blues and middle-of the road pop. Travelling amusement rides and arcades usually time their visits to coincide with this popular festival, providing extra enjoyment for younger children and teenagers. Every year about 35,000 people visit the festival and it gathers more than 600 boats. The festival in 2014 is 3-6 July and is the 21st festival. ^[7]

References

External links

• Skudeneshavn.com