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Planning on a vacation sometime this summer? Wanting to see a piece of the world?

I’ve got one word for you… Haugesund.

Haugesund is both a city and a municipality situated in Rogaland, Norway. It is strategically positioned so much so that when one visits the town by sea, one is never going to get seasick. Amazingly, ships pass through Haugesund without that many problems at all.

Making new friends in this quaint city will be a breeze for any foreigner. The people are friendly, polite and hospitable. Currently, Haugesund’s metropolitan region boasts of 83,309 residents.  Quite a small number you would say; and with the number comes the impression that the city is a tiny one. I have news for you, my friend.  It isn’t. Haugesund covers not only one island where its town center is located but also the islets of Risøy. The islets are a pretty sight to behold too. Once you get to see the modern harbour, you would know what I mean.

Visitors are also going to enjoy what heavenly little treasures Haugesund has to offer. The city is actually a key fishing and dispensation hub for lobster, herring and mackerel. The Haugesund inhabitants are also the proud owner of an art gallery and a city museum. It is also the place of the yearly art film fest of Norway dubbed as the Norwegian International Film Festival. The city has been hosting the film fest since 1973, showcasing a variety of movies.

Further while in the city one could also drop by Haraldshaugen known for supposedly being the burial place of the 10th-century king who united Norway, Harald I.

At 73 kilometers, Haugesund owns a coastline along the North Sea with the island of Karmøy and the many islets of Røvær covering a huge area of the rough waters. The business district of Haugesund possesses a unique layout of its streets, which style could also be seen in the thoroughfares of other Norwegian cities such as Kristiansand and Oslo.
The city is a jewel of uniqueness, eh? Want more of Haugesund then?

Well, aside from the city’s offering of old-world charms, Haugesund presents a wide selection of restaurants, cafés and bars. These places invite mostly gatherings of the region of Haugaland.

Shopping isn’t a problem for the residents of as well as visitors to Haugesund. The city being one of Norway’s demanding trade areas possesses a considerable number of shopping centers.

Surely, boring isn’t the word to describe this picturesque city – from walking down memory lane in the city’s to a day of shopping in one of its shopping malls.

In addition, there is the “ Sildajazz”, which happens annually every second weekend of August. It is a jazz festival in celebration of herring. Fishing is actually the primary source of living of the Haugesund men. The word Sild by the way is Norwegian for herring and the fest is a presentation of musicians in the local, national and international jazz scene.

There is also Norway’s most respected film award, the Amanda Award, which has been held in Haugesund for the past two years together with the Norwegian International Film Festival.

August is definitely the finest month to come to Haugesund. Notwithstanding the excellent summer weather, there are the two festivals, “Sildajazz” and the world-acclaimed film festival. What will greet you then are the crazy parties and the fantastic crowd.

Haugesund, established in 1854, became a municipality after it was separated from Torvastad, a previous neighbor municipality. When it was still a new town, the surrounding waters of Haugesund used to be a large source of herring, which contributed to the city’s growth. The city was also considered a powerful city inspite of it being a young city.

History shows further that the first king of Norway, Harald Fairhair, had his home near Haugesund in a place called Avaldsnes. Moreover, Fairhair was buried on Haug beside Karmsund, the place which later became the city and municipal we now know as “Haugesund” with the national shrine ” Haraldstøtten” heaved on the grounds Harald is supposedly buried.

Other interesting fact about this wonderful city is that the sounds of Smedasund and Karmsund made possible the municipality’s progress in shipping as well as in fishing. To this day, accordingly, Karmsund is said to be one of Norway’s most eventful fairways. The city continues to grow though geographically notwithstanding the fact that its inhabitants only grew fairly the hundred years.

However, the city isn’t as dependent in herring as it was before. It is turning more towards the industry of, the same direction being taken by its neighboring city of Stavanger.

Haugesund is such a mesmerizing city. Don’t you think it’s time to book that much-awaited vacation?  Make Haugesund your holiday hideaway!

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