This small Norwegian town at the junction of two fjords has ski slopes, a folk museum, and weekly food markets. Known for its extreme sports center and traditional goat cheese.
Vossavangen lies in western Norway's Vestland county, next to Vangsvatnet lake and surrounded by mountains. You can take the gondola up Mount Hanguren for hiking trails and mountain views, explore the 13th-century wooden Finnesloftet building, or join a skydiving session at the local drop zone. The town's location puts you within day-trip distance of Sognefjord, Hardangerfjord, and Bergen.
Getting to Vossavangen
You can reach Vossavangen by train on the Bergensbanen railway or by car on the E16 highway from Bergen and Oslo. The central train station makes day trips easy - the journey from Bergen takes one hour. Norwegian National Road 13 connects you directly to the fjord regions.
Adventure Sports
Throughout the year, you can try skydiving from 4,000 meters, navigate whitewater rapids on mountain rivers, or practice indoor skydiving at VossVind. The Ekstremsportveko festival in June brings skydivers, BASE jumpers, kayakers, and mountain bikers to compete and perform.
Winter Activities
The three nearby ski resorts - Voss Resort, Myrkdalen, and Bavallen - have 70 kilometers of slopes combined. Voss Resort suits beginners with wide runs, while Myrkdalen has challenging off-piste sections for advanced skiers. Cross-country skiing trails start from multiple points around town.
Mountain Activities
The Voss Gondol carries you to Mount Hanguren's 820-meter summit in 9 minutes. At the top, marked trails lead across the mountain plateau. Mountain bikers can choose from family-friendly forest paths to steep technical trails. Local bike schools run lessons from May to October.
Historical Buildings
The gray stone Voss Church from 1277 rises above the town center, with its distinctive octagonal tower added in the 1500s. Finnesloftet, built in 1295, opens to visitors from June to August (daily 10:00-16:00). At Mølstertunet, the Voss Folk Museum displays a collection of preserved farm buildings with original furniture and tools.
Local Food
Restaurants in Vossavangen prepare regional dishes like smalahove (salted and smoked sheep's head) and Vossafår (cured lamb sausage). Many restaurants source ingredients from local farms and prepare dishes according to traditional methods.
Events Through the Year
During Palm Sunday weekend, Vossa Jazz fills concert halls and cafes with Norwegian and international jazz musicians. In June, the week-long Ekstremsportveko brings thousands of athletes and spectators for competitions in skydiving, rafting, and paragliding.
World War II History
The German bombing on April 24-25, 1940, damaged much of Vossavangen's wooden buildings. During post-war reconstruction, workers elevated the street level to prevent flooding from Vangsvatnet lake. The local history museum displays photographs and artifacts from this period.
