Egersund - a beautiful start to Kystpilegrimsleia!
Contact informasjon
Phone
+47 91312130It is possible to combine your walk with travel by train, bus or bike. The train stations along the way are Hellvik, Sirevåg, Ogna Brusand, Vigrstad, Varhaug and Nærbø.
In the summer, it is possible to join a guided tour around the town that takes you to all the important sights. We highly recommend this. Egersund is known for its old colourful wooden houses. These are among the best preserved houses of that style in Norway. The town is filled with buildings of a variety of architectural styles. Lift your gaze and keep in touch with your senses. Take deep breaths along your way, and fill your heart and mind with the grandeur of nature. Outside of the summer season one can walk the cultural path that takes you through the center of Egersund, with information boards about the history of the town.
You can get a stamp for your pilgrim passport at the tourist office and at the Grand hotel.
No changes in tide in Egersund: Between Egersund and Flekkefjord you can drive your boat all the way into your garage. The rotation of the earth and the specific conditions in the area, makes this coastline very unique.
Magma Geopark: An area with a unique geology of international significance, recognized by UNESCO. Here you can find the rare rock type anortositt, which is the same rock type that can be found on the moon. It has only been found in these two places!
Jærbanen: A short distance from the center of Egersund you can walk along the old retired railway between Hellvik and Egersund from the time when Jærbanen was narrow-guage. This must be one of the most beautiful and rich pedestrian and cycle paths that exists in Dalane! The trail winds through hilly landscapes with countless viewpoints, side paths, and rest areas. You can also take the train, cycle or paddle along this 8km long path, called the Old Jærbanen, all year round.
Go fishing with a fishing license and rod or experience the stunning view from Launesfjellet!
There is much to discover in Egersund! It is well worth it to stop for a few days extra in this wonderful town!
Photo: Arne Ove Østebrødt
Photo: Arne Ove Østebrøt
Egersund Church
Egersund Church is a key site in Egersund and the town’s oldest building. It was originally built as a low-roofed long church in the 1620s.
The discovery of a standing-stone-like gravestone with runes suggests that there was already a church in Egersund in the 1000s, but it is only in 1292 that there is documented evidence of an actual church in Egersund.
The current church, located on what was once called Hedningeholmen, is believed to be a direct successor of that earlier church.
After a renovation at the end of the 19th century, it became Rogaland’s second-largest church, with 1,160 seats.
Opening hours and events (Norwegian text only)
Photo: Arne Ove Østebrot
Grand Hotel
At the start of the Coastal Pilgrimage Route, you’ll find a charming, venerable hotel offering discounts for pilgrims. Established in 1878, it is Rogaland’s oldest hotel still in operation.
The hotel has a peaceful atmosphere and attentive staff.
Maurholen Station
The station master’s house can be rented for overnight stays. It is furnished in a traditional style and can be used for both day visits and overnight stays. The outbuilding is suitable for social gatherings, meetings, and educational activities. During the summer, outdoor concerts are held here.
Contact Magma Geopark for reservations.
Photo: Arne Ove Østebrot
From Viking to Pilgrim
Over a thousand years ago, along the rocky coast of Rogaland, there was a harbor that is now called Egersund. Here, chieftains gathered, forging alliances that would shape the fate of Norway.
To the south stood Erling Skjalgsson, Jæren’s most powerful chieftain, with ships and warriors ready to defend his land and family. His wife was the sister of King Olav Tryggvason. Far away, from England and Denmark, sailed Knut the Mighty, son of Sweyn Forkbeard, bringing wealth and strength in his ships. His aunt, Tyra Haraldsdatter, had been married to Olav Tryggvason, and the family ties weighed heavily between them.
When Knut and Erling met in Eikundasund, it was not just a meeting between two men—it was a meeting between the greatest power blocs of the time. Here, promises were made and wealth exchanged, perhaps even gold and silver that would later become the Årstad treasure, buried in the ground as a symbol of the alliance’s strength.
But the story took a darker turn. Years later, Olav Haraldsson, the heroic warrior from Trøndelag, returned to unite Norway under a single kingdom. Erling fell in Rogaland, and those who had stood faithfully by his side marched northward.
Then came Stiklestad, 1030. There stood Olav Haraldsson, surrounded by farmers and chieftains from across the country. The blood shed that day became the seeds that would grow into a united Norway. Even in death, Olav became a symbol of royal power and nationhood—a kingdom finally brought together.
When Egersund celebrates Norway’s thousand-year anniversary in 2030, we can think of Eikundasund and Egersund as more than just a small harbor in Rogaland. It was a place where alliances were forged, wealth was shared, and the foundation for Norway was laid—one thousand years before we gathered to celebrate our history.
Here are some places you can visit from that time:
The Viking kingdom of Orvar Odds: https://magmageopark.no/en/destinations/egersund/orvar-odds-kingdom/
Stoplesteinane and St. Olavsvei: https://magmageopark.no/en/location-object/stoplesteinan-st-olavs-rute/
St. Olavsormen: https://magmageopark.no/en/location-object/st-olavsormen/
Erling Skjalgsson (Norwegian text): https://www.solahistorielag.no/vikinghovdingen-erling-skjalgsson/
Cnut the Great (Norwegian text): https://snl.no/Knut_den_mektige
Olav Tryggvason (Norwegian text): https://snl.no/Olav_Tryggvason
Tyra Haraldsdatter (Norwegian text): https://snl.no/Olav_Tryggvason
Eikundasund (Norwegian text): https://www.eigersund.kommune.no/navnet-aquoteigersundaquot.4661400-148543.html
The Årstad Treasure: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2796949937276993
Photo: Arne Olav Østebrøt