Bud

Bud sits where the land runs out on the Hustadvika coast, one of the most exposed and historically dangerous stretches of the Norwegian shore, and in the Middle Ages it was the biggest trading and fishing place between Bergen and Trondheim, with a national meeting held here in 1533. The village today is small, with white and ochre houses around a harbour, fish landing and a few places to eat. The Atlantic Road begins nearby, and the coastal route between Bud and Kristiansund is the reason most people come. Above the village, the Ergan coastal fort, built during the occupation and now a museum, occupies a low hill with tunnels and gun positions and a view over the open sea.

History

With a good natural harbour and rich fisheries, Bud became the largest village between Trondheim and Bergen in the Middle Ages, and in 1533, after the death of King Frederick I, Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson held the last independent Norwegian Privy Council here. Bud became a municipality in 1838 and was merged into Fræna in 1964 (Wikipedia, Bud, Norway).

What's there

• The harbour village - white and ochre houses around a working quay.
• The Hustadvika coast - one of the most exposed shorelines in Norway.
• The Ergan hill - a wartime coastal installation preserved as a museum.
• The Atlantic Road - the celebrated coastal route beginning nearby.

When to go

May to September for open museums, cafes and the coastal drive; autumn storms on Hustadvika are spectacular from shore but make the sea route dangerous. Winter closes most facilities.

What to expect

The village is small and quiet outside summer, with limited eating and accommodation. It is a stop on a driving route rather than a destination in itself. Wind and rain are frequent on this coast in any season.

Nearby

The Atlantic Road runs north to Averoy; Molde, Trollkirka and the Romsdal fjords lie east.

Key facts