Voss

Voss sits in a valley with a lake, several rivers, high cliffs and a ski mountain, and over three decades it has turned that into a specialism: whitewater rafting on the Stranda and Raundalselvi, skydiving from a local drop zone, wingsuit flying and base jumping from the cliffs, paragliding, kayaking, climbing, and in winter a ski resort with a gondola from the town centre. Ekstremsportveko each June draws competitors from across the world. The Voss gondola, opened in 2019, runs from beside the railway station up to Hangurstoppen, making the mountain accessible from the platform. The town itself is unremarkable, having been rebuilt after wartime destruction, apart from the stone church of about 1277 that survived.

History

Tradition says King Olav raised a stone cross here when he came to convert the people of Voss to Christianity, and the stone Voss Church dates from 1277, with an octagonal steeple of the 16th century; just outside the village stands Finnesloftet, a wooden hall believed to be the oldest non-sacred wooden building in Northern Europe (Wikipedia, Vossevangen). In 1964 the municipality took in Vossestrand and Evanger (Wikipedia, Voss Municipality).

What you'll find

• The activity operators - rafting, skydiving, paragliding and climbing bases.
• The Voss gondola - a lift from beside the railway station to the mountain.
• The June festival - Ekstremsportveko filling the valley with competitions.
• The medieval church - a stone church of about 1277 that survived the bombing.

When to go

June to September for water and air sports, with river levels highest in early summer; December to April for skiing. Ekstremsportveko in late June is the busiest week of the year.

What to expect

The town has little to see in itself and works as a base rather than a destination. Activities are expensive and weather-dependent, with air sports cancelled frequently. Accommodation is tight during the June festival.

Nearby

Tvindefossen is twelve kilometres north; the Naeroyfjord, Flam and Stalheim lie west.

Key facts