Coastal Road and Gildeskål Church
Coastal Road and Gildeskål Church
Witness a beautiful landscape and visit the authentic farmstead at Gildeskål church site with it's medieval church from 1130 with a well-preserved Baroque interior.
Booking reference: ORSN2
Direction: Northbound
Disembarkation: Ørnes
Embarkation: Bodø
Time: 10:00 - 15:00
Meal: Barley soup and dessert
About the excursion
The tour goes by bus from Ørnes along the beautiful Coastal Route through a landscape of dramatic mountains, islands, small fjords and the open sea.
We make a stop at Ureddplassen with its war monument, panoramic views and modern architecture. We visit the authentic farmstead at Gildeskål church site and the medieval church from 1130 with a well-preserved Baroque interior. In the parlour of Mrs. Bruun at the presbytery from 1750, we are served the house's barley soup and dessert. The journey continues along the Coastal Route where we pass Saltstraumen on our way to Bodø where our ship awaits us.
At Ureddplassen we stop and admire the panoramic view. A place where both locals and visitors enjoy the midnight sun.
Photo: © Frid-Jorunn Stabell
Photo: © Hilde Margaret Strangstadstuen
Ørnes harbor
We recommend that you experience the sailing into Ørnes harbor. It is considered one of the most beautiful on the coast and is called "The Quiet Fjord", and passes between islets and skerries.
Photo: © Steinar Skaar
On land, a guide and bus await to take you along the Coastal Route through living villages, along the sea and at the foot of the mountains. From the coast we look over to Lofoten, and it is clear that the mountains in Lofoten and Gildeskål are related to each other.
In Storvik we drive past a 1.5 km long white sandy beach, and here the National Tourist Routes have one of their many beautifully landscaped rest areas.
Gildeskål
We take a detour from the Coastal Route to visit the historic Gildeskål church site with its medieval church and preserved presbytery.
In this quiet place, the soul can rest and the thoughts can wander freely.
You will get both historical information and locally based food in beautiful surroundings. Remember to have your camera ready.
After the visit to Gildeskål, the tour continues northwards. At Sundsfjord we drive at the outer edge of Làhko National Park, which is known for its exciting geology, natural types and biodiversity. We drive past Sandhornøy where one of Norway's most famous hymn writers, Prof. Elias Blix grew up.
Back to Bodø
On the way to Bodø we get to see many natural pearls in the area. Viking chieftain Raud the rame lived in these areas.
We pass the world's strongest whirlpool, Saltstraumen, and if we are lucky it will show itself from its most spectacular side. Towards Bodø we drive through several places that tell us about settlements from the Stone Age and Viking Age. Before the center we look across Saltfjorden at the famous Børvasstindene mountains that have inspired many an artist throughout the ages. At the quay in Bodø our ship awaits to take us further north.
Photo credits: Nasjonale Turistveger, Steinar Skaar, Statens vegvesen, Frid-Jorunn Stabell, Hilde Margaret Strangstadstuen, Elisabeth Dreyer
