प्रकाशित: 11.07.2020
Ever since I came to Norway, I have always wanted to visit the Viking graves, which I marked on the map with a big cross. However, I couldn't find anyone to take me there and there was no bus connection.
But because it's supposed to be so hot today, I decided to climb the mountain first. As I turned towards the parking lot, there was a bus and a whole class of schoolchildren were getting off. Since I wanted to avoid contact, I decided to visit a sight before that: The Olav's Cross in Korssund. The sign, which was also in German, said the following:
"A legend tells that Olav Haraldsson (the Holy) erected a cross here to commemorate that God opened a fairway through the mountains for him, so he could sail directly. The cross is unusually high and monumental - it rises almost 4 meters tall. The cross arms measure a total of 1.4 meters. According to tradition, a rectangular stone basin, made of the same stone as the cross, served as a baptismal font. The stone cross dates from the time of Christianization - from the years between 950 and 1030 AD, the end of the Viking Age (800 - 1050). [...] Korssund is a continuous sound, which is quite narrow at this point. [...] This place has long served sailors as an overnight stay. It is claimed that a place that was so well suited for overnight stays could also be used as an assembly place for masses and devotions during Christianization. On the West Norwegian coast there are three tall stone crosses [...]. It is possible that the crosses were erected by order of one of the three missionary kings - Håkon Adalsteinsfostre (the Good), Olav Tryggvason or Olav Haraldsson (the Holy). In the 80s, a bridge was built over Korssund."
Afterwards, I climbed the hill where the Dagsturhytta of Fjaler (the municipality of Dale) is located. At the summit, I met the school class, but since I ran back down right away, we had hardly any contact.
Afterwards, I wanted to visit the Viking graves nearby. I expected them to be easily accessible, but I had to walk a little for that. At first, it was not signposted and I walked through a farmyard, through a gate in the fence, and then I was on a sheep pasture. The sheep were all obedient and ran away from me. Then I had to climb over the fence because there was no gate anymore. I walked across a meadow adorned with blooming cotton grass, and then I was by the sea.
I basically had my private beach area, but without sand.
Then I wanted to climb a small hill to get an overview, and then it said that it was the burial mound. I can't really imagine how that works, as a large part of it was made of stone.
Nevertheless, I sunned myself on the stones by the sea and fell asleep. On my way back, I went the wrong way and ended up on the second burial mound. Apart from the sign, there was absolutely nothing indicating it.
On my way back through the sheep pasture, a sheep dared to approach me. I stopped and when it came closer to me with its head and almost touched me, I stretched out my hand in defense towards its head, loudly said "Nei!" and continued walking. It baaed at me, but I was already back in the car by then.