Hordaland () was a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark, and

Rogaland Rogaland () is a Counties of Norway, county in Western Norway, bordering the North Sea to the west and the counties of Vestland to the north, Vestfold og Telemark to the east and Agder to the east and southeast. In 2020, it had a population of 47 ...

counties. Hordaland was the third largest county, after

Akershus Akershus () is a traditional region and current electoral district in Norway, with Oslo as its main city and traditional capital. It is named after the Akershus Fortress in Oslo. From the middle ages to 1919, Akershus was a fief and main county ...

and Oslo, by population. The county government was the

Hordaland County Municipality Hordaland County Municipality ( no, Hordaland fylkeskommune) was the regional governing administration of the old Hordaland county in Norway. The county municipality was established in its most recent form on 1 January 1976 when the law was change ...

, which is located in Bergen. Before 1972, the city of Bergen was its own separate county, apart from Hordaland. On 1 January 2020, the county was merged with neighbouring Sogn og Fjordane county, to form the new Vestland county.

Name and symbols

Name

Hordaland ( Old Norse: ''Hǫrðaland'') is the old name of the region which was revived in 1919. The first element is the plural

genitive case In grammar, the genitive case (abbreviated ) is the grammatical case that marks a word, usually a noun, as modifying another word, also usually a noun—thus indicating an attributive relationship of one noun to the other noun. A genitive can al ...

of ''hǫrðar'', the name of an old Germanic tribe (see Charudes). The last element is ''land'' which means "land" or "region" in the Norwegian language. Until 1919 the name of the county was ''

Søndre Bergenhus amt Hordaland () was a Counties of Norway, county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark, and Rogaland counties. Hordaland was the third largest county, after Akershus and Oslo, by population. The county government was the Hordala ...

'' which meant "(the) southern (part of) Bergenhus

amt Amt is a type of administrative division governing a group of municipalities, today only in Germany, but formerly also common in other countries of Northern Europe. Its size and functions differ by country and the term is roughly equivalent to ...

". (The old ''Bergenhus amt'' was created in 1662 and was divided into Northern and Southern parts in 1763.)

Flag

Hordaland's flag shows two golden axes and a crown in red. The flag is a banner of the coat of arms derived from the old seal of the guild of St. Olav from Onarheim in Tysnes municipality. This seal was used by the delegates of Sunnhordland in 1344 on the document to install king Haakon V of Norway. It was thus the oldest symbol used for the region and adapted as the arms and flag in 1961. The symbols refer to the patron saint of the guild, Saint Olav, King of Norway, whose symbol is an axe.

Coat of arms

The coat-of-arms were officially granted on 1 December 1961. They were designed by Magnus Hardeland, but the general design had been originally used in the Sunnhordland region during the 14th century. In the early 20th century, leaders of the county began using the old arms as a symbol for the county once again. The arms are on a red background and consist of two golden axes that are crossed with a golden crown above them.

History

Hordaland county had been around for more than one thousand years. In the 7th century, the area was made up of many petty kingdoms under the Gulating and was known as ''Hordafylke'' from around the year 900. In the early 16th century, Norway was divided into four ''len''. The

Bergenhus len Bergenhus len was an administrative division of the Kingdom of Norway that existed from 1503 to 1662, with the Bergenhus Fortress in Bergen as its administrative center Norwegian administrative division. The ''len'' was changed to an ''amt'' (distr ...

was headquartered in Bergen and encompassed much of western and northern Norway. In 1662, the ''lens'' were replaced by amts. ''Bergenhus amt'' originally consisted of the present-day areas of Hordaland, Sogn og Fjordane, and

Sunnmøre Sunnmøre (, en, South- Møre) is the southernmost traditional district of the western Norwegian county of Møre og Romsdal. Its main city is Ålesund. The region comprises the municipalities ( no, kommuner) of Giske, Hareid, Herøy, Norddal ...

and the far northern

Nordlandene amt Nordland (; smj, Nordlánnda, sma, Nordlaante, sme, Nordlánda, en, Northland) is a Counties of Norway, county in Norway in the Northern Norway region, the least populous of all 11 counties, bordering Troms og Finnmark in the north, Trønde ...

was subordinate to Bergenhus. In the 1680s, Nordlandene and Sunnmøre were split from Bergenhus. In 1763, the ''amt'' was divided into northern and southern parts: ''Nordre Bergenhus amt'' and ''Søndre Bergenhus amt''. When the amt was split, the present day municipality of Gulen was split with the southern part ending up in Søndre Bergenhus amt. In 1773, the border was re-drawn so that all of Gulen was located in the northern part. Søndre Bergenhus amt was renamed ''Hordaland fylke'' in 1919. The city of Bergen was classified as a city-county ''(byamt)'' from 1831 to 1972. During that time in 1915, the municipality of Årstad was annexed into Bergen. In 1972, the neighbouring municipalities of Arna, Fana, Laksevåg and Åsane were annexed into the city of Bergen. Also at that same time, the city of Bergen lost its county status, and became a part of Hordaland county.

Government

A county ''(fylke)'' is the chief local administrative area in Norway. The whole country is divided into 19 counties. A county is also an election area, with popular votes taking place every 4 years. In Hordaland, the government of the county was the

. It included 57 members elected to form a county council ''(Fylkesting)''. Heading the ''Fylkesting'' was the county mayor ''(fylkesordførar)''. The last county mayor for the

was Anne Gine Hestetun. The county also had a County Governor ''(fylkesmann)'' who was the representative of the King and

Government of Norway The politics of Norway take place in the framework of a parliamentary, representative democratic constitutional monarchy. Executive power is exercised by the Council of State, the cabinet, led by the prime minister of Norway. Legislative power i ...

. Lars Sponheim was the last County Governor of Hordaland. The municipalities in Hordaland were divided among four district courts ''(tingrett)'': Nordhordland, Sunnhordland, Bergen, and Hardanger. Hordaland was also part of the

Gulating Court of Appeal The Gulating Court of Appeal ( no, Gulating lagmannsrett) is one of six Court of appeal (Norway), courts of appeal in the Norway, Kingdom of Norway. The Court is located in the city of Bergen (city), Bergen. The court has jurisdiction over the cou ...

district based in Bergen. :no:Hordaland * Nordhordland District Court: Askøy, Austevoll,

Austrheim Austrheim is a municipality in the Nordhordland region of Vestland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Årås. Other villages in the municipality include Austrheim and Kaland. The Mongstad industrial ...

Fedje Fedje is an island municipality in the Nordhordland region of Vestland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Fedje. The traditional economic activity of the inhabitants is fishing. The municipality is ...

, Fjell,

Fusa Fusa () is a former municipality in the old Hordaland county, Norway. It existed from 1856 until its dissolution in 2020. It was located east of the city of Bergen in the Midhordland region. The administrative centre of the municipality was the ...

Lindås Lindås is a former municipality in the Nordhordland district in the old Hordaland county, Norway. It existed from 1838 until its dissolution on 1 January 2020 when it was merged into the new Alver Municipality. The administrative centre of the ...

Masfjorden Masfjorden is a municipality in the central part of Vestland county in Norway. The municipality is located in the Nordhordland district of the county. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Masfjordnes. Other villages in ...

Meland Meland is a former municipality in the Nordhordland district in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1923 until its dissolution on 1 January 2020 when it was merged into the new Alver Municipality in Vestland county. ...

Modalen Modalen is a municipality in the Nordhordland district in the central part of Vestland county in Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Mo. The other main village in the municipality is Øvre Helland. Most of th ...

, Os, Osterøy, Radøy, Samnanger, Sund, Vaksdal, Voss,

Øygarden Øygarden is a Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland Counties of Norway, county, Norway. It is an island municipality located in the Districts of Norway, traditional district of Midhordland, stretching along the west coast of the cou ...

, and Gulen (Gulen was actually in neighbouring Sogn og Fjordane county) * Sunnhordland District Court: Bømlo, Etne, Fitjar, Kvinnherad, Stord, Sveio and Tysnes * Bergen District Court: the city of Bergen * Hardanger District Court: Eidfjord, Granvin, Jondal, Kvam,

Odda Odda () is a former municipality in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1913 until its dissolution in 2020 when it was merged into Ullensvang Municipality in Vestland county. It was located in southeastern Hordaland c ...

, Ullensvang and Ulvik Most of the municipalities in Hordaland were part of the Hordaland police district. Gulen and Solund in Sogn og Fjordane county were also part of the Hordaland police district. Bømlo, Etne, Fitjar, Stord and Sveio were a part of the ''"

Haugaland Haugaland or Haugalandet is a traditional district situated on the western coast of Norway. Haugaland is one of the 15 traditional districts located within the Vestlandet region. Geographically, Haugaland is a peninsula between Bømlafjorden in ...

and Sunnhordland"'' police district, along with eight other municipalities in

county.

Geography

Hordaland is semi-circular in shape. It is located on the western coast of Norway, split from southwest to northeast by the long, deep Hardangerfjorden, one of Norway's main fjords and a great tourist attraction. About half of the National park of Hardangervidda is in this county. The county also includes many well-known waterfalls, such as Vøringsfossen and Stykkjedalsfossen. It also includes the Folgefonna and Hardangerjøkulen glaciers. More than 60% of the inhabitants live in Bergen and the surrounding area. Other urban or semi-urban centres include Leirvik, Voss and

Municipalities

# Askøy # Austevoll #

# Bergen # Bømlo # Eidfjord # Etne #

# Fitjar # Fjell #

# Granvin # Jondal # Kvam # Kvinnherad #

# Os # Osterøy #

# Radøy # Samnanger # Stord # Sund # Sveio # Tysnes # Ullensvang # Ulvik # Vaksdal # Voss

Districts

* Hardanger *

* Mauranger * Midhordland * Nordhordland * Stril *

Strilelandet Strilelandet is a loosely defined district in Vestland county, Norway. It is normally defined as Nordhordland and Midhordland except for Bergen. It has traditionally been used as a term within Bergen to describe people who came from the surroun ...

* Sunnhordland * Voss

Cities

* Bergen * Leirvik *

Parishes

Alversund Alversund is a village in Alver municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the mainland of the Lindås peninsula, along the shore of the Alverstraumen strait. The village sits between the villages of Alverstraumen (acr ...

* Arna *

Ask Ask is the active verb for a direct question. Ask may also refer to: Places * Ask, Akershus, a village in Gjerdrum municipality, Viken county, Norway * Ask, Buskerud, a village in Ringerike municipality, Viken county, Norway * Ask, Vestland, a ...

* Askøy * Austevoll *

Bekkjarvik Bekkjarvik is a village in Austevoll municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the northeastern coast of the island of Selbjørn. The village has a population (2019) of 577 and a population density of . The village is ...

* Bergen *

Bergsdalen Bergsdalen is a river valley in Vaksdal Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The long valley begins at the lake Hamlagrøvatnet on the border of the municipalities of Vaksdal, Voss, and Kvam. The valley then runs to the northwest along the ...

Birkeland Birkeland may refer to: Places *Birkeland, Agder, the administrative centre of Birkenes municipality in Agder county, Norway *Birkeland Church, a church in the city of Bergen in Vestland county, Norway * Birkeland, Vestland, a village in Austevoll ...

* Biskopshavn * Bjoastrand *

Blomvåg Blomvåg is a village in Øygarden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located in the central part of the island of Blomøyna, surrounding inner part of the Blomvågen fjord. The Blomvåg Church was built in this village in 1 ...

Bremnes Bremnes is a former municipality in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1916 until 1963, when it was merged into the new municipality of Bømlo which is now part of Vestland county. The administrative centre of the ...

* Bruvik * Bømlo * Old Bømlo * Bønes *

Dale Dale or dales may refer to: Locations * Dale (landform), an open valley * Dale (place name element) Geography ;Australia * The Dales (Christmas Island), in the Indian Ocean ;Canada * Dale, Ontario ;Ethiopia *Dale (woreda), district ;Norway *D ...

Eid Eid as a name may refer to: Islamic holidays An Eid is a Muslim religious festival: * ''Eid Milad un Nabi'', alternate name for Mawlid (, "Birth of the Prophet"), the date of observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad * Eid al ...

* Eidfjord * Old Eidfjord *

Eidsvåg Eidsvåg may refer to: People * Bjørn Eidsvåg, a Norwegian singer, songwriter and priest Places * Eidsvåg, Nesset, a village in Molde municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway * Eidsvåg, Bergen, a neighbourhood in the city of Bergen in V ...

* Eksingedal * Emigrant * Erdal * Etne * Evanger * Fana *

* Finnås * Fitjar *

Fjelberg Fjelberg is a former municipality in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until 1965 when it was dissolved. In 1965, the municipality covered , mostly islands and a small area on the mainland. It encompassed part ...

* Fjell * Fjæra *

Foldnes Foldnes is a village in Øygarden municipality in Vestland county, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion ...

* Førde *

Fridalen Fridalen is a neighborhood in the borough of Årstad in the city of Bergen in Vestland county, Norway. The neighborhood lies at the foot of mount Ulriken, between the neighborhoods of Haukeland and Landås. The main attractions in Fridalen inclu ...

* Frøyset *

* Fyllingsdalen * Gjerde * Gjerstad * Granvin *

Grindheim Grindheim is a former municipality in the old Vest-Agder county, Norway. The administrative centre was the village of Byremo where Grindheim Church is located. The municipality existed from 1902 until its dissolution in 1964. It was general ...

* Haga *

Hamre Hamre may refer to: Places * Hamre Township, Beltrami County, Minnesota, a civil township in Minnesota, United States *Hamre, Osterøy, a village in Osterøy municipality in Vestland county, Norway *Hamre (municipality), a former municipality in Ve ...

* Hatlestrand *

Haus Haus is a Germanic word meaning ''house''. It may refer to: People * Anton Haus (1851–1917), Austrian grand admiral, fleet commander of the Austro-Hungarian Navy in World War I * Georg Haus (1895–1945), German general * Hermann A. ...

* Herdla (Herlø) *

Hjelme Hjelme is a former municipality in the old Hordaland county in Norway. The municipality was located within the northern part of the present-day municipality of Øygarden. It existed from 1910 until 1964. The administrative centre was located a ...

* Old Hjelme * Holdhus * Holmedal *

Holy Cross Holy Cross or Saint Cross may refer to: * the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus * Christian cross, a frequently used religious symbol of Christianity * True Cross, supposed remnants of the actual cross upon which Jesus was crucified * Feast ...

* Hordabø (Bøe) * Hosanger *

Hundvin Hundvin or Hundven is a village in Alver municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located along the Lurefjorden, about southeast of the village of Lindås Lindås is a former municipality in the Nordhordland district in the ...

* Hundvåkøy * Husnes *

Hålandsdal Hålandsdal is a List of former municipalities of Norway, former municipality in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1903 until 1964. It encompassed the eastern part of what is now Bjørnafjorden Municipality in Vest ...

* Jondal *

Kausland Kausland is a village in Øygarden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the southern part of the island of Sotra Sotra or Store Sotra is the name of a large island in Øygarden Municipality in Vestland county, No ...

* Kinsarvik *

Knarvik Knarvik (or Knarrviki) is the administrative centre of the municipality of Alver (municipality), Alver in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the mainland, about straight north of Bergen at the confluence of four fjords: Osterfjo ...

* Kvam * Kvinnherad * Laksevåg * Landro * Landås *

Loddefjord Loddefjord is an urban settlement in the borough of Laksevåg in the municipality of Bergen in Vestland county, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which c ...

Lygra Luro or Lygra is an island in Alver Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The island sits in the Lurefjorden which cuts into the Lindås peninsula. There is one road on the island that continues over a short bridge onto the mainland. The br ...

* Lykling * Manger * Masfjorden *

* Mjelde * Mo *

Moster Moster is a former municipality in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1916 until 1963, when it was merged into the new, larger municipality of Bømlo. The administrative centre of the municipality was the village o ...

* Old Moster * Myking *

Møkster Møkster is an island in Austevoll municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The island lies in an archipelago and it sits north of the islands of Litla Kalsøya, Stolmen, and Selbjørn; west of the islands of Drøna and Rostøya; and south o ...

* Nesheim *

Nore Neset Church Nore Neset Church ( no, Nore Neset kyrkje) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Bjørnafjorden Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Hagavik, just west of the municipal centre of Osøyro. It is one of th ...

* Norheimsund * Nygård * Nykirken * Nysæter *

Olsvik Olsvik is a neighborhood in the city of Bergen in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the western part of the borough of Laksevåg, just west of the mountain Lyderhorn. The area is dominated by low-rise residential areas. It features Olsvi ...

Onarheim Onarheim is a village in Tysnes municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the southeastern shores of the island of Tysnesøya, along the Hardangerfjorden The Hardangerfjord ( en, Hardanger Fjord) is the fifth longest ...

* Opdal (Uggdal) * Oppheim * Os *

Ostereidet Ostereidet is a village in Alver municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located along the Osterfjorden in eastern Alver. The European route E39 highway runs through the village. Ostereidet is one of the larger settlements in e ...

Raundalen Raundalen ( en, Raun Valley) is a valley in Vestland county, Norway. The long valley stretches from Uppsetedalen in the northwest corner of Ulvik municipality all the way to Urdland in central Voss municipality. The Bergen Line and County Roa ...

* Reksteren * Røldal (before 1848 in Rogaland) *

Salhus Salhus may refer to: Places * Salhus, Vestland, a village in Bergen municipality, Vestland county, Norway * Salhus Church, a church in Bergen municipality, Vestland county, Norway * Salhus, Nordland, a village in Brønnøy municipality, Nordland co ...

* Samnanger * Sandnes * Sandvik * Seim *

Skare Skare or Skarde is a village in Ullensvang municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located about straight south of the town of Odda and about northwest of the village of Seljestad. The village sits at the junction of Norwegian ...

* Skjold *

Skånevik Skånevik is a List of former municipalities of Norway, former municipality in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1965. It included the land surrounding both sides of the Skånevikfjord ...

Slettebakken Slettebakken is a neighborhood in the borough of Årstad in Bergen. It has approximately 7,514 residents and covers 112 km² of land and 0.04 km² of freshwater. The neighborhood is bordered by Minde to the west, Kronstad to the north, Landås ...

* Solheim, Bergen * Solheim, Masfjorden * St James's * St George's * St John's * St Mark's * St Mary's * Stamnes * Stord * Store-Kalsøy * Storetveit *

Strandebarm Strandebarm is a former municipality in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The original municipality was large, spanning both sides of the central part of the Hardangerfjorden. It also included the island of Varaldsøy. Over time, the municipa ...

Strandvik Strandvik is a village in the municipality of Bjørnafjorden in Vestland county, Norway. The village lies on the northern shore of the Bjørnafjorden, about east of Osøyro (across the fjord) and about the same distance southeast of the village ...

* Strudshavn *

Strusshamn Strusshamn is an urban village in the municipality of Askøy in Vestland county, Norway. The village lies along the Byfjorden on the southern coast of the island of Askøy, just west of the large urban village of Kleppestø. Strusshamn is one of ...

* Stødle * Støle (Strødle) * Sund * Sundvor * Sveio * Sæbø * Sælen * Søreide *

Takvam Takvam is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Andreas Takvam (born 1993), Norwegian volleyball player *Magnus Takvam (born 1952), Norwegian journalist *Marie Takvam (1926–2008), Norwegian poet, novelist, writer of children's book ...

* Tveit * Tysnes * Tyssedal *

Uggdal Uggdal is the administrative centre of Tysnes municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the west side of the island of Tysnesøya. The village is located in the northern part of the Uggdalsdalen valley, just about fro ...

* Ullensvang * Ulvik * Uppheim *

Uskedalen Uskedal or Uskedalen is a village in Kvinnherad municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located in a small valley along the southern shore of the Hardangerfjorden, about southwest of the village of Dimmelsvik and about east of t ...

* Utne * Vaksdal * Valen * Valen *

Valestrand Valestrand is a former municipality in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1868 until its dissolution in 1964. It was located on a peninsula on the southern shore of the Bømlafjorden inside the present-day municipa ...

* Varaldsøy * Vikw * Vikebygd *

Vikøy Vikøy is a village in Kvam municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the shore of the Hardangerfjorden, about south of the municipal centre of Norheimsund. The village has a population (2019) of 369 and a population de ...

* Vinje * Voss * Vossestrand * Ytre Arna * Ytrebygda * Ænes * Ølen * Ølve *

Øystese Øystese is a village in the municipality of Kvam in Vestland county, Norway. It is located along the Hardangerfjord about east of the municipal centre of Norheimsund. Norwegian County Road 7 passes through the village. The village had a populat ...

* Åkra (Åkre) *

Ålvik Ålvik is a village in the municipality of Kvam in Vestland county, Norway. The village "urban area" consists of the settlements of Ytre Ålvik og Indre Ålvik (outer and inner Ålvik) and Vikadal. The settlements are located on either side of a ...

* Årstad * Åsane

Villages

Abbedisso Abbedisso is a small village in the municipality of Askøy in Vestland county, Norway. It is located along the Herdlefjorden near the northwestern tip of the island of Askøy. The village of Io lies directly to the north on the island of Ho ...

Algrøyna Algrøyna or Algrøy is an island in Øygarden Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The island lies just west of the large island of Sotra and north of the small island of Lokøyna. There are a series of bridges connecting it to the islan ...

* Alsåker *

Alveim Alveim is a village in Øygarden municipality in northwestern Vestland county, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northern ...

* Alver *

Alverstraumen Alverstraumen is a village in Alver Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located at the southern tip of the island of Radøy. The Alversund Bridge connects Alverstraumen to the village of Alversund across the Alverstraumen s ...

Askeland, Lindås Askeland is a village in Alver municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located about north of the village of Ostereidet. It sits on a small peninsula along the Hindnesfjorden, a branch off the main Austfjorden. It used to be ...

Askeland, Radøy Askeland is a village in Alver Municipality (formerly Radøy Municipality) in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the southern part of the island of Radøy, about north of the village of Sæbø and about southeast of the vill ...

* Auklandshamn (Økland) * Austbygdi *

Austevollhella Austevollshella or Austevoll is a village in Austevoll municipality, Norway. Austevollshella is located on the southeastern coast of the island of Hundvåko. The Austevoll Bridge, which connects Hundvåko and Huftarøy islands, is located at Aus ...

Austmarka Austmarka is a village in Alver Municipality (formerly Radøy Municipality) in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the southern end of the island of Radøy, about east of the village of Sæbø and about north of the village of Al ...

Austrepollen Austrepollen is a village in the Mauranger area of Kvinnherad municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located at the end of the Maurangsfjorden, about east of the village of Gjetingsdalen and about northeast of the village of S ...

Bakkasund Bakkasund is a village in Austevoll municipality in Vestland county, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portio ...

* Bolstadøyri * Borstrondi * Botnen * Breistein * Bru (Strandebarm) * Bruvik *

Bøvågen Bøvågen is a small village in Alver municipality, Vestland county, Norway. It's located on the northern part of the island of Radøy. From 1924 until 1964, it was the administrative centre of the former municipality of Hordabø. Hordabø Chu ...

* Dale (Dalekvam) * Dalegarden * Dimmelsvik *

Djønno Djønno is a small village on the Oksen Peninsula in the municipality of Ullensvang in Norway's Hardanger district, in Vestland county. Geography Djønno lies near the sea on the west side of the Eid Fjord, about south of the ferry station in ...

* Eidfjord * Eidsvik *

Eikelandsosen Eikelandsosen is a village in the municipality of Bjørnafjorden in Vestland county, Norway. It is located at the end of the Eikelandsfjorden, a small arm off the main Fusafjorden. The village sits to the southeast of the village of Holmefjord, ...

Eitrheim Eitrheim is a village in Ullensvang municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The industrial village is located on a small peninsula near the southern shore of the Sørfjorden, just 3 kilometers (1.9mi) north of the town of Odda. Since 2003, it h ...

* Erdal *

Espeland Espeland is a village in the borough of Arna in the municipality of Bergen in Vestland county, Norway. Espeland is located north of Lake Haukeland ( no, Haukelandsvatnet) and Mount Livarden. The village of Indre Arna lies about to the north. ...

* Etnesjøen (Etne) * Evanger * Fanahammeren (Fana) *

* Finse * Fitjar *

* Fjell * Fjæra *

Flatkvål Flatkvål /fla:kol/ is a village in the Eksingedalen valley in Vaksdal municipality, Vestland county, Norway. The village lies along the river Storelvi, about northeast of the village of Stamneshella. The Modalen Tunnel is located about west ...

Flesland Flesland is a village in the borough of Ytrebygda in the municipality of Bergen in Vestland county, Norway. It sits on the western coast of the Bergen Peninsula, about southwest of the city centre of Bergen. It is the site of Bergen Airport, Fle ...

Fotlandsvåg Fotlandsvåg is a village in Osterøy municipality in Vestland county, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost por ...

Frekhaug Frekhaug is a village in Alver Municipality, located in Vestland county, Norway. The village sits at the southern tip of the island of Holsnøy. Prior to 2020, the village was the administrative centre of the old municipality of Meland. The v ...

* Fyllingsdalen * Førde i Hordaland * Gjermundshamn Ferry Port *

Gjetingsdalen Gjetingsdalen is a village in the Mauranger area of Kvinnherad municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located in the Gjetingsdalen valley, on a hillside overlooking the Maurangsfjorden. The village of Austrepollen lies about to ...

* Granvin * Grov * Haga * Hagavik * Haljem *

Hammarsland Hammarsland () is a village in Øygarden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the island of Sotra, just east of the village of Skogsvåg. The village has a population (2019) of 929 and a population density Populat ...

Hanevik Hanevik is a village in the municipality of Askøy in Vestland county, Norway. It is located along the Herdlefjorden, on the northeastern shore of the island of Askøy. The lake Askevatnet lies just southeast of the village. History Hanevik was ...

* Hatlestrand * Haugland *

Haukanes Haukanes is a village in Austevoll municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the northeastern coast of the island of Huftarøy Huftarøy is the largest island in the municipality of Austevoll in Vestland county, Norway. ...

Havrå Havrå or Havre (sometimes Havretunet or Havråtunet) is a cluster farm along the southern shore of the island of Osterøy in Osterøy municipality, Vestland county, Norway. Havrå is one of the last and best preserved of the common farm cluster ...

* Helle *

Hernar Hernar is an island in Øygarden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is one of the northernmost islands in the Øygarden archipelago. The island is rocky and barren. Most of the settlement is in one cluster on the southwestern part of ...

Herøysund Herøysund is a village in Kvinnherad municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the southeastern shore of the Hardangerfjorden, about half-way between the villages of Husnes (to the south) and Uskedal (to the north). The ...

Hjartås Hjartås is a village in Alver municipality, located in Vestland county, Norway. The village lies along the Herdlefjorden on the western coast of the island of Holsnøy. The village is a part of the urban area of Holme. The urban area of Holm ...

* Hjellestad * Holdhus * Holme * Holmefjord *

Horda Horda () is a locality situated in Värnamo Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom ...

* Hosanger *

* Husa * Husavik * Husnes *

Hylkje Hylkje is a village in the borough of Åsane in the municipality of Bergen in Vestland county, Norway. The village lies in the northeastern part of the municipality, along the Sørfjorden. The European route E39 runs through Hylkje. The villag ...

* Høylandsbygda * Indre Arna * Indre Ålvik * Io *

Isdalstø Isdalstø or Isdalsstø is a village in Alver Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village lies along the southern end of the Radfjorden between the villages of Alversund and Knarvik Knarvik (or Knarrviki) is the administrative centre ...

* Jondal * Kaland *

* Kinsarvik * Kjøkkelvik * Kleppestø *

Klokkarvik Klokkarvik is a village in Øygarden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the southeastern part of the island of Sotra, approximately 40 minutes outside the city of Bergen. It lies along the coast of Sotra, at the ...

Knappskog Knappskog is a village in Øygarden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village lies along the northeastern coast of the island of Sotra, about halfway between the villages of Ågotnes (to the north) and Kolltveit (to the south). The i ...

Knarrevik Knarrevik or Knarrvika is a village in Øygarden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located along the Byfjorden on the eastern coast of the island of Litlesotra, just north of the village of Straume. The western end of the Sotra B ...

* Knarrevik (Knarvrika) * Kolbeinsvik *

Kolltveit Kolltveit is a village in Øygarden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village lies on the eastern shore of the island of Sotra. The island of Bildøyna lies about east of the shore in Kolltveit. National Road 555 reaches Kolltveit ...

Krokeidet Krokeidet is a suburban village in the borough of Fana in the municipality of Bergen in Vestland county, Norway. It is located near the end of a small peninsula between the Lysefjorden and Fanafjorden, about south of the city centre of Bergen. ...

Krossneset Krossneset is a village in Alver municipality, in Vestland county, Norway. The village sits on the island of Flatøy, about half-way between the villages of Frekhaug (to the west) and Knarvik (to the east). The village has a population (2019) ...

* Kvitheim * Kysnesstranda * Laksevåg * Landro * Langevåg *

* Litlabø *

* Lofthus *

Lonevåg Lonevåg is the administrative centre of Osterøy municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the northern coast of the island of Osterøy, at the end of the long Lonevågen fjord, which branches off the main Osterfjorden ...

* Luro * Lykling * Manger *

Masfjordnes Masfjordnes is the administrative centre of Masfjorden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village lies along the southern shore of the Masfjorden, along Norwegian County Road 570. The village is very narrow, occupying the wide strip ...

Mathopen Mathopen is a suburban village in the borough of Laksevåg in the municipality of Bergen in Vestland county, Norway. It lies along the Grimstadfjorden, about southwest of the city centre of Bergen Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city ...

* Milde *

Misje Misje is an island (and village) in Øygarden Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The island lies just south of the island of Toftøyna and north of the large island of Sotra. Almost all of the 257 inhabitants (as of 2009) live on the eas ...

* Mo (Modalen) *

Mongstad Mongstad is an industrial site in Vestland county, Norway. The site sits on the border of the municipalities of Alver and Austrheim, with most of the site in Alver. The site features an oil refinery for Equinor and other oil companies, including ...

Mosterhamn Mosterhamn or simply Moster is a village in Bømlo municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the small island of Moster in the southeastern part of the municipality of Bømlo. The village lies along the Bømlafjorden. Th ...

Møvik Møvik or Møvig is a neighbourhood in the city of Kristiansand in Agder county, Norway. The neighborhood is located in the borough of Vågsbygd and in the district of Voiebyen. It's located in the southeast part of the borough along the shore. I ...

Mundheim Mundheim is a small village in the municipality of Kvam in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the southern part of the municipality, along the Hardangerfjorden, just northwest of the island of Varaldsøy. The village sits at the junction ...

* Nedre Vinjo * Nesheim * Nesttun * Nord-Huglo * Nordrepollen * Nordvik * Norheimsund *

Osa Osa or OSA may refer to: Places * Osa Peninsula, a peninsula in Costa Rica * Osa (canton), a canton in the province of Puntarenas in Costa Rica * Osa Conservation Area, an administrative area in Costa Rica * Osa, India, a village in Allahabad, I ...

Osøyro Osøyro is the administrative centre of Bjørnafjorden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village lies on the southwestern part of the Bergen Peninsula, along the western shore of the Fusafjorden, about south of the city centre of Be ...

* Reksteren *

Ringøy Ringøy is a small village in the municipality of Eidfjord in Hordaland county, Norway. The settlement lies on the south side of the Eid Fjord, an inner branch of the Hardanger Fjord. The ferry quay at Ringøy served the ferry connection to ...

Rong Rong or RONG may refer to: Places China *Rong County, Guangxi, Yulin, Guangxi, China *Rong County, Sichuan, Zigong, Sichuan, China Nepal *Rong, Ilam, a rural municipality in Ilam District, Nepal Norway *Rong, Norway, a village in Øygarden m ...

* Rosendal * Rossland *

Rostøy Rostøya or Rostøy is an island in Austevoll municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located north of the island of Drøna and west of the island of Huftarøy. The village of Kolbeinsvik lies about south of Rostøya. The island is con ...

Rubbestadneset Rubbestadneset is a village in Bømlo municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on a peninsula on the eastern side of the island of Bømlo (island), Bømlo, about east of the municipal centre of Svortland. The Stokksundet ...

* Røldal * Sagvåg *

* Seim *

Sekkingstad Sekkingstad is a village in Øygarden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is situated on the west side of the island of Store Sotra. Sekkingstad is the site of a fish factory, which exports fish to countries such as Russia and Japan. The ...

* Seljestad * Skare (Skarde) *

Skjelviki Skjelviki is a small village in the municipality of Askøy in Vestland county, Norway. It is located along the Herdlefjorden on the northern shore of the island of Askøy. It lies just north of the larger village of Hanevik. History Skjelviki ...

Skogsvåg Skogsvågen or Skogsvåg is a village in Øygarden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the eastern coast of the island of Sotra in the northern part of the municipality, just northeast of the village of Hammarsland ...

* Sletta *

Stalheim Stalheim is a village in the municipality Voss in Vestland county, Norway. The small village lies along the European route E16 highway in the northeastern part of the municipality. The village sits at a high point in the inner part of the Nær ...

Stamneshella Stamneshella or Stamnes is a village in Vaksdal municipality, Vestland county, Norway. It is located along the northern part of the Veafjorden, at the entrance to the Vikafjorden. The village is an old church site, with records showing a church ...

Stanghelle Stanghelle is a village in Vaksdal municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village lies along the Veafjorden at the mouth of the Hellestraumen (a small branch off the main fjord). The village has a population (2019) of 791 and a population ...

* Steine *

Storebø Storebø is the administrative centre and largest village in Austevoll municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the northern part of the island of Huftarøy, just south of the village of Birkeland and northwest of the v ...

* Straume *

* Sundal * Sunde i Sunnhordland * Sveio *

Svortland Svortland or Bremnes is the administrative centre of Bømlo municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located in the north-central part of the island of Bømlo, about west of the village of Rubbestadneset. The village surrounds th ...

Sylta Sylta is a village situated in Upplands-Bro Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of S ...

* Sæbø (Sæbøvågen) * Sæbøvik *

Søfteland Søfteland or Syfteland is a village in Bjørnafjorden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It lies on the Bergen Peninsula, along the European route E39 highway, about north of the municipal centre of Osøyro and about south of the city o ...

Søre Øyane Søre Øyane is a village in the municipality of Bjørnafjorden (municipality), Bjørnafjorden in Vestland county, Norway. It is located on an archipelago in the Bjørnafjorden, off the western coast of the municipality, southeast of the larger i ...

* Sør-Huglo * Søvik *

Toska Toska is an island in Alver Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The island lies just west of the island of Radøy in the Hjeltefjorden, at the entrance to the Radfjorden. A road connection from the village of Manger on Radøy island to ...

Trengereid Trengereid is a village in the borough of Arna, Norway, Arna in the municipality of Bergen in Hordaland county, Norway. History In 1895, Johan Jebsen established a factory in Trengereid. The factory produced ribbons and lace, and it had its own po ...

Tunes Tunes may refer to: Places and jurisdictions * Tunes (Silves), a parish in Portugal * Tunes, Norway, a village in Norway * Tunes, Tunisia, now Tunis, eponymous capital city of Tunisia ** Tunes (see), a suppressed Latin Catholic titular bishopri ...

Turøy Turøyna or Turøy is an island in Øygarden Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The island lies just west of the islands of Toftøyna and Misje. Prior to 1964, the island was part of the old municipality of Herdla. Then from 1964 until 202 ...

na *

Tveitevåg Tveitevåg is a village in Askøy municipality in Vestland county, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portio ...

* Tysse * Tyssedal * Tælavåg * Tørvikbygd *

seidet * Ulvik * Uskedal * Utne * Utsylta * Utåker * Valen *

* Valestrandfossen *

Valevåg Valevåg is a village in Sveio municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the northern end of the Sveio peninsula, along the southern shore of the Hardangerfjorden. Historically, Valevåg was the administrative centre of ...

* Vaksdal * Varaldsøy *

Vikadal Vikedal or Vikadal is a village in Vindafjord municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The village is located along the Sandeidfjorden, about south of the village of Sandeid and about northwest of the village of Imslandsjøen. Vikedal Church ...

Vikavågen Vikavågen is a village in Øygarden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village lies on the southeastern coast of the island of Toftøyna. The village has a population (2019) of 656 and a population density Population density (in ag ...

Vikebygd Vikebygd is a village in Vindafjord municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The village is located along the Ålfjorden, about straight west of the village of Ølensvåg. The village was the administrative centre of the former municipality o ...

Vinnes Vinnes is a village in Austevoll municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on Vestre Vinnesvåg area on the southeastern shore of the island of Huftarøy Huftarøy is the largest island in the municipality of Austevoll in ...

* Vossevangen * Våga * Våge * Våge * Ytre Arna * Ytre Ålvik * Ænes * Ølve * Øvre Eidfjord *

Ågotnes Ågotnes is a village in Øygarden municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The industrial village is located on northern part of the island of Store Sotra, about west of the city of Bergen. The village of Landro (and Landro Church) lies abou ...

Åkra Åkra is a former municipality in the traditional district of Haugaland in Rogaland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1892 until 1965 and it encompassed the central part of the western coast of the island of Karmøy. The administ ...

Årland Årland is a village in Austevoll municipality in Vestland county, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion ...

Årås Årås is the administrative centre of Austrheim municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located in the central part of the island of Fosnøyna, about northeast of the village of Austrheim. The village has a population (2019) ...

Former municipalities

* Arna * Bergen landdistrikt *

* Bruvik *

* Evanger * Fana *

Finnås Finnås is a former municipality in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The municipality, which existed from 1838 until 1916, was located in the traditional district of Sunnhordland. Originally, the municipality encompassed all of the island of ...

* Herdla *

Hordabø Hordabø is a former municipality in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The municipality, which existed from 1924 until 1964, was located on the northern part of the island of Radøy in the present-day Alver Municipality. The administrative c ...

* Hosanger *

* Kinsarvik * Laksevåg * Manger *

Mosterøy Mosterøy is a former municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The administrative centre was the village of Askje where the Askje Church is located. The municipality existed from 1884 until 1965. The island municipality included the islands ...

* Røldal *

* Sæbø *

* Varaldsøy *

* Vossestrand * Ølen * Årstad * Åsane

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Hordaland county is twinned with: * Lower Normandy, France *

Kaunas Kaunas (; ; also see other names) is the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the largest city and the centre of a county in the Duchy of Trakai ...

Lithuania Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania ...

* Cardiff, Wales *

Orkney Islands Orkney (; sco, Orkney; on, Orkneyjar; nrn, Orknøjar), also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago in the Northern Isles of Scotland, situated off the north coast of the island of Great Britain. Orkney is 10 miles (16 km) north ...

, Northern Isles, Scotland

Christmas Tree

Since 1949 Hordaland has given a Christmas tree to the Scottish Capital city of Edinburgh this is to remember the help given to Norwegians during World War II by Scots however since 2008 the tree has been sourced in Scotland but has remained a gift from the people of Hordaland.

Notable residents

Ole Bull Ole Bornemann Bull (; 5 February 181017 August 1880) was a Norwegian virtuoso violinist and composer. According to Robert Schumann, he was on a level with Niccolò Paganini for the speed and clarity of his playing. Biography Background Bull was ...

(1810–1880), composer, violinist *

Tore Eikeland Tore is a Scandinavian masculine name. It is derived from the Old Norse name ''Thórir'', which is composed of ''thorr'' which means thunder, and ''arr'' which means warrior. So Thunder Warrior or Thor's Warrior. The most famous person by this n ...

(1990–2011), politician * Edvard Grieg (1843–1907), composer * Nordahl Grieg (1902–1943), writer *

C. J. Hambro Carl Joachim Hambro (5 January 1885 – 15 December 1964) was a Norwegian journalist, author and leading politician representing the Conservative Party. A ten-term member of the Parliament of Norway, Hambro served as President of the Parliament f ...

(1885–1964), politician * Julius Christopher Hammer (1798–1877). priest and politician * Ludvig Holberg (1684–1754), writer *

Leif Andreas Larsen Leif Andreas Larsen DSO, DSC, CGM, DSM and Bar (9 January 1906 – 12 October 1990), popularly known as "Shetlands Larsen", was a highly decorated Norwegian sailor. He was arguably the most famous of the men who operated the Shetland bus esca ...

("Shetlands-Larsen") (1906–1990), military officer in World War II *

Christian Michelsen Peter Christian Hersleb Kjerschow Michelsen (15 March 1857 – 29 June 1925), better known as Christian Michelsen, was a Norwegian shipping magnate and statesman. He was the first prime minister of independent Norway and Norway's 9th prime minis ...

(1857–1925), politician * Johan Sebastian Welhaven (1807–1873), writer *

Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll (born 11 September 1991), known professionally as Kygo (), is a Norwegian DJ and music producer. He garnered international attention with his December 2013 remix of the track "I See Fire" by Ed Sheeran and his December 201 ...

(1991-presents), DJ, musician *

Alan Olav Walker Alan Olav Walker (born 24 August 1997) is a British-born Norwegian music producer and DJ primarily known for the critically acclaimed single " Faded" (2015), which was certified platinum in 14 countries. He has also made several songs including ...

(1997- presents), DJ, musician

References

External links

County web site

Map of Hordaland
{{Authority control Former counties of Norway History of Vestland 2020 disestablishments in Norway States and territories disestablished in 2020