Ålgård
Ålgård is a small town and the administrative center for the Gjesdal municipality in Rogaland, Norway. It is approximately 25 km to the southeast of Stavanger. Gjesdal municipality with just over 10,000 inhabitants is traditionally known for the sheep, that outnumber the municipalities population. The area includes Ålgård, Oftedal, Gilja, Dirdal and a number of smaller places, with a total area of 620 km².
Get in
By train
It is not possible to get to Ålgård by train, but Ålgård did have a train station and the railway was in use from 1924 until 1988. Interest has been renewed to open the railway again, and various cost projections have been calculated; so far without any consequences.
By bus
You get to Ålgård by using bus 23 from Sandnes. Various bus stops can be used to get on or off the bus. The bus service is operated by Kolumbus. Signal the bus driver you want to get on the bus by waving and making eye contact.
By car
If you take the E39 from Stavanger and Sandnes to Kristiansand, you will automatically pass right through Ålgård. From Bryne in the south west, you can take road RV506 (Timeveien). The RV45 begins just east of Ålgård, and gets you to among others Byrkjedal and Sirdal.
By boat
You cannot reach Ålgård by boat, but you can reach Gjesdal municipality by boat, as the fjord 'Frafjord' up in the north of Gjesdal has a direct connection to the North Sea.
Get around
Ålgård is small enough to walk around and visit the main attractions. If you want to visit the other parts of Gjesdal, you should use a car or bike.
See
Ålgård is rather small but has an interesting history, mainly focused around DFU, where local farmers could rent machines for spinning their wool. Some buildings from that era have been restored and are in use, such as 'Storahuset' which houses the municipality administration, and 'Veveriet' which houses the local library. DFU is situated around the river Figgjo, which starts at Edlandsvannet. Other interesting places include the traditional farm Limagarden, amusement park Kongeparken and water fall Månafossen.
Do
- Kongeparken Family Park. Largest amusement park in Western Norway.
- Ålgård Vannfestival. Water festival happening in August; during a weekend at the end of the summer school holidays, a number of concerts are given, aimed at families and adults.
Eat
- Gjesdal Gjestgiveri
- Byrkjedalstunet
- Cafeen, Ålgård
- The Great Wall
- Lonestar
- Tommy's Kjøkken
- Pizzabakeren
- Gjestal
- Lafthuset
- Værtshuset
- Magneten Bakeriet
Sleep
- Gjesdal Gjestgiveri
- Kongeparken Camping
- Lyngen Farm, Bed & Breakfast
- Frafjord hytteutleie
- Byrkjedalstunet