The village was very poplar with artists and lots of their houses still stand today along the edge of the fjord. In recent years the village has created a heritage walk along the length of the village by installing information boards by each of the houses of note.
The house was built around 1877 by Rasmus Valentinsen, a fabric dyer by trade. He and his daughter lived there until she died in 1983. After her death there was some uncertainty surrounding the house as it was old and needed maintenance. A local soul, Alvhild Tveit, wanted to salvage and restore it with the purpose of cultural events and exhibitions. She succeeded in raising funds to restore it and in the late 1980s the house was restored. |
| Other things of note was this rest area on the edge of the fjord, it has changed a bit since it was first given to the people of Balestrand |
| Not far from our hotel was a wooden church built very much like the old Norwegian Stave churches, but this one was constructed in memory of an English lady Margaret Kvikne the wife of the hotel owner.
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On the shore line, set on top of one of 7 burial mounds is another statue given to the village by Wilhelm II depicting a figure from the ancient saga of Fritjor the Warrior |
One of Balustrade’s main claims to fame is that the German Emperor Wilhelm II use to visit quite regularly as he was close friends with one of the artists who had made their home here. He even had statues erected, the largest being on the opposite bank of the fjord at Hella. This stands 10.5m high and is on a 12 m high base so can be seen from some distance. To actually reach this statue our coach driver reversed up between the fields of a market garden, I don’t think it was intended for coach assess.
Some views of the village
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