Øye

We're now driving through Øye, a small village that over a century ago was a bustling meeting place. The dramatic landscape attracted adventure tourists as early as the 1800s - English salmon anglers, German emperors and Norwegian artists arrived by tourist ships. Soon hotels and guesthouses were built, with up to four accommodations operating at its peak. Tourism transformed the local community: farmers became transporters, dairymaids turned into waitresses, and many encountered foreign languages and customs for the first time. This was a pivotal era - not just for Øye, but for all of Norway. This small village played a significant role in shaping modern Norwegian tourism.