The Olavscave in Alstad
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According to tradition, King Olav spent two nights in the stone cave at Alstad, which was named Olavshelleren (Olavscave). The cave has large stone slabs for flooring and is dry and comfortable. He had to stay here because it took time to clear a path through Skjervsura. Skjervsura is actually a giant rockslide, several thousand years old. The rockslide became a real obstacle for Olav and his men. Initially, the soldiers and farmers had to give up clearing the path. In the evening, they went to sleep, exhausted and discouraged. While the soldiers slept, King Olav stayed awake all night and prayed. At daybreak, he ordered the men to go up to the rockslide and continue clearing it. But by noon, they had not made much progress. Then the king took off his coat and said they should all follow him and try again. And now, 20 men moved as far as they wanted the stones that a hundred men before them had failed to budge from the spot! The path was cleared, making it possible for both people and packhorses to pass through. After this, the trail through the rockslide was called Olavstien (Olav's path).