The ledge Skipehedderen

The beautiful lake next to the road, with the municipal centre Kyrkjebygda at its northern end, is called Øre. On the other side of the lake, there is a protruding ledge just above the surface of the water. This was called “Skiphedderen” (“the Ship’s ledge”). According to the legend, this is where St. Olav, who was to become Norway’s patron saint, sailed in with his ship – to finally appear again in the distant town of Nidaros. There is also a local version of this legend: “St. Olav and his men rowed beneath the ledge ‘Skiphedderen’ and disappeared. They turned up again in Kvinesdal.” Practically every village in Norway is connected to St. Olav through one or more legends. Also Åseral, although the legends are quite few and not especially dramatic. Still, they tell us a lot about the person Olav Haraldsson and his significant position in Norwegian religious history for more than 1000 years. If you want to see where you end up, you may explore the ledge close up. You may rent a canoe at the hotel Eikerapen Gjestegard or at the Minne Cultural Centre in Kyrkjebygda.