Visnes Grubeområde

Bergen & the Southwestern Fjords

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From 1865 to 1972, the village of Visnes, 4km west of Avaldsnes, was home to the largest and most sophisticated copper mine in Norway. Over its lifetime, more than 4 million tonnes of copper, zinc and sulfur were extracted here – some of which was used to build the Statue of Liberty. This small museum explores the mine's history.

Buildings include the original melting hut, administration building and workers' houses. The museum is also surrounded by parkland, created by the mine's French engineer Charles Defrance so that he had more terrain to ride his horse on.

Guided tours run in summer. A mini-sized version of the Statue of Liberty stands a short walk to the west beside the harbour.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Utsira

    Utsira

    12.4 MILES

    Around 18km west of Haugesund, the tiny island of Utsira barely covers 6 sq km and is home to just 235 people, but its size belies its reputation in the…

  • St Olav's Church

    St Olav's Church

    2.49 MILES

    This ancient stone church was built under the reign of King Håkon Håkonsson. Work began in 1250, although it's thought that a much earlier wooden chapel…

  • Nordvegen Historiesenter

    Nordvegen Historiesenter

    2.46 MILES

    Down a short path from the car park for St Olav's Church, this history centre recreates the story of Harald Fairhair and other monarchs of the newly…

  • Skudeneshavn

    Skudeneshavn

    14.05 MILES

    The wonderful Skudeneshavn, 37km south of Haugesund, got very rich on the herring trade in the 19th century and is known for its 'Empire-style' wooden…

  • Karmoy Fishery Museum

    Karmoy Fishery Museum

    4.9 MILES

    In Vedavågen, on the island's west coast, this striking museum explores the region's modern fishing industry and also has a saltwater aquarium. It's…

  • Marilyn Monroe Memorial

    Marilyn Monroe Memorial

    4.35 MILES

    Bizarrely, Haugesund claims to be the ancestral home of Marilyn Monroe, whose father, a local baker, emigrated from here to the USA. This monument on the…

  • Avaldsnes Viking Farm

    Avaldsnes Viking Farm

    2.84 MILES

    This living history centre brings Viking culture to life, with a number of reconstructed Viking buildings, and regular displays of handicrafts, metalwork,…

  • Haraldshaugen

    Haraldshaugen

    5.45 MILES

    The burial site of Viking King Harald Fairhair, the first king of a unified Norway, is 1.5km north of Haugesund. The obelisk memorial, erected in 1872,…

View more attractions

Nearby Bergen & the Southwestern Fjords attractions

1. Nordvegen Historiesenter

2.46 MILES

Down a short path from the car park for St Olav's Church, this history centre recreates the story of Harald Fairhair and other monarchs of the newly…

2. St Olav's Church

2.49 MILES

This ancient stone church was built under the reign of King Håkon Håkonsson. Work began in 1250, although it's thought that a much earlier wooden chapel…

3. Avaldsnes Viking Farm

2.84 MILES

This living history centre brings Viking culture to life, with a number of reconstructed Viking buildings, and regular displays of handicrafts, metalwork,…

4. Marilyn Monroe Memorial

4.35 MILES

Bizarrely, Haugesund claims to be the ancestral home of Marilyn Monroe, whose father, a local baker, emigrated from here to the USA. This monument on the…

5. Vår Frelsers Church

4.61 MILES

With its arrow straight spire and redbrick exterior, this church in the centre of Haugesund is a local landmark.

6. Karmoy Fishery Museum

4.9 MILES

In Vedavågen, on the island's west coast, this striking museum explores the region's modern fishing industry and also has a saltwater aquarium. It's…

7. Haraldshaugen

5.45 MILES

The burial site of Viking King Harald Fairhair, the first king of a unified Norway, is 1.5km north of Haugesund. The obelisk memorial, erected in 1872,…

8. Utsira

12.4 MILES

Around 18km west of Haugesund, the tiny island of Utsira barely covers 6 sq km and is home to just 235 people, but its size belies its reputation in the…

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