Brekke: Church, Cultural Heritage and Søtekollen

This destination overview focuses on Brekke on the Risnefjord. Local points of interest include the wooden Brekke Church, the boathouse environment and Geila i Brekke. Nearby, a hike to Søtekollen starts at Egga, north of the village. Together, these places and topics offer a glimpse into the architectural history, cultural landscape and nature around Brekke.

Church and Cultural Landscape in Brekke

Brekke Church is a wooden long church in the village of Brekke on the Risnefjord. It was consecrated by Provost Thomas Erichsen on 19 November 1862, and has 390 seats. The drawings for the church were made by architect Christian Henrik Grosch. It is probably the third church on this site.

The furnishings are also part of the church’s history. The altarpiece by Anders Askevold depicts Jesus in Gethsemane. The tapestries are believed to be the work of Emma Breidvik: the one on the left depicts an angel, and the one on the right the group at Golgotha. Alongside the church building, the altarpiece and tapestries bring specific works of art and motifs into view.

The boathouse environment in Brekke is a cultural monument. Geila i Brekke is an old path bordered by stone walls on both sides. Both places reflect the cultural landscape around Brekke: the boathouse environment on the one hand, and a path whose stone boundaries are part of its description on the other.

Plan Your Hike and Check the Weather

Near Brekke, the Søtekollen hike starts at Egga, north of the village. It is about 4.8 kilometres long and takes approximately three hours. The route offers views over the Sognefjord. These approximate details can help you work out how much time to allow in your day’s plans. Check the route information and trail conditions before setting out.

Another factor to consider when planning your trip is the climate: over a 30-year period, Brekke has the highest average annual precipitation in Norway. This is a long-term climate figure, not a forecast for any particular day. If you are planning specific travel dates, check the current weather forecast.

More Cultural Highlights in the Wider Destination of Gulen

In the wider destination of Gulen, Gulatinget was a regional assembly site during the Viking Age, from 900 to 1300. People from Western Norway met there to discuss politics, make laws and administer justice. The Tusenårsstaden Gulatinget in Flolid features monumental works of art by Bård Breivik. Cultural trails have been established around Gulatinget in Eivindvik and Flolid, and can be followed using a mobile phone or iPad.

Also in the wider destination of Gulen, the Gulen Fiskarbondemuseum is located on Byrknes. It shares knowledge about the lives of the fishing farmers who lived in Gulen’s coastal settlements. The museum’s Våningshus was built in 1842 and altered, shaped and furnished by the families who lived there until 1960. The house served as a home for various fishing-farmer families, a school for the island’s population and a prison for the notorious thief Gjest Bårdsen. This history broadens the picture of the different ways of life and work in the wider Gulen area.

Discover more destinations: Gulen, Mjømna, Byrknesøy, Ånneland, Eivindvik, Dalsöyra, Byrknes, Åsheim

Return to the overview of the wider destination: Gulen.