Selja, the holy island which has such an important place in our history, is situated about one kilometre off the mainland. The island covers an area of about 1.5 square kilometres, and it is possible to walk around the island.
Close to the church at Askvoll there is a three-meter-high memorial stone commemorating Bernt Askevold. Into the back is carved: "Venner paa begge sider av havet reiste dette minne (friends on both sides of the ocean erected this memorial)". Askevold emigrated to America in 1873, studied theology, and was minister of several congregations. He returned in 1922 and spent his last few years at Askvoll.
The impressive waterfalls in the innermost part of Nærøydalen - Sivlefossen and Stalheimsfossen are famous tourist attractions. They are both examples of rivers that formerly ran towards Voss. The reason for this is that the river of Nærøydalselvi in the course of hundreds of thousand years has eroded the valley and thus changed the fall direction of a number of tributaries now running towards Sogn.
The Kannestein rock is a unique rock formation in the bay of Kvalheimsvika on the island of Vågsøy. The eclogite rock is located on the farm of Nord-Oppedal and is definitely one of the major tourist attractions in this area.
In 1895, a lighthouse was built at Kvannhovden, and it became operational on 5 November the same year. It had a common wick lamp, and only in 1932, did the lighthouse get a much more powerful incandescent lamp.
Steigastølen, which is located straight under the Ølnesstølen mountain farm and close to Bergastølen, used to be the summer mountain farm for the farm called Steig. At the mountain farm the milk was separated and churned, and the skimmed milk was given to the calves. Lars Steig cultivated about two acres near the mountain farm. He cut the hay and later transported the hay down to the main farm in wintertime. The mountain farm was in use until 1979. The two buildings still remain and are now used as cabins.
Seven men from the former municipality of Nord-Vågsøy lost their lives during the war 1940-1945. On Sunday 16 September 1945, there was a memorial service and on 17 May the following year, people from the whole municipality gathered to attend the unveiling ceremony of the memorial stone. The memorial stone was originally erected at the Raudeberg school, but was later moved to the church.
From the signal station on Husefjellet the Germans could monitor the traffic through the shipping lane of Indre Steinsund. In addition, they had an unobstructed view of Sognesjøen. All through the war, a crew of 10-12 military personnel were stationed there. Their primary task was to report enemy planes and suspicious boat traffic.
Kirkevollen is one of two listed public officials' buildings in Førde, the bailiff residence at Bruland being the other. It is beautifully situated at Løken with the church behind it. This handsome house has an obscure history, being built perhaps on the island of Svanøy in the late 18th century.
If "whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before" would deserve well of mankind, then no less meritorious is the man who has peopled a useless river with the noble race of salmon. To the enterprise and ingenuity of the Irishman who planned and built it, this ladder of the river Gaula, in Norway, is a lasting memorial.
The village of Refvika is located between the beach of Refviksanden to the northwest and the lake of Refvikvatnet to the southeast. Up until 1872, all the people at the farm lived in the same farmyard, and the houses stood very close together. In a matter of four hours on the day when the fire broke out, 46 houses were reduced to ashes and 113 persons became homeless. A massive help operation was initiated and the village quickly got back on its feet. At Refvika the beach of Refviksanden is located, and in 1988, the Norwegian daily paper Dagbladet selected it to be the finest beach in the country.
Loen church is an octagonal wooden church situated on a hill overlooking the village of Loen. The church has a seating capacity of 190, and was consecrated on 9 September, 1838, by dean Wilhelm Frimann Koren on behalf of bishop Neumann. The master builder was Elling Waldboe, but there is no reference to any architect. Loen church is the "sokn" church for Loen "sokn" in the parish of Stryn.
Borgund stave church is situated in the village of Borgund in the municipality of Lærdal. The church is said to be built about 1150, and is considered to be the best preserved of all the stave churches in Norway. The Society for the Preservation of Ancient Monuments (hence referred to as the Society) took over the ownership and management of the church in connection with the construction of a new church for the Borgund "sokn". This is the Norwegian stave church that attracts most visitors. The building of a new visitors' centre has now been started which will serve as an information centre and also ease the wear and tear caused by the many tourists in the old church itself.
Mjømna church is a so-called longchurch made of wood situated on the island of Mjømna, in the far western outskirts of the municipality of Gulen. The church has a seating capacity of 310, and was consecrated on 5 November, 1901, by bishop Johan Willoch Erichsen. Anders Korsvold from Gulen was both architect and builder. The church is a "sokn" church for the "sokn" of Mjømna in the parish of Gulen. The ¿sokn" was established by royal decree on 23 June, 1900.
Holmedal church is a wooden longchurch in the village of Holmedal in the municipality of Askvoll. The church seats 432 and was consecrated on 24 November, 1868 by bishop Peder Hersleb Graah Birkeland. The architect Eilert Christian Brodtkorp Christie designed the church. Holmedal church is a ¿sokn" church for Holmedal ¿sokn" in the parish of Askvoll.