Stavanger in the area of North Jæren, is with its 122 000 inhabitants the fourth largest city of Norway. It is also the administrative center of Rogaland County. The city is one of Norway’s most important maritime cities, but is today best known as the countrys "oil capital" and as a centre of culinary excellence.
With good climatic conditions Rogaland is the leading agricultural county of Norway as well as an important district for fishery. These good agricultural conditions are of vital importance to the gastronomy in Stavanger. As a result, the city has several highly acclaimed restaurants, as well as an annual “Happy Food Festival” (Gladmat Festivalen). The purpose is to present and share the food traditions of the region. There are also a number of other festivals on a yearly basis in Stavanger. The city holds the Great Norwegian Humor Festival, the Chamber Music Festival, May Jazz and not to forget The World Tour Sand-volleyball.
In addition to culture and cuisine, the region of Stavanger offers great natural surroundings. Among the most famous areas is The Pulpit Rock, The Sola beach and the enormous mountain wall named Kjerrag. You are welcome to take a trip along the coast for a leisurely walk along the dunes, and when the weather permits, you can use the wind to kite and the waves to try you on the surf board. You may also take a hike in the woods and hills, to a still water, or a rippling brook, and some fishing. The sightseeing boat will take you to the wonderful Lysefjord. Here you find popular tourist destinations as the Pulpit Rock, with its 604 meters above sea level stands out as an impressive pulpit over the fjord. A hike up to the dramatic Kjerrag bolt from the bottom of the Lyse fjord is another option.
Statoil and several of the largest international oil companies have their Norwegian headquarters in the city. With this follows an extensive offshore industry, which also include production of oil platforms, witch alone make up 40 percent of the oil industy.