Surrounded by all the tones of grey in the colour scale
In a world of nuances of grey lie the two small houses in a particular, extraordinary light: Jøssingfjord and Helleren are surrounded by all the tones of grey in the colour scale. Helleren - "Hedlaren" - forms a natural roof and shelter that has been taken advantage of by people for thousands of years. Helleren is large - the drop measures at its deepest 10 metres. The two houses do not have proper roofing, simply because they are protected by Helleren - and this is also the reason why these two houses and this landscape provide a unique and special experience. Both houses date back to the 1800s; however, large parts of the buildings might be considerably older. Most probably, there have been settlements under Helleren from the 1500s. Dalane Folkemuseum is today the owner and responsible caretaker of the houses.
Be careful and sustainable
Everyone is welcome to visit Helleren. However, the houses are not designed to accommodate large numbers of visitors, and the interiors are currently closed to the public due to wear and tear caused by high visitor numbers. We would appreciate it if you, as a member of the public, would respect the barriers around the houses. You can still visit the site and walk up to the houses to see them up close, even if you cannot go inside.
- All use of fire is forbidden
- Do not leave litter behind
- Please close the doors when leaving
- Rock climbing at Helleren is forbidden
Helleren belongs to us all, not only the present, but also future generations. In its dramatic modesty, the houses under Helleren are one of the greatest cultural memories that, with their genuineness, tell more about ourselves, our history and identity than anything else.
The Jøssingfjord
This fjord is especially known for the Altmark affair that took place here on 16 February 1940. The Altmark affair is an event where the German military tanker Altmark was boarded by British naval vessels, and British marines were released from German captivity. The Altmark event was used as an argument by the Germans to attack and occupy Norway, as they then felt that Norway's neutrality was compromised after this event. During the Second World War, the name "jøssing" was used to describe anti-Nazi Norwegians, with a background in the Altmark affair.
The Jøssingfjord is also the port of shipment for the business Titania AS, which runs a mining and cleansing facility for titanium ore. The fjord is also surrounded by steep mountain walls and ends in a large stone scree.
Facilities at Helleren
Parking on the other side of the river. Five minutes walk to the houses. During the summer season, there is access to a toilet and a kiosk with simple refreshments.
Accessibility
Helleren is located at Jøssinfjord in Sokndal municipality. The houses are just by the RV44 in between Egersund and Flekkefjord, and you can spot them from the road. Exit from FV44 at the bottom of the valley.
