Address
Haraldshaugen, Haugesund
GPS
59.4289524183, 5.2589903541909
Telephone
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Haraldshaugen is a national monument at Gard, about 2 km north of Haugesund city centre. The monument was erected during the millennial celebration of Norway’s unification into one kingdom under the rule of King Harald Hårfagre (Harald Fairhair). Even if he actually only unified the western parts of Norway. It is said that Harald Hairfair is put to rest in this burial mound after his death around year 933.
Harald had several royal estates at Vestlandet, but the most important one is Avaldsnes. Here he and his descendants had the royal seat for more than 500 years.
The monument on top of Haraldshaugen is Harald column. A 17 meters high Granite obelisk – surrounded by a fence of 29 smaller stones – representing the historic counties of Norway. It was unveiled on July 18, 1872 by Crown Prince Oscar (later King Oscar II of Sweden). The designer was the Norwegian architect Christian Christie.