Tysse: A look at local history and Samnanger

Tysse combines a distinctive local history with its present-day role as the administrative centre of Samnanger. When planning your trip, it helps to distinguish the town itself from the attractions in the wider Samnanger area: Tysse gives you a sense of the town, while Eikedalen, for example, offers a specific regional skiing destination. This makes it easier to find a suitable place to stay in connection with the places you actually want to visit.

Industrial history and town centre

A/S Samnanger Uldvarfabrik was founded in Tysse in 1886. Its growth transformed what had previously been a rural settlement within just a few years: homes, shops, workshops, cafés and accommodation businesses gave the town centre a lively character. The factory started with 25 employees and had around 400 at its peak. This history explains why the development of industry is closely linked to the development of Tysse.

Ytre Tysse also has a long history of commerce. From 1862, Svein L. Røsseland ran a general store and an inn there. Together with the later development around the wool factory, this shows how trade, work and hospitality found their place in the town’s history. Today, Tysse is the administrative centre of Samnanger and has shops and a service centre.

The skiing destination is in Samnanger

The wider Samnanger destination’s winter offerings include Eikedalen Skisenter. It is located in Samnanger municipality, at the entrance to Kvamskogen, the mountain plateau between Samnanger and Hardanger. The ski centre has Northern Europe’s tenth-longest chairlift. Samnanger’s mountain areas are widely used for skiing; visitor traffic is particularly high in the east, where the municipality extends to Kvamskogen.

Tysse and Eikedalen are different reference points for getting your bearings: Tysse is the administrative centre, while Eikedalen is the skiing destination in the region. County Road 49 runs from Kvamskogen through Eikedalen, past Tysse and Haga, and over Gullbotn to the E16 at the border with Bergen.

Hiking and practical information

In Samnanger, Prestakvilet is a day-hiking cabin by Kvernesvatnet, in a forest area with various hiking destinations; swimming is also possible in the lake. The trail starts at the car park by Ådland Church, about 1.6 kilometres from the centre of Bjørkheim on FV7. From there, it is approximately 2.3 kilometres each way to Prestakvilet; the walk is said to take about an hour at an easy pace. These two distances refer to different sections: from the centre of Bjørkheim to the car park, and from the car park to the cabin.

The circular route to Tyssereinane starts at the quay in Ytre Tysse. There are parking spaces for several cars, but they are not marked or signposted as accessible parking spaces. The route runs partly along a paved road and partly along a traffic-free gravel path. Depending on trail conditions, it may be suitable for wheelchairs and prams. Be aware of steep gradients and the lack of pavements along a road with traffic. Bus routes 925 and 930 towards Hardanger are mentioned in connection with the route; check the current timetable with Skyss before travelling.

Culture and landscapes in Samnanger

The historic church at Ådland was first mentioned in written sources in 1329. Botnahytto is also part of Samnanger’s history: from 1942 to 1945, it served as a hiding place for refugees and members of the Milorg and Saborg resistance groups from Os, Samnanger and Bergen. It is a protected cultural and wartime monument by Botavatnet, associated with hunting and other outdoor recreation. This history adds a different perspective on Samnanger to Tysse’s industrial history.

The landscape offers its own highlights: Fossen Bratte is a protected waterfall on the Eikedalselva in Eikedalen, with a free fall of about 80 metres. Tveitakvitingen reaches 1,299 metres and is among the highest areas in Samnanger, on the border with Fusa. Together with the hiking destinations around Prestakvilet, these places show the range of regional interests beyond winter sports. When looking for a place to stay, it is therefore helpful to keep both the specific place name Tysse and your intended destinations in Samnanger in mind.

For the wider travel overview: Samnanger.