Sauda: Hiking Trails, Workers’ History and Andedammen

Sauda combines marked trails in the town centre with a remarkable history of industrial work. There is also the historic workers’ settlement of Åbøbyen and Andedammen, a park and green space next to the town centre. This gives families and other holiday visitors a range of options: enjoy the outdoors, learn about the lives of earlier generations, or spend time surrounded by greenery.

Hiking trails starting in the town centre

Varden is located between Folkets Hus and the swimming pool in the centre of Sauda. The cairn points out popular hiking trails and paths; the Bunkersen trail is also marked at Varden by Saudahallen. If you want to extend your walk beyond its starting point, you can follow a marked trail to Tempreidnuten and a viewpoint overlooking Sauda and the fjord. This lets you combine a hike with views of the town and fjord, without committing to a specific distance or walking time.

Please note that parking is limited for this trail. Some rocky surfaces can be slippery on the descent. Other marked hiking trails start in the town centre and pass through Andedammen. The marked trail to Fløgstadåsen also starts there and heads north from Sauda. The different starting points and destinations give you options for days when you would like to include a hike in your stay.

Andedammen: Green space and activities

Andedammen is right next to the town centre and borders historic Åbøbyen. Several marked trails cross the grounds. In summer, the area is home to goats, rabbits, pigs, ducks and goldfish, among other animals. Tables, benches and barbecue facilities provide a place to take a break; there is also a covered seating area for bad weather. A mini-golf course is located right next to Andedammen Family Park and is considered a family activity for people of all ages.

If you prefer to get active on wheels, there is a paved pump track at the sports park on the opposite side of the river from the town centre. It is designed for bicycles, scooters, roller skates and skateboards. In the Sauda area, Mayuc Kayak offers kayak, paddleboard and canoe rentals, as well as courses and guided tours. So, alongside hiking trails, you can choose from water activities and a facility for wheeled sports as different ways to enjoy your holiday.

Åbøbyen and industrial history

Åbøbyen was built from 1916 onwards for workers and employees of Sauda Smelteverk. The settlement includes around 120 houses built by the Canadian Electric Furnace Products Company LTD. Its architecture reflects different phases of development: examples of 1920s neoclassicism stand alongside functionalist and post-war architecture. Åbøbyen is considered one of the best-preserved workers’ settlements from the development of energy-intensive industry in Norway.

At the Industriarbeidermuseet, the history is also told through everyday life. The exhibition depicts the lives of smelter workers, housewives and children in Åbøbyen. Two apartments are furnished to illustrate workers’ living conditions in the 1920s and 1960s. The museum is just a few minutes’ walk from Sauda’s shopping streets. If you are interested in social and industrial history, you can gain a different perspective on the town’s history here than you would on a walk through the settlement.

Culture at Folkets Hus and Sauda kirke

Folkets Hus is part of Norway’s industrial and workers’ history. The building was designed by Stavanger architect Gustav Helland and completed in 1931. It played a central role in the modernisation of Sauda and has two halls for concerts, performances and conferences. Sauda kirke on Øyra is a wooden long church built in 1866, with seating for 350. Both buildings offer different chapters in the town’s history.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Sauda, your plans for your stay can help guide your decision: would you mainly like to explore hiking trails, learn about the history of Åbøbyen, or make time for Andedammen? The town’s features offer different starting points for planning your stay. The tourist information office at Rådhusgata 31 is centrally located and offers free maps, brochures, inspiration and visitor information.

Local events include the annual farmers’ market Bønder i Byn and the summer festival Saudadagane, which celebrates life in Sauda.

Discover more places

If you would also like to visit other places: Sola, Randaberg, Oanes, Vassøy, Bokn and Utsira.

For the wider travel overview: Rogaland.