Åsheim – History at Kirkebakken

Åsheim brings together a specific local history, a local tradition, and finds whose significance is interpreted with caution. The site lies on the opposite side of the Risna Fjord from the churchyard in Brekke and belongs to the Brekke parish in the municipality of Gulen. As a disused church site, Åsheim is of particular interest to travelers who are interested in historical traces and the stories behind a place.

Church tradition and stones at Kirkebakken

According to local tradition, a church is said to have stood at Kirkebakken in Åsheim. A specific historical observation adds to this account: during land clearance, stones arranged in a semicircle were found on a plot at the top of Kirkebakken, south-southwest of the houses in Åsheim. They were interpreted as possible remains of a planned cemetery that was never built.

The tradition and the find are not the same thing: the possible cemetery interpretation remains an interpretation, while the semicircular arrangement of the stones has been described. It is this distinction that gives the local history its particular character. It leads from the question of whether a church stood here to a specific find and a cautiously worded explanation.

Brekke Church: design and dedication

Brekke Church is a wooden long church in Brekke on the Risne Fjord. It was dedicated on November 19, 1862, and is considered the third church at this site. Its enduring features include 390 seats, tapestries by Emma Breidvik, and an altarpiece painted by Anders Askevold depicting “Jesus in Gethsemane.”

The church thus offers a different way into the area's history than the tradition associated with Kirkebakken: in Brekke, its design, year of dedication, and specific artworks can be identified. Together with Åsheim's location opposite the churchyard in Brekke, this establishes a clear geographical connection without conflating the two places.

Cultural heritage sites in the municipality of Gulen

The old post road in Gulen is also part of the municipality's historical landscape. It is considered a cultural heritage site worthy of preservation, and responsibility for it rests with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen). A few of the original bridges built between 1800 and 1806 still remain along the road. Trangane Bridge on the post road through Gulen is a stone-slab bridge with a stone railing, just under 17 meters long and 3.4 meters wide. These details give a clear sense of the bridge's construction and dimensions.

Gulen lies between the Sognefjord and the Fensfjord and comprises 1,500 islands, islets, and skerries. This abundance of islands characterizes the municipality as a whole. Another regional highlight is Gulatinget: the assembly was probably founded in the 9th century and served as a regional Viking Age assembly site from 900 to 1300. There, people from Western Norway discussed politics, made laws, and administered justice. The Gulatinget Millennium Site in Flolid features monumental artworks by Bård Breivik.

The Gulen Fisher-Farmer Museum on Byrknes offers a different perspective on coastal life. It documents the lives of the fishing farmers who lived in Gulen's coastal settlements. The museum's Våningshus (main farmhouse) was built in 1842 and shaped and furnished by the families who lived there until 1960. Over the course of its history, the house also served as a school for the island population and as a prison for the notorious thief Gjest Bårdsen.

Choosing the right place to stay

When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to distinguish between Åsheim's history and the municipality of Gulen's wider range of themes. Here, Åsheim represents the disused church site, the tradition associated with Kirkebakken, and its connection to the churchyard in Brekke. Gulatinget, the old post road, and the Fisher-Farmer Museum offer other historical perspectives within Gulen. Before choosing where to stay, consider whether your trip will focus mainly on Åsheim's local history or on a broader interest in the municipality's cultural heritage.

Discover more destinations: Ånneland, Mjømna, Brekke, Gulen, Byrknes, Dalsöyra, Eivindvik, Byrknesøy.

Back to the main travel guide: Gulen.