The Runes of Departure — Uncover the Viking Secret of Jæren

Your quest for the runes begins at Vågen, Stavanger's beating heart since the 17th century. This inner harbor was the commercial center for exporting herring and preserved fish to all of Europe in the 18th century. The 18th and 19th-century wooden warehouses, classified as historical monuments, still frame this place of intense exchange. Here you discover the first clues to understanding the maritime routes taken by Eirik Raude, the Viking explorer, which contributed to the city's prosperity and laid the groundwork for its role as European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Continue to Gamle Stavanger, a historic district with 173 perfectly preserved 18th-century wooden houses. Developed by prosperous herring merchants between 1700 and 1840, these whitewashed houses with flower gardens are typical of Norwegian bourgeois architecture. Classified as a protected area since 1975, it is one of the best preserved in Norway. This UNESCO wooden house heritage offers you a glimpse into the lives of the inhabitants who watched the city grow, from the first Viking settlements to its commercial development, and helps you reconstruct the context of your mission.

In the heart of Stavanger, the majestic Stavanger Domkirke, built around 1125, is one of Norway's oldest. The mother church of the Stavanger bishopric, established in 1125 by Archbishop Øystein Erlendsson, it was rebuilt after a fire in 1272, incorporating a Gothic choir into its Romanesque nave. Its 75-meter bell tower, added in the 19th century, dominates the city. The 1977 organ, built by Marcussen & Søn with 42 stops, still echoes with the prayers and decrees that marked Rogaland's religious and political history, and you will find clues carved into its stone.

Your journey then takes you to Torget, Stavanger's main square since the 17th century, a significant administrative and commercial center. This site witnessed public executions until the 19th century, including that of the last pirate in 1806. Surrounded by 19th-century neoclassical buildings housing city halls and banks, Torget has hosted a weekly market since 1735, an uninterrupted tradition. It is here, amidst the market's hustle and bustle, that you will unravel riddles related to the commercial codes and state secrets that shaped Stavanger's destiny.

Finally, the Valbergtårnet, a watchtower built in 1569 to guard the city and port, offers panoramic views over Vågen. Standing 26 meters high with 167 steps, it was used as a prison and belfry until the 19th century, before a major restoration in 1984. This symbol of Stavanger, visible from the sea, will allow you to contemplate the expanse of Rogaland and the maritime horizons that called the Vikings to depart. You will then have all the keys to unlock the secret of the runes and understand how the city's motto, "Gjennom 1100 år har vi bygd hverandre opp" (For 1100 years we have built each other up), has been embodied over time.