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![Elias Fiigenschoug’s painting of Halsnøy monastery , 1656](https://www.grind.no/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/bilder/sted/232/kvh_192-1.jpg?itok=9VO9I-NR)
Halsnøy Monastery
Halsnøy Monastery is situated in the midst of the lush fjord country in Sunnhordland, on one of the old spits, or “necks”, that has given name to the island. Gently sloping fields lead down to the sea on both sides, in the south towards the Kloster Fjord, to the north towards the sheltered Klostervågen.
![Kvinnherad Church](https://www.grind.no/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/bilder/sted/232/kvh_198_x.jpg?itok=yh2bEzjf)
Kvinnherad Church
The stately Kvinnherad Church with its characteristic profile set out against the mighty Malmangernuten in the background, gives you a rare feeling of being present in a historic landscape as you come around Nes and face the well-kept houses at the Skåla farm. The church at Skåla is one of four “fjordungskirker” (one of four main district churches) and this farm was the centre of this coastal administration district.
![The church at Moster, as drawn by Johan Meyer in 1897.](https://www.grind.no/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/bilder/sted/232/kvh_206-2.jpg?itok=SGdrZdqC)
Moster- The old church
Moster is mentioned as a church site already in the time of Olav Tryggvason. According to the sagas the king is supposed to have laid the foundations for the first church at Moster when he came there in 995. That building would have been a stave church - the church standing there today – a stone church with a nave and narrower, straight chancel – was probably founded around 1100. In 1874 a new church was built at Moster. Then the old church was bought by The Society for the Preservation of Norwegian Ancient Monuments, which is still the owner.
![The noble estate at Hop; Thomas Erichsens Minde.](https://www.grind.no/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/bilder/sted/1/kvh_270-xx.jpg?itok=mnSkZzO9)
Hop- Thomas Erichsens Minde
From the 1500s Hop was noble estate for the law speaker in Bergen and Gulen judicial districts. Several of the law speakers were of noble descent, such as Hans Hansen Lillienskiold and Niels Knagenhielm. The beautiful main building, still standing, was erected by the Bergen merchant Thomas Erichsen in 1793-95. He also established a magnificent garden with an 800 metres long linden avenue reaching down to the stone boathouse at Hop harbour.
![Ramsøy with the remains of the old artillery positions.](https://www.grind.no/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/bilder/sted/1/kvh_271-2_0.jpg?itok=k7MttMwI)
Ramsøy
“At thick of night a thundering knock on the door; the man in the house wakes up, jumps out and demands: Who cries? Yes, now you must out, the beacon shines on Høgenut. And in the same breath, every man knew that strife had hit the land.”
![Herdla, Askøy](https://www.grind.no/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/bilder/sted/1/kvh_272-1.jpg?itok=a3mGo7KI)
Herdla farm
Numerous finds show that the settlement at Herdla goes back to prehistoric times, and the large estate at Herdla has enjoyed a central place in the nation’s history since High Middle Ages. As Ask, Herdla was part of the country estate Harald Hårfagre took over as he took command of the west of Norway.
![The lobster park in Espevær](https://www.grind.no/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/bilder/sted/232/bomlo_39.jpg?itok=QWK2IaA7)
![The hayshed in Håvik, Bømlo](https://www.grind.no/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/bilder/sted/232/hus.jpg?itok=Z7aBNCrm)
![The rectory at Finnes](https://www.grind.no/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/bilder/sted/190/kvh_203_finnas_1_150.jpg?itok=MjLf1y2s)