Jelsa - Ryfylke's best-preserved beach town

Jelsa is Ryfylke's best-preserved beach town and has been voted the most idyllic place in Rogaland. Here you can stroll among old neighborhoods and white wooden houses. There is also a great beach here that you can enjoy in the summer.

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Culture and History

Today, Jelsa has a cozy environment of small houses from the 18th century. Jelsa had an inn and trade from the late 17th century and was a church site from the 13th century. From 1855, Jelsa became part of the steamship route in Ryfylke.

The current church is in Renaissance style and was completed in 1647. The church was built by skilled craftsmen of the time. Several changes have been made in recent times. In the 1950s, some of the old interior decorations were restored. Not far from the center of Jelsa is the protected rectory.

The schoolhouse, the Riiberg School, was built in 1774 with funds from a foundation established by Marcille Riiberg in 1755. Marcille Riiberg was the niece of the Jelsa priest Mentz Blix. She stayed with her uncle in Jelsa for a while. Marcille must have been a wealthy lady. In 1751, she bought both the Jelsa and Sand churches. The school served as both an elementary school for the children of Jelsa and provided two young people with free education for two years so that they could later become teachers in the rural schools. For over 40 years, the Riiberg School sent out teachers to Ryfylke, but it was closed down in 1820 due to financial reasons. The elementary school continued in the building until the beginning of the 20th century. After an initiative from the staff at Jelsa School, the schoolhouse was restored and turned into a museum in the period 1974-1983. Today, Ryfylke Museum operates the schoolhouse as a museum. The church and schoolhouse have joint opening hours on specific days during the summer season (see more in the event calendar under "What's On"). Outside the summer season, groups can contact Jelsa Hotell.

Experiences and Activities

By taking the cultural-historical trail in Jelsa, you can learn more about the rich history of the place. You can also explore beautiful hiking trails. Maps are available under "Hiking" here at visitsuldal.no, at selected stores, and at Suldal Tourist Information. In 2022, Jelsa also got its own day trip cabin located at Kvilehaugen.

Jelsa also has several beaches, a hotel, boat rental services, guided kayak tours via FjordExpedition, and some of the best strawberries in the region: Jelsa strawberries.

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Accessibility: The area in Jelsa center is easily accessible with wide, paved roads. Stairs at the entrance to the church and school museum can be somewhat challenging. The hiking map for Jelsa also includes well-prepared routes.