Places with a story

Agatunet

Agatunet in Ullensvang is a preserved cluster of homes and working buildings between fjord and mountain. Its dense layout connects the history of a powerful medieval farm with generations of ordinary life, trade and fruit cultivation in Hardanger.

Get to know the municipalityUllensvang

The place²

The buildings stand in the arrangement of a traditional cluster farm, where houses and agricultural structures shared a compact courtyard while cultivated land was divided into many parcels. The museum's historical account identifies forty-five buildings protected in 1938, with thirty now belonging to the foundation that preserves the place.

History and local connections¹ ²

The oldest surviving building, Lagmannsstova, was erected around 1220 and formed part of a larger residence and administrative complex. It served as a place of representation and legal proceedings. The Bleiediplomet, a surviving account of a judgment, was issued here in 1293, giving the building a particularly concrete connection with medieval law.

What to look for² ³

Look beyond the medieval hall to the smaller houses, storehouses and passages. Their closeness helps explain how multiple households shared the farm environment. Agatunet also had a chapel, school, shop, post office and telegraph station at different times, making it a place of community services as well as agricultural production.

Planning a visit¹ ³

Check the museum's current seasonal opening and arrange group visits with the operator. Work on Lagmannsstova's floor from summer 2026 limits opportunities to see its interior. Some buildings remain privately used or serve as holiday accommodation, so follow the museum's access guidance and confirm which spaces an organised visit includes.