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1860
Brakanes Hotel
Ulvik, Norway
Promenaden 3, Ulvik, Norway, 5730
Original Property Opened in 1860
Historic Hotels Worldwide member since 2023
Idyllically situated along the shores of the Hardangerfjord, the second-longest fjord in Norway and the fifth-longest in the world, there is a lot to love about Brakanes Hotel. This historic fjordside hideaway calls the quaint hamlet of Ulvik home and is convenient to the region’s bountiful fruit orchards, majestic snow-capped mountains, and thundering waterfalls. Opened in 1860 as a coaching inn, a waypoint and resting place for road-weary travelers and horses, this long-running hotel has expanded greatly over the years and now boasts 143 guestrooms for visitors passing through the area.
When guests are not out and about hiking, cruising the fjord, or visiting the local apple farms (the Hardangerfjord is also known as the “Orchard of Norway”), they can also drink in the views from Brakanes Hotel’s waterfront hot tub, the fjord lounge, or cozy up around a crackling fire. Meanwhile, Restaurant Draumen, the hotel’s onsite eatery, cooks up farm-to-table fare with locally sourced ingredients and a side of sweeping fjord views, while Bar Après serves several varieties of Hardanger’s famed cider alongside local craft beers and apple brandy.
Discover
- Discover Brakanes Hotel’s enduring heritage of hospitality. Opened in 1860 by an Ulvik local named Sjur Brakanes, a business-minded coachman, the hotel got its start as a coaching inn, humble accommodations used by travelers, merchants, and horses alike when visiting or transporting goods throughout the area. Luckily, his hospitality bid was a roaring success, and Brakanes Hotel has been a beloved local fixture ever since.
- Admire the unrelenting can-do spirit of Brakanes Hotel and its proprietors through the generations. Like much of the world, misfortune fell upon the historic hotel during World War II, when the village of Ulvik came under bombardment by a fleet of German torpedo boats on April 25, 1940. Although Brakanes Hotel was severely damaged, the then-stewards of the hotel, the Lindebrække family, were undeterred. Nine years later, they reopened, while still staying true to the hotel’s historic character and fascinating heritage.
- Revel in Brakanes Hotel’s charming architecture, which, though revitalized in the early 1950s, harkens back to Norwegian vernacular aesthetics, or byggeskikk, and construction techniques of generations past. Though updated to appeal to contemporary guests and modern comforts, it still maintains an alluring sense of cultural heritage and tradition.
- Drink in the breathtaking views of the Hardangerfjord offered by Brakanes Hotel’s idyllic shoreside location. Thanks to its waterfront perch, travelers passing through the hotel can take in the stunning scene from its garden, outdoor hot tub, onsite restaurant, fjord lounge, or, for especially lucky guests, fjord-facing balconies in select guestrooms.
Explore
- Explore the bucolic fjord village of Ulvik. The pearl of the Hardangerfjord, Ulvik enjoys a front-row seat to one of Norway’s most stunning vistas, with forest-blanketed mountains towering above and the sapphire-hued sea unfolding before it. Dotted with a collection of quaint, snowy-white homes, apple-red barns, and verdant fruit farms, one would be forgiven for believing they had been magically whisked away into the pages of a storybook. While wandering, be sure to stop by the Ulvik Church, a picturesque wooden church in the center of town that dates back to the mid-1800s. Its vibrant interior is painted in intricate rosemåling, or “rose painting,” a decorative Norwegian folk art that flourished in the countryside during the 1700s and 1800s.
- Be inspired by the abounding beauty of the Hardangerfjord, just like renowned Norwegian poet and Ulvik local Olav H. Hauge. Just like many of the villagers that call Ulvik home, Hauge was both a farmer and an orchardist; and it is from his love of seeing things grow that his poetry took root. Pay tribute to his memory and muse by finding joy in the everyday beauty and hardships of life in the western fjordland, whether through film, photography, or, like Hauge, putting pencil to paper.
- Go on a fruitful adventure along the Hardangerfjord’s Fruit and Cider Route. The “Queen of the Fjords” has also earned the title of the “Orchard of Norway,” courtesy of a collective of fruit farms in the hamlet of Ulvik. Each of the farms opens its doors to guests, peddling sweet wares like cider, apple juice, and other farm-fresh produce, and is an easy stroll from the center of the village. Travelers visiting during May can also experience Siderslepp, a celebration of the region’s famous ciders, while those visiting in October can enjoy Fruktslepp, a festival for the autumnal fruit harvest.
- Delight in the natural wonders of the wider Hardanger region. This breathtakingly beautiful corner of Fjord Norway has inspired artists, poets, musicians, and awestruck travelers for generations. Not only does it boast the Hardangerfjord (the second-longest fjord in Norway and the third-longest in the world, extending 111 miles [179 km] inland from the Atlantic Ocean), but it also touts Folgefonna (the country’s third-largest glacier), Hardangervidda National Park (the largest in Norway), and, not to mention, some incredible waterfalls. Plus, so much more! Join a boat or bus tour, take out a kayak, or go for a hike to explore them all.
Experience
- Experience the jaw-dropping majesty of Mother Nature during a "Hardangerfjord in a Nutshell” tour. During this quintessential Hardanger adventure, travelers enjoy the best that the region has to offer by boat, bus, fjord cruise, train, and on foot—from the Norwegian Nature Centre and Vøringsfossen waterfall to the Hardangervidda mountain plateau and scenic Bergen Railway. Although this tour is available from mid-May through early September, May is the most ideal time as the hillsides are in full bloom for peak blossoming season.
- Pose for a photo on the iconic Trolltunga, or “Troll Tongue,” just like other hikers before. Arguably the most famous rock formation in all of Norway, Trolltunga cantilevers out over Ringedalsvatnet lake, soaring roughly 2,297 feet (700 meters) above. Although the trail is well-marked, the journey can be challenging. A guide is recommended for those with limited mountain hiking experience.
- Hop in a RIB boat for an on-the-water safari of the Hardangerfjord. Since many settlements along the fjord are unreachable by road, the best way to experience the region is from the water. Only offered part of the year, RIB tours depart daily between early May though late November from in front of Brakanes Hotel.
- Follow in the footsteps of the Queen of Norway on H.M. Queen Sonja’s Panorama Hiking Trail. Droningstien, or the “Queen’s Path,” is beloved by the queen for its spectacular overlook of Sørfjorden, the longest branch of the Hardangerfjord, throughout the six- to nine-hour hike. Although the trail is by no means easy, hikers are rewarded with panoramic views of verdant forests, snowy mountain peaks, the alpine Folgefonna Glacier, and orchards that are home to thousands of apple trees.
- Stand in the spray of the Vøringsfossen waterfall during a tour through the Måbødalen valley. The 83rd-highest waterfall in Norway, with an awe-inspiring drop of 597 feet (182 meters), Vøringsfossen is one of the Hardangerfjord’s most majestic natural wonders, making it a must-visit for any nature-loving travelers visiting the region.
- Pull out a pair of binoculars for some bird watching. Although the tiny hamlet of Ulvik is home to around only 1,100 people, this fjord village is a true treat for bird watchers. Over 80 species of both common and rare birds have been spotted here, particularly near the town’s marshland areas.
Taste
- Taste the “champagne” of apple ciders during a tour of farms along Ulvik’s Fruit and Cider Route. Apple growing is a long-standing tradition in the Hardanger region, with families of farmers producing the popular fruit for hundreds of years. Unsurprisingly, its culture of apple cider production is just as storied. In fact, Hardanger cider is so unique that it has even been designated with a protected geographical indication, just like the Champagne region of France.
- Savor some fjord-fresh seafood. Fish farming is one of the Hardangerfjord’s most major industries, producing over 40,000 tons of rainbow trout and salmon each year. While both classic fish dishes and newer favorites can be found at restaurants throughout the area, travelers can also gain insight into the aquaculture industry at Hardanger Akvasenter in Øystese, a working salmon farm and visitor center.
- Enjoy the bounty of Hardanger at Restaurant Draumen, Brakanes Hotel’s onsite eatery. It is no surprise that a region known for its lush orchards has a rich culinary tradition. At Restaurant Draumen, diners get to try a sampling of that harvest, due to the restaurant’s close partnership with the area’s best local suppliers. For a truly farm-to-table dining experience, visit during the summer months, when the team carts freshly picked produce from the fields of an area farm directly into the eatery’s kitchen.
FEATURED ACCOMMODATIONS
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Flexible - Bed and Breakfast
Enjoy a flexible rate, including daily breakfast, with no modification or cancelation fees.
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Book the Best Available Rate at this property on HistoricHotelsWorldwide.com and receive a complimentary one-year family membership (a $30 value) to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, a member of the International National Trusts Organisation.
