Spjærøy – island of culture
Spjærøy is often considered a ‘cultural’ island, for Brottet Open Air Theatre and the Coastal Museum are located at Dypedal. The museum focuses on coastal culture which, here on Hvaler, was dominated by a combination of agriculture, fishing, piloting, shipping and other maritime professions.
From the bridge to Spjærøy we can look out across Skjelsbo Sound. And far out to sea in the Oslo Fjord – is that an aircraft carrier lying at anchor? No, in fact it is Torbjørnskjær, the first lighthouse that ships encounter on their way into the fjord. Once onto Spjærøy we quickly come to a junction. To the north is Sydengen, the site of Norway’s first House of the People. To the south is Spjærøy Chapel, the Coastal Museum and Brottet.
Suggestions for walks on Spjærøy
Spjærøy is a walker’s paradise. Two routes you can try: walk from Sydengen along the Asmalsund Sound to Sand, or from Spjærøy Chapel, through Lindalen and Grønnet to Spjærkilen. Spjærkilen is in fact an excellent bathing spot, stony near land but a fine sand bed further out. During the Viking Age, Grønnet, now dry, was a navigable sound, and the saga literature tells that King Sverre and his men were saved by fleeing through Grønnet. To the north of the sound lies Sand Marina, while Spjærkilen lies to the south.
Island of culture
Spjærøy is often considered a ‘cultural’ island, for Brottet Open Air Theatre and the Coastal Museum are located at Dypedal. The museum focuses on coastal culture which, here on Hvaler, was dominated by a combination of agriculture, fishing, piloting, shipping and other maritime professions. For many years there was a boatyard at Kjellvika where Colin Archer hatched many ideas for his famous yachts. Brottet Open Air Theatre has been developed over the last decade, for most part through huge voluntary effort. The amfitheatre has been built in an old quarry and every summer there is a rich programme of musicals and other entertainment.