Sküdenesavan (Norwegian: Skudeneshavn, also known as Sküdenesamn
or simply Sküdenes) is a town in Karmøy Municipality in Rogaland
County, Norway. It is located on the southernmost tip of Karmøy
Island at the entrance to Boknafjorden and the Karmsundet Strait.
The city is part of the traditional district of Haugaland. From 1858
to 1965 the city was an independent municipality by virtue of its
ludstead status.
Attractions
Every year Skudenesavan hosts
a "boat" festival known as Skudefestivalen. It usually lasts for
four days (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sun) in late June or early
July (this is a "movable" date). The festival is the largest
gathering of coastal culture in Western Norway, featuring boats of
all categories - old wooden boats, vintage boats, modern boats,
sailboats, tall ships - the city is full of life around the harbor -
both on land and on the water. Market stalls unfold in the town
square. Artisans demonstrate products of ancient crafts related to
the sea and shipping. Boat builders, ship models, old engines. On
Soragado, the main and narrow street of "Old Skudenesavan", an art
exhibition is held, a new artist of the festival is selected every
year. Visitors can see exhibitions at Bytunet in the old part of the
city. Entertainment takes place during the day and in the evenings
in the festival tent with the participation of national and
international artists, as well as in many houses by the sea with
Celtic music, blues and mid-range pop music. About 35,000 people
visit the festival each year and draws over 600 boats. In 2017, the
festival was held from June 29 to July 2 and is the 24th in a row.
In 2018, the festival will be held from 5 to 8 July.
Story
The settlement of Sküdenesavan was declared a ladested (port city)
on February 10, 1858. Since cities were not allowed to be part of
rural municipalities, Sküdenesavan was taken out of the municipality
of Skudenes and its own city municipality was created. Sküdenesavan
municipality originally had 1,209 inhabitants. In the 1960s, many
municipal mergers took place in Norway through the work of the Shea
Committee. On January 1, 1965, the municipality of Sküdenesavan was
merged into the newly formed municipality of Karmøy (together with
Skyudenes, Avaldsnes, Stangaland, Kopervik and Torvastad). Prior to
unification, Sküdenesavan had 1,275 inhabitants. During the
confluence, Sküdenesavan lost the status of a ladested (port city).
In 1996, after changing the city law, Karmöy Municipality
re-declared Sküdenesavan a city.
Government
From 1858 to
1964, Sküdenesavan was a municipality that was responsible for
primary education (up to grade 10), outpatient medical treatment,
care for the elderly, unemployment and other social services,
zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality
was governed by a municipal council made up of elected
representatives, who in turn elected the mayor.