One of Norway's most striking monuments: three giant bronze swords planted blade-down into a rocky hill above Hafrsfjord, about 7 kilometres southwest of central Stavanger. The monument, created by sculptor Fritz Røed, marks the site of the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872 AD — the battle that, according to tradition, united Norway under King Harald Fairhair.
The swords stand 10 metres tall and differ in size, representing the three kingdoms that were merged. The setting is spectacular: the hill overlooks the fjord where the battle supposedly took place, with open water on three sides and the distant coastal landscape behind. The monument is freely accessible at all times and combines well with a walk along the Hafrsfjord shoreline. Take bus 23 from central Stavanger.