Ask – Farm History, Fjord Views and the Ask relay

Ask: Landscape, Farm History and Culture

Ask in Askøy combines an agricultural heritage with a long history of farming and traces of architecture and culture from different centuries. The Ask relay is also an annual sporting event. If you are considering Ask as a travel destination, the landscape, local history or a specific event date may be what sways you.

Landscape, Soil and Agriculture

Since the end of the last Ice Age, weathering of the mountain near Ask has produced a thick layer of mineral-rich soil from mica schist. Ask has always been, and remains, one of the most important agricultural areas in Askøy municipality. Askehavn lies on the Byfjord. Historically, this location meant that farming in Ask was geared towards the market in Bergen. This brings together the area's agricultural importance and its long-standing connection to the Bergen market.

The Ask Farm Through History

Ask Farm is one of the oldest farms on Askøy and has been known since the 6th century. During the unification of the kingdom, Ask became one of the royal estates brought under Harald Hårfagre's rule. In the Late Middle Ages, Ask Farm belonged to the Diocese of Bergen. These historical milestones place the farm in very different periods of Norwegian history.

Churches and Protected Buildings

Ask's old church site was in use from 1200 to 1741 and is marked by a stone cross. It is distinct from Ask Church: a wooden long church built in 1908 and the parish church of Ask municipality. The former church site, with its long period of use, and the later church building are two separate chapters in the history of the church.

Thomas Erichsen's Minde in Ask represents another era. The grand villa was built in 1793 and has an associated park. In 1923, the property was placed under heritage protection by resolution. Ask's architectural history thus ranges from the church site and long church to a protected estate with a park.

Industrial history is also part of the story. Bergen Tricotagefabrik employed many people; its buildings in Lien, between Hopsvann and Askevann, were built in 1910, 1919 and 1940. The history of visitors also includes two specific dates: Hotel Kongshoug opened in Ask in 1896, and from 1898 Kafé Dyrteigen welcomed visitors from the city.

Kongshaugen and the Ask Relay

There is a bench on Kongshaugen that serves as a viewpoint, offering a sweeping view across the fjord. The remains of Kongshaugen are approximately 15 metres wide. The site therefore combines a view with a historical trace; the measurement is approximate.

The Ask relay offers a specific date to plan your trip around: it has been held every year on 1 May since 1953 and is considered one of Norway's oldest sporting events. If you plan to time your trip around the event, check the date for your travel year before booking. If you are more interested in farm, church or architectural history, you can consider Ask as a destination regardless of whether an event is taking place.

Discover more destinations: Herdla, Davanger, Hetlevik, Strusshamn, Kjerrgarden, Ramnanger, Kleppestø, Hauglandshella.

For the overview of destinations in the wider area: Askøy.