The white wooden building on the waterfront is Sandven Hotel, one of the Hardangerfjord's historic hotels. It's now part of the Thon chain but the original building is protected.
The story starts with a man called Nils Sjursen Skutlaberg Sandven, who had to apply to the municipality three times before getting permission to build a hotel here. In 1857 he finally received royal approval from King Oscar I, and the first hotel opened.
The current building dates mainly from 1896-97, when it was significantly expanded and rebuilt in Swiss style - that's the distinctive steep roofs and pointed gables you see today. The architect was Anders Olavsson Steine. Further expansions followed in 1924 and 1960.
The hotel stayed in private hands for generations until Olav Thon bought it in 2011. A modern wing with apartments was added in 2012-13, but the historic section remains largely unchanged. The dining room is considered one of the best-preserved in Norway.
The hotel has received the Olavsrosa, the Norwegian Heritage quality mark for historically significant buildings that maintain their character.