Lofthus is the centre of fruit production in Hardanger. The village sits on a slope above Sørfjorden, surrounded by apple, cherry and plum orchards. English tourists discovered this place in the mid-1800s, and it has attracted visitors ever since.
Ullensvang municipality is Norway's largest supplier of fruit. There are over half a million fruit trees in the region. In May, when everything blooms, the hillsides turn white and pink against the blue fjord and snow-capped peaks. It's one of the most photographed scenes in Norway.
Every summer the Morelle Festival celebrates the cherry harvest. The main event is the Norwegian Championship in cherry stone spitting. The record stands at 14.24 metres.
The stone church of Ullensvang dates from around 1250. It's built in Gothic style with pointed arches. Legend says English or Scottish master builders constructed it. The tower was added in the 1880s. Locals call it Hardangerdomen due to its size. The name Ullensvang comes from the Norse god Ullin, suggesting this was a religious gathering place long before Christianity arrived.
There's a 7-kilometre fruit trail between Hotel Ullensvang and Hardanger Hostel. You walk through orchards and can buy cider directly from the farms you pass. Hardanger cider now has protected geographical status in the EU, like Champagne.