Øystese is a small fjordside village with a surprisingly strong art scene. The main attraction is Kabuso, an art centre that has hosted exhibitions by major names like Damien Hirst and Matthew Barney.
Next door is the Ingebrigt Vik Museum, dedicated to one of Norway's finest sculptors. Vik was born here in 1867 and started as a wood carver in his father's factory before training in Copenhagen and Paris. When he died in 1927, he left over a hundred sculptures to his home village.
The museum opened in 1934 in an unusual octagonal building - the first sculpture museum in rural Norway. You can see his famous Edvard Grieg statue in Bergen's Byparken, but the originals and working models are here.
Down by the fjord is the Hardanger Skyspace, a permanent installation by American light artist James Turrell. It's an octagonal concrete building with a hole in the roof. You sit inside at sunrise or sunset while LED lights slowly change colour, altering how you perceive the sky above. It's the world's northernmost Skyspace. Booking required.
The village also has a swimming facility called Hardangerbadet and several cider producers offering tastings.
