Alrekstad

Álreksstaðir, or in more modern tongue Alrekstad, was one of the largest Norwegian king's farms on the west coast during the early Middle Ages. It was situated at the foot of the mountain Ulriken (a mountain in Bergen, Norway). Harald Hairfair took residence there in the tenth century, and after the battle at Fitjar in 960 king Håkon the Good was on his way to Alrek, but died at Håkonshella. It is even known that a king by name Alfred lived there at the end of the fourth century.

The houses were probably placed where Haukeland skole (Haukeland Elementary School) is placed today. The water below (today named "Store Lunggårdsvann") was then called "Alrekstadvannet" (the Alrekstad water).

The king's farm was moved down closer to the sea during the reign of king Eystein Magnusson (1103-1123), where Håkonshallen was later built.

The Norwegian author Gunnar Staalesen is planning a play in 2005 (100 year after Norway's independence from Sweden) about Alrekstad.

The name "Alrekstad" have evolved into today's "Årstad", the modern name of a borough of the city of Bergen. The location of Alrekstad - today referred to as "Årstadvollen" - is situated outside of the Årstad borough.

Etymology

"Alrek" is derived from the Old Norse word "Alrekr" which means "bulky".

It is believed by Norsk Stadnamnleksikon (Norwegian Place Name Encyclopedia) that the name Álreksstaðir is derived from Ulriken rather than the name Alrekr.

Translation of the plaque

In old Norwegian times, Årstad main farm - now Årstad School - carried the name of Alrekstaðir.

Alrekstad was one of the king's farms along the southwestern Norwegian coast where Harald Fairhair and his followers stayed in the 900s before cities sprung up in Norway. After the Battle of Fitjar on Stord around 960, King Håkon the Good was on his way to Alrekstad when he died from his wounds at Håkonshellen.

As a seat of kings, Alrekstad was an important origin for the city development of Bergen. It is assumed that the farm had a harbour at Vågen before the city existed.

At a central king's farm such as Alrekstad, it is likely that there existed a wooden church in the earliest Christian period, maybe as early as in the days of Håkon the Good. Later, here stood a stone church, "The Church of The Holy Cross". It is spoken of for the first time 1395, but could have been built in the 1100s. This was the first congregation church in Årstad parish. It later decayed, and was torn down in the 1500s.

Put up by Årstad congregation and Årstad School. September 10, 2000.