Haraldshaugen

Probably the most well-know monument in Haugesund is Haraldshaugen. A 17 meter tall granite obelisk surrounded by 29 stones. I cheated a bit here with the explanation, because it's a transcript from the information table. Forgive me...

In 1872 an obelisk was raised at the Gard Church ruins to commemorate the battle of Hafrsjord 1000 years earlier. The elegant spike symbolises the unification of Norway and the surrounding stones represent the Norwegian counties that Harald (see Monday) brought together. The commemoration obelisk can be seen as a product of the National Romanticism that raged in the late 1830's. It was a period when the country's ancient history was being tapped to cultivate a new, national self-esteem. 

One of the 29 surrounding stones

The monument was the brainchild of Haugesund's Ludolf Eide, who put forth the idea in 1863 and won country-wide support. All towns and cities, many communites and even private people helped to raise the necessary funds to raise the obelisk. 

The national monument was unveiled on 18 July 1872 by Crown Prince Oscar, later King Oscar II. Representatives of the royal family, the national assembly (Storting), goverment and county dignitaries attended this "1000 Year Jubilee", which occasioned much popular celebration and merrymaking. It was a holiday all over the country and about 40,000 traveled to Haugesund to see the unveiling!