Lysøen Island and Ole Bull's Villa

Lysøen Island and Ole Bull's Villa Review

The beautiful villa of Norwegian violin virtuoso Ole Bull (1810-80) is on Lysøen, which means "island of light." Bull was a musician and patron of great vision. In 1850, after failing to establish a "New Norwegian Theater" in America, he founded the National Theater in Norway. He then chose the young playwright Henrik Ibsen to write full time for the theater, and later encouraged and promoted another neophyte—15-year-old Edvard Grieg.

Built in 1873, this villa, with an onion dome, gingerbread gables, curved staircase, and cutwork trim just about everywhere, has to be seen to be believed. Stroll along the 13 km (8 mi) of pathways Bull created, picnic or swim in secluded spots, or rent a rowboat. In summer (the only season that Bull lived here), concerts are performed in the villa.

To get here by bus (Monday-Saturday), take the Lysefjordruta bus (no. 566) from platform 19 or 20 at the main bus station to Buena Kai, where the Ole Bull ferry will take you across the fjord to the island. By car, it's a 25-km (15-mi) trip from Bergen to the ferry. Take road E39 south out of the city. Fork left onto Route 546, signposted "fana"; continue straight over Fanafjell Mountain to Sørestraumen and follow signs to Buena Kai from there.