What is "balestrand"

Balestrand is a municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located on the northern shore of the Sognefjorden in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Balestrand. Other villages in the municipality include Ese, Kvamme, Låne, Sæle, Tjugum, and Vetlefjorden.

The municipality is situated at the confluence of the Fjærlandsfjorden/ Esefjorden and the main Sognefjorden. The major industries in the municipality are tourism and farming. Balestrand became popular early due to the interest of artists, such as Hans Gude, Alfred Heaton Cooper, Hans Dahl, and Johannes Flintoe. Their paintings of the scenery around Balestrand inspired visitors, and Balestrand maintains its connection with art. Other industries include made-to-order kitchen interiors, local apple juice, and Nesseplast which produces industrial plastic. The Norwegian County Road 13 runs through the municipality.

Balestrand (locally called Holmen) is the administrative centre of Balestrand Municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The village is located on the northern shore of the Sognefjorden, at the mouth of the small Esefjorden. It sits about west of the village area of Leikanger- Hermansverk and about northwest of the village of Vangsnes (on the southern shore of the Sognefjorden). The small village of Tjugum lies less than north of Balestrand, across the Esefjorden. The local Tjugum Church is located there, serving the people of the village of Balestrand.

The village has a population (2013) of 819, giving the village a population density of .

The village is home to the municipal government, but it is also a major tourist stop since the 1800s with several hotels including the Kviknes Hotel. The Sognefjord Aquarium and the Norwegian Tourism Museum are located in the village. There are ferry routes each summer from Balestrand to the Fjærlandsfjorden and to the village of Flåm. There is also fast boat service from Balestrand to the city of Bergen. Balholm AS, a fruit juice processing company is based in Balestrand.