Obrestad Explained

Official Name:Obrestad
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:Rogaland#Norway
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Rogaland county
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Norway
Subdivision Name1:Western Norway
Subdivision Name2:Rogaland
Subdivision Type3:District
Subdivision Name3:Jæren
Subdivision Type4:Municipality
Subdivision Name4:
Utc Offset1:+01:00
Utc Offset1 Dst:+02:00
Postal Code Type:Post Code
Postal Code:4365 Nærbø
Elevation M:25
Elevation Footnotes:[1]
Coordinates:58.655°N 5.5678°W

Obrestad is a very small farming village in municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The village is located in the district of Jæren on the shore of the North Sea, about west of the village of Nærbø.

A harbour was constructed in Obrestad in 1874 and it is still in use. The Obrestad Lighthouse was built in 1873, about northwest of the harbour.[2] A sea rescue station for seafarers was established at Obrestad in 1854. It was in use until 1977.

History

Local landowner Eirik Bjodaskalle, who lived around 950 AD, is said to have had his large farm at Obrestad. Eirik Bjodaskalle was the father of Queen Astrid, the mother of the famous Viking King Olaf Tryggvason. Snorri Sturluson chronicles this in the Saga of King Olaf Tryggvason which is part of Heimskringla. Obrestad was the place where Astrid and Olaf had to seek refuge before heading east.

Obrestad surname

Many families that lived in Obrestad over the centuries took Obrestad as their surname such as:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Obrestad, Hå (Rogaland). yr.no. Norwegian. 2016-06-21.
  2. Web site: Obrestad fyr. Store norske leksikon. Store norske leksikon. Norwegian. 2016-06-21.