Walaker Hotell is a charming waterfront hotel in Solvorn that has welcomed guests since 1640, making it Norway’s oldest family-run hotel. Now in its 9th generation of Nitter family ownership, Walaker is a living museum of Norwegian history – yet it feels anything but stuffy. The white clapboard main building and its annexes are set around a lush rose garden on the shores of the Lustrafjord (an arm of the Sognefjord), offering a tranquil base to explore Western Norway’s majestic fjords and Jotunheimen mountains. Each of Walaker’s 22 rooms is unique, furnished with antique pieces, vintage photographs and personal touches that reflect centuries of stories. You might stay in a Historic Room with hand-carved bed, timber walls and a view of orchards and fjord, or a renovated Deluxe Room blending modern comfort with 19th-century details like floral wallpaper and chandeliers. Throughout the hotel, creaking wooden floors and family heirlooms create a cozy, homely atmosphere that envelops you like a hug. Despite its age, Walaker Hotell innovates in sustainable tourism. The hotel is part of Norway’s De Historiske heritage hotels and proudly maintains the original farm buildings (including an 18th-century storehouse turned art gallery, Galleri Walaker 300, supporting local artists). Renovations use traditional methods and local materials to preserve authenticity. Local food is a passion here: Walaker’s restaurant, the heart of the hotel, serves a set four-course menu nightly, drawing from nearby farms and the hotel’s own garden. Guests rave about delicacies like house-marinated salmon, roast venison with foraged mushrooms, and the cloudberry crumble – all paired with wines from the historic cellar. At breakfast, homemade berry jams (from fruit grown on site), locally churned butter, and wood-fired bread make for a feast. Walaker also takes sustainability seriously behind the scenes: renewable hydroelectric power (common in Norway) powers the property, food waste is composted for the garden, single-use plastics are eschewed, and cleaning is done with eco-friendly products. Days at Walaker are filled with simple pleasures. You can borrow a hotel bicycle to pedal along quiet country lanes lined with apple trees, or take a refreshing morning dip in the fjord from Walaker’s little pier. Hikers enjoy easy access to the UNESCO-listed Urnes Stave Church just across the fjord (the hotel can arrange a boat) or trails leading to cascading waterfalls. In summer, the family might invite guests to a traditional Norwegian garden party with live folk music among the roses. Come evening, as you sip coffee on the porch watching the sun set over glassy waters, it’s easy to see why travelers have sought out Walaker’s warmth for almost four centuries. This hotel is a testament to timeless values of community, sustainability, and genuine welcome, making every guest feel like part of the family’s continuing story.