Rosendal, Norway

Dramatically sited at the foot of looming peaks deep in the 179-km long Hardangerfjord, neat little Rosendal is the stereotypical Norwegian fjord town. In nearby Kvinnherad, another visual treat awaits at the Rosendal Barony manor house. Gleaming white, with a dark blue tile roof, the 1665 manor sits beneath a circle of snowcapped peaks, within earshot of the Hattebergfossen waterfall, and surrounded by a splendid gardens and park including an exceptional rose garden. The interior reveals the accumulation of fine art and furnishings acquired by owners over 300 years. The prim white Kvinnherad church matches the house’s simple elegance. Still further off, the shining glaciers of the Folgefonna National Park sprawl across a range of massive peaks.