Sagaløypa - 6 - The Myklebust farm

The village of Nordfjordeid grew out of the farm Myklebust, where there has been agricultural activity since the Bronze Age. The group of houses (klyngetun) built around a shared courtyard/farmyard at Myklebust remained in the same place from the Viking Age until the 19th century. Klyngetun are typical for the west coast of Norway.

By placing the building in a klynge, or group, the farmers could preserve valuable land, and collaborate on tasks that could be solved jointly. They would share the use of specialized buildings such as forges, mills and storehouses. The klyngetun functioned as a society, resembling a small village.

Traditional farming customs remained the same until the mid-19th century. Over many generations good and poor quality farmland was divided between the sons of a family. Because of this way of dividing the farmland, farmers would often own small unconnected patches of land, what is called «teigblanding».

With this change the previous «klyngetun» changed too. Farmers moved to new farmland and brought their houses with them. Building structures and farming practices changed and were modernized according to the ideals of the time.

The Fjord horse is Norway’s national horse, one of three national horse breeds. As a work horse the Fjord horse has been crucial to farming and forestry on the west coast. It was replaced by the tractor during the mid-20th century. In the summer you can still see horses grazing several places in Nordfjordeid.

The national center for breeding and use of the Norwegian Fjord horse is here at Eid. Since 1886 an annual stallion exhibition takes place at Eid every spring, where the best horses are awarded and used for breeding.