Concert arenas
Hardanger Music Festival 2012 will have concerts at the following locations:
"Lagmannsstova i Agatunet" -The Legist's House in Aga cluster farm village.
"Agatunet" is one of few remaining West Norwegian cluster farms. Most of the houses date from the 19th century, but several are much older. The Legist's House is the oldest, and was build mid-13th century by the king's local official and councellor, the knight Sigurd Brynjulvson Aga. Today the building is the only one left of its kind in Norway, and a fine example of local aristocratic architecture.
Hardanger Gjestegard
Hardanger Gjestegard is now a beautifully restored guest house in the wooden buildings of a former juice factory from 1898. Great care was taken when the restoration process tok place in the 1990s, which resulted in several prestigeous awards. It is now a fine example of vernaculare architecture.
"Skrivargarden" - The Magistrate's House
A magistrate's house was centuries ago one of the most important bulidings in a rural community. The magistrate would be one of the crown's four officials representing law and order, the other three being the vicar, sheriff and lieutenant. These officials and their families would be the social elite in rural society.
"Jåstadstova"- House from Jåstad
This house probably dates from the 14th century, and comes originally from Jåstad, situated across the fjord from Lofthus. It is a so-called smoke house, the smoke from the fireplace would escape throught the roof through a vent. The oldest Hardanger fiddle we know of is the the "Jåstad Fiddle", made in Jåstad in 1651.
Ullensvang Church
The stone church is one of Hardanger's mediaeval churches. It was probably built during the last half of the 13th century, possibly by master builders from the British Isles, and is an example of English Gothic arcitecture.It was rebuilt in the 1890s when the tower was added. The current interior is from the 1950s. The acoustics is fine, and music recordings have been made in the church.
Eidfjord Old Church
This church was possibly erected around 1309, and according to popular legend by a woman from local aristocracy as an act of penance. Twice a play has been staged in Eidfjord to commemorate the dramatic story behing the church.
Kinsarvik Church
This is the oldest stone church in Hardanger, built last half of the 12th century, and is an example of English Romanesque architecture. Crude mediaeval frescos on the walls portray a bishop and St. Michael. Restoration in the 20th century revealed much of the original interior of the church.
"Krossvoll" -Village House
Every little place in Hardanger har its own house erected, maintained and managed by the local inhabitants. They are soscially important, and offer a place to organise dances, parties, meetings, weddings etc. "Krossvoll" was enlarged and modernised in the 1980s, but the original Lars Kinsarvik wood carvings in the Great Hall were preseved. Lars Kinsarvik (1846-1925) was one of Norway's leading wood carvers, and founder of the so-called Norwegian Style, much inspired by norse wood carving.
"Simahallen" - Sima Hall 
Sima Hydroelectric Power Plant is one of the largest hydroelectric power plants in Europe. The power plant's main hall lies 700 metres into the mountain and is 200-metres-long, 20-metres-wide and 40-metres-high.
Tysso I 
Tysso I Hydroelectric Power Plant was constructed between 1906 and 1918, and was first of its kind in Europe when it started producing electricity in 1908. Tysso I became the life nerve of the industrial communities Odda and Tyssedal. The plant is very well preserved, and is one of the foremost technical and industrial heritage sites in Norway today. As a concert arena is is well suited due to its astonishing acousitcs.
Lilletopp
Lilletopp is part of the Tysso Hydroelectric Power Plant, constructed between 1906 and 1918. Lilletopp is a cluster of houses, where the keeper of the pipelines and dam at Lilletopp used to live with his family. Lilltopp is easily visible from the main road in Tyssedal, at the top of the 400 meter long pipelines leading water into the power plant in Tyssedal.
Hotel Ullensvang 
The hotel has been run by the Utne family since the start in 1846. The hotel was host to Norwegian composer Edward Grieg many a summer after the 1870s. Though providing him with great service and comfort, the hotel was too busy for Grieg when it came to writing music. To resolve this he had a small wooden cabin set up, where he could work undisturbed. The composer's cabin is today situated in the hotel's garden. Grieg wrote the following while staying in Lofthus:
- Våren (Spring)
- The Holberg Suite
- String Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Opus 27
- Den Bergtekne (The mountain Thrall)
- Album for male Voices, Opus 30
- Some of the incidental music to Peer Gynt.
Walk in Lofthus area
Fourth generation hotel manager of Hotel Ullensvang leads the way in a walk around Lofthus. Edward Grieg spent many a happy summer in this area, acquainting himself with local music and culture. He got a cabin erected where he could write music uninterrupted in Lofthus.
Gallery N. Bergslien
The gallery diplays Eidfjord Municipality's collection of paintings after Nils Bergslien (1853-1928). Bergslien was a Norwegian painter, illustrator and sculptor, known for his romantic, picturesque, ironic, and sometimes sarcastic, way of describing local culture using a sharp sense og humour.
"Ekspedisjonen Skjenkestove" -the local pub in Lofthus
"Skjenkestova" is a Norwegian word for pub, but "Ekspedisjonen" offers a lot more: it organizes art exhibitions and gigs, is open for a coffe and snacks at day time, and a meeting place for the young at night. Why not try their own produced beer: "Raud harding", "Bitter harding", "Kvit harding" or "Doggfrisk harding". Apart from the two concerts in Hardanger Music Festival's official program, the house band "Sturm und Drang" will perform at the pub during Hardanger Music Festival.
