The landscape stretches from the flat Jæren area by the sea, to the mountains in the east. Fjords and islands give a dramatic presentation. The inhabitants use the neighbouring areas for leisure and recreation. Distances from north to south, and from east to west are short, and not more than an hour.
Historically the region is presenting the Viking Age, from the battle in Hafrsfjord in 872 AD. until 1050, with sites both in Sola and Stavanger.
In 1125 the Stavanger Cathedral was erected, and made a large impact on the small town of Stavanger. Through the following centuries the region was kept poor, until 1810, when the herring came in large quantities to the coast. This gave the fishing industry a huge growth.
At the same time this growth gave new opportunities to other industrial activities. And in the last part of the 1800’s the canning industry was developed, and tonnes of canned sardines were exported in the years to come. In the mid 1950’s new technical requirements led to the need to look for new industry. The shipping industry managed to keep renewing itself.
In 1969 the first oilfield was discovered at Ekofisk, south in the North Sea, which made this region an important part of Norway, and is today Europe’s oil and energy capital. The main source of income for the people comes from working in the petroleum sector. Together with the petroleum industry you will also find aqua cultural and agricultural centres. At Sola there is a Norwegian Centre for Aviation Technology. Farming and traditional industries are still important to the region.
Stavanger is a university city, and home to a number of institutions of higher education and research. In 2008 the Stavanger Region was European Capital of Culture. The vision of Stavanger2008 was expressed through the concept "Open Port", and offered opportunities to join in for everyone - to those who have never thought of themselves as "creative" right through to those for whom the highest forms of art are daily bread. Open Port was also about challenging the region and its people to be even more open and inclusive towards each other, art, ideas and opportunities.