Coordinates: 58°52′N 5°37′E
Sola is a municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.
Stavanger Airport is located here. With usually ample supplies of wind and waves, the Sola sand beach is a popular place for windsurfing. Sola Municipality is situated in the Northern area of Jæren. Stavanger, Klepp and Sandnes are neighbouring municipalities. In the western part of Sola, there are 5 kilometres of long, sandy beaches facing the North Sea. Sola covers an area of 69 square kilometres. The population is about 20,000. People have been living in Sola since the Stone Age, that is from about 3000 BC.
Sola Church Ruins is built on the ruins of a Romanesque stone church dating from about the year 1120. The stone church probably replaced an older wooden church in the area. This wooden church was possibly the one that Erling Skjalgsson had built when he converted to Christianity at the end of the 10th century. A fascinating story lies behind this unique church. The artist Johan Bennetter (1822 - 1904) used the church as a studio and lived there with his family. During World War II, most of the church was demolished. It was later reconstructed, and the restoration was finished in 1995. In the Sola Church Ruins area, there is a monument of Erling Skjalgsson (AD 975-1028), one of Sola’s most famous men. This notable Viking leader has been given the honour of having introduced Christianity to Sola.
The stone crosses at Tjora date from about the year 1150. In early Christian times, these stone crosses were used as gathering points for religious ceremonies before churches were built. According to Snorre Sturlason the battle of Hafrsfjord took place in the year AD 872, probably outside Ytraberget. Harald Fairhair, the first king of Norway, is celebrated for having united Norway at this notable battle.
The Aviation History Museum gives a unique insight into Norwegian aviation history from World War II until the present day, with exhibitions displaying more than 30 historical aircraft.
The name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the farm Sola (Norse Sóli), since the first church was built there. The name is very old (probably from the Bronze Age), and the meaning is unknown.
