Alrekstad (Norwegian: Kongsgården på Alrekstad, Old Norse: Álreksstaðir) was one of the largest Kongsgård estates on the west coast of Norway during the early Middle Ages.

History

Alrekstad was situated at the foot of Ulriken, the highest of the Seven Mountains (de syv fjell) that surround Bergen, Norway. King Harald Fairhair took residence there in the 10th century. After the Battle of Fitjar in 960, King Haakon the Good was on his way to Alrek, but died at Håkonshella in Laksevåg. The parish of Aarstad existed for centuries before the creation of the municipality of Aarstad in 1838. The municipality and parish of Aarstad (later spelled Årstad) was named after Alrekstad.

Etymology

Presently

The name Alrekstad evolved into today's Årstad, the modern name of a borough of the city of Bergen. The location of Alrekstad – today referred to as "Årstadvollen" – is situated outside of the Årstad borough.

Translation of the plaque

Other sources