Located in the southwest of Norway, Lysevegen (FV500) is the name of a very popular tourist road in the high mountains of Rogaland and Vest Agder. The road features 27 hairpin turns and a curvy narrow tunnel which allows only 1 car at time.

It’s one of the famous hairpinned roads in the world.

Located on the boundary between Agder and Rogaland counties, in the southwestern part of Norway, the road is totally paved. Starting at Fv450, the road is 32.6 km (20,25 miles) long. It ends at Lysebotn, a small village at the eastern end of the Lysefjorden in a very isolated valley.

The road tops out by Andersvatn lake, at an elevation of 932m (3,057ft) above the sea level. The road is dangerous because its 27 sharp bends, an average gradient of 9.4 % and twists and turns on a single track road. It means drivers need to be extremely careful. It hits a 16% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. It is a long road, twisting and turning the whole way down.

People must take their time and be exceedingly careful driving this endlessly winding road. Tight corners and reverse camber bends greet you for the 20 miles of this mountainous road, but it’s the last section of the road that will really challenge even the most experienced of drivers. Along with stunning views, it features no less than 27 hairpin bends in a row. Two of the main reasons to travel this road - apart from to experience the road - are the walk to Kjerag and the ferry through Lysefjord, back towards Stavanger. Not content with offering hairpins alone, the road drops nearly 1,000 metres before finishing off with an impressive tunnel that turns 340 degrees before you emerge in the quiet town of Lysebotn. Your head may be in a spin by the end, but this is as good as it gets. It can be very narrow at times, so you often have to stop to let drivers coming from the opposite direction pass.

The road, was built as a works road during the building of the Tjodan hydroelectric power station and was officially opened in 1984. Prior to that, boats were the only regular means of communication with the outside world for people in Lysebotn.

The first road was built in 1953-64 inside the mountain, and it was used to get rid of all the removed stone-masses during construction.

This narrow road is only open during 5 months of the year. It has the reputation of being very misty. This road is open only in the summer when it is ice free and safe. It opens in May, and closes in October/November (depending on snow conditions). Both dates are selected by the weather, not by people - sometimes it can be quite late in May before the snow ploughs finish their work, and you can still see snow well into the summer. Even in June you can experience snow along the road.  At the summit there is a lot of snow in the winter.

source text: https://www.dangerousroads.org/europe/norway/76-lysebotn-road-norway.html

source image: https://www.mototurismodoc.com/strade-avventura/dettaglio.php?recordid=5

edited by Olivia