The capital of Norway's offshore oil industry, Stavanger has grown into a distinctly modern city. Located on the coast south of Bergen about 190 mi/305 km southwest of Oslo, Stavanger has several interesting sights and museums, including restored 18th-century streets and houses; Domkirke, a Romanesque church; several museums including the Canning Museum, a replica of a 19th-century sardine-packing plant (http://www.museumstavanger.no); the Maritime Museum; Museums of Archaeology, Printing and Telecom; and the Norwegian Children's Museum.
But the most entertaining museum in town is the Norwegian Petroleum Museum (http://www.norskolje.museum.no). Built over the water to resemble an oil-drilling platform, it's filled with buttons to push, displays to climb on, even a simulated helicopter ride.
There are a number of fine lookout points near the town, as well as interesting Klosteroy Island, home to Utstein, a 13th-century abbey.
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