Årdal is a former municipality in Rogaland County, Norway.
Dating from 1837, Årdal was a part of Hjelmeland formannskapsdistrikt, but it became a municipality of its own in 1859. On 1 January 1965 the majority of Årdal, with 743 inhabitants, became a part of Hjelmeland municipality once again. At the same time the Sunngardene district with 121 inhabitants were moved to Strand municipality.
Årdal is best known for Årdal old church (Årdal gamle kirke) which received its final shape after expansion shortly after it was built in the early 1600's. The church was marked by the work of two local artists, the German painter Gottfried Hendtzschel and the craftsman Lauritz Snekker who was his student. The altarpiece and the pulpit was painted by Hendtzschel. They are made of Snekker who is also responsible for most of the carpentry work. The artistic efforts of Hendtzschel and Snekker within various churches in the vicinity formed a part of the Stranganger Renaissance (Stavangerrenaissance), the cultural period which peaked in the middle of the 17th century in the area around Stavanger, Norway.[1]