is a
town and
municipalityNorway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in
Opplandis a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Akershus, Oslo and Hedmark. The county administration is in Lillehammer. Oppland is, together with Hedmark, one of the only two landlocked counties of Norway....
countyNorway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
,
NorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, globally known for hosting the
1994 Winter OlympicsThe 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
. It is part of the
traditional regionThe country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
of
GudbrandsdalThe Gudbrandsdalen is a valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county of Oppland. The valley is oriented in a north-westerly direction from Lillehammer at Mjøsa, extending 230 km toward Romsdal...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was 26,639
. The city centre is a late 19th century concentration of wooden houses, which enjoys a picturesque location overlooking the northern part of lake
MjøsaMjøsa is Norway's largest lake, as well as one of the deepest lakes in Norway and in Europe as a whole, after Hornindalsvatnet. It is located in the southern part of Norway, about 100 km north of Oslo...
and the river
LågenThe Gudbrandsdalslågen river flows through the Gudbrandsdal of Norway.The Gudbrandsdalslågen begins in the lake Lesjaskogsvatnet , which lies in Lesja municipality in Oppland. Lesjavatn is the only lake in Norway which has two outlets; they flow into two of Norway’s more famous rivers...
, surrounded by mountains.
Name
The municipality is named after the old
Hamar farm (
Old NorseOld Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
:
Hamarr), since the first church was built there. The word
hamar means a "steep rock". In order to distinguish it from the nearby town and the
bishopricA diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Hamar, it was often called
Lilþlæ Hamar or
Litlihamarr meaning "the small
Hamaris a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
". It is also mentioned in the Old Norse
sagaSagas, are stories in Old Norse about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, etc.Saga may also refer to:Business*Saga DAB radio, a British radio station*Saga Airlines, a Turkish airline*Saga Falabella, a department store chain in Peru...
s as
Litlikaupangr meaning "the small trading place".
Coat-of-arms
The
coat-of-armsA coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
was granted in 1898. The arms show a
birkebeinerThe Birkebein Party or Birkebeinar was the name for a rebellious party in Norway, formed in 1174 around the pretender to the Norwegian throne, Eystein Meyla...
, carrying a spear and a shield, who is skiing down a mountainside. It symbolizes the historical importance of when the Birkebeiners carried the to-be-King Haakon from Lillehammer to Rena on skis.
History
The area has been settled since the Norwegian
Iron AgeThe Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
. It is also mentioned as a site for
councilA thing was the governing assembly in Germanic and introduced into some Celtic societies, made up of the free people of the community and presided by lawspeakers, meeting in a place called a thingstead...
in 1390. It had a lively market by the 1800s, and obtained rights as a
merchant cityMarket town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
on 7 August 1827, at which point there were 50 registered residents within its boundaries.
The town of Lillehammer was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838.
The rural municipality of
FåbergFåberg is a village and former municipality in Oppland county, Norway.The parish of Faaberg was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . On January 1, 1964 Fåberg was incorporated into the neighboring municipality Lillehammer. Prior to the merger Fåberg had 13,381 inhabitants.The district...
was merged into the municipality of Lillehammer on 1 January 1964.
Lillehammer was the site of the
Lillehammer affairThe Lillehammer affair was the killing by Mossad agents of a Moroccan waiter, Ahmed Bouchiki, in Lillehammer, Norway on July 21, 1973. The Israeli agents had mistaken their victim for Ali Hassan Salameh, the chief of operations for Black September...
in 1973 where operatives of the
IsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i
MossadThe Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
shot and killed a
MoroccanMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
waiter they mistakenly thought was involved in the
Munich MassacreThe Munich massacre is an informal name for events that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian group Black September. Members of Black September...
.
Lillehammer was host city of the
1994 Winter OlympicsThe 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
. It is known for being a typical venue for winter sporting events. It bid for the
2012 Winter Youth OlympicsThe 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games, officially known as the I Winter Youth Olympic Games , will be an international multi-sport event for youths that will take place in Innsbruck from 13 to 22 January 2012. They will become the inaugural Winter Youth Olympics, a major sports and cultural festival...
, and was passed over, but is now the only
candidate cityLillehammer 2016 is a bid by the city of Lillehammer and the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports for the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics. The bid is the only bid for the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics...
for the
2016 Winter Youth OlympicsThe 2016 Winter Youth Olympics is a major international sports and cultural festival to be celebrated in the tradition of the Youth Olympic Games in the Winter of 2016 during the XXXI Olympiad....
.
In 2005, the popular British automotive show
Top GearTop Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
aired its "
Winter Olympics specialTop Gear Winter Olympics is an episode of Top Gear.-Summary:Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May travel to Lillehammer, Norway for a special edition of the show, themed on the Winter Olympics....
", an episode of various Olympic event-themed challenges involving cars, set in the surrounding area of Lillehammer.
Education
A number of schools are located in Lillehammer including the Hammartun Lower Secondary School
Lillehammer High School, Mesna High School, Vargstad High School are the three high schools in Lillehammer.
Geography
Lillehammer is located to the south of the municipality of
ØyerØyer is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Tingberg....
, to the southeast of
GausdalGausdal is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Segalstad bru...
, northeast of
Nordre LandNordre Land is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Land. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Dokka....
, and to the north of
Gjøvikis a town and a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Gjøvik.In 1861, the village of Gjøvik in the municipality of Vardal was granted town status and was separated from Vardal to form a separate municipality...
, all in Oppland county. To the southeast, it is bordered by
Ringsakeris a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Brumunddal.The municipality of Ringsaker was established on 1 January 1838...
municipality in
Hedmarkis a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
county. Lillehammer has a relatively dry inland climate. To the northwest is the mountain
SpåtindSpåtind is a mountain in the middle between Lillehammer and Fagernes. The summit lies on the border between the municipalities Nordre Land and Etnedal, both in the county of Oppland. Spåtind is the highest mountain in the mountain area Synnfjell....
.
Climate
Economy
The basis for the city's commerce is its position as the northernmost point of the lake
MjøsaMjøsa is Norway's largest lake, as well as one of the deepest lakes in Norway and in Europe as a whole, after Hornindalsvatnet. It is located in the southern part of Norway, about 100 km north of Oslo...
and as the gateway for the
GudbrandsdalThe Gudbrandsdalen is a valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county of Oppland. The valley is oriented in a north-westerly direction from Lillehammer at Mjøsa, extending 230 km toward Romsdal...
regionThe country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
, through which the historical highway to
TrondheimTrondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
passes. The Mesna river has provided the basis for several small industries through the years, but Lillehammer is now all but industry-less.
Transport
One of the major
Norwegian rail linesThe Norwegian railway system comprises 4,087 km of track of which 2,622 km is electrified and 242 km double track. There are 696 tunnels and 2760 bridges....
, the
DovrebanenThe Dovre Line is the main line of the Norwegian railway system between Oslo and Trondheim. The 64 km section south of Eidsvoll has been replaced by the Gardermo Line, the only high-speed line in the country. The line between Eidsvoll and Dombås is from old times the Eidsvoll–Dombås Line. The line...
, runs from
Hamaris a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
to the north through Lillehammer on its way up the Gudbrandsdal, to terminate in Trondheim.
European route E6European route E 6 is the designation for the main north-south road in Norway, and the west coast of Sweden, running from the southern tip of Sweden, at Trelleborg, into Norway and through almost all of the country north to Finnmark. The route ends close to the Norwegian border with Russia...
passes through Lillehammer.
Attractions
In addition to the Olympic site, Lillehammer offers a number of other tourist attractions:
- Maihaugen
Maihaugen is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Lillehammer, Norway. Maihaugen, with close to 200 buildings, is one of Northern Europe's largest open air museums and is one of the largest cultural facilities in Norway.-History:The founder, Anders Sandvig, collected from old houses and...
, centrally located in Lillehammer, is the largest open air museumAn open-air museum is a distinct type of museum exhibiting its collections out-of-doors. The first open-air museums were established in Scandinavia towards the end of the nineteenth century, and the concept soon spread throughout Europe and North America. Open-air museums are variously known as...
in Norway, with 185 buildings, mostly from Lillehammer and the valley of Gudbrandsdalen.
- Garmo stave church
Garmo stave church is a stave church situated at the Maihaugen museum in Lillehammer, Norway. -Description:Garmo stave church originally came from Garmo in Lom in Oppland county. It was built circa 1150 on the site of a previous church believed to have been built in 1021 by a Viking chieftain...
(built around 1150)
- The Norwegian Olympic Museum
Norwegian Olympic Museum is located in Håkons Hall, Lillehammer, Norway.Norwegian Olympic Museum in Hakon's Hall in Lillehammer, was officially opened by King Harald V and Queen Sonja on November 27, 1997. It is the only museum in northern Europe that presents the entire history of the Olympic...
is the only museum in Northern Europa that shows whole the Olympic history from the ancient times and up to today, including all Summer- and Wintergames. The museum also houses the Norwegian Sports Hall of Fame and a special section about the Lillehammer `94 Olympic Wintergames. The museum is located in the Håkons Hall.
- The art museum, "Flygelet" -> "The Grand Piano"
- The PS Skibladner
PS Skibladner is a paddle steamer operating on the lake of Mjøsa in Norway.Skibladner is a sidewheel design, and her maiden voyage was on 2 August 1856, making her the world's oldest paddle steamer still in timetabled service...
is the world's oldest paddle steamerA paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
in scheduled service, launched in 1856. Summer sailings around lake MjøsaMjøsa is Norway's largest lake, as well as one of the deepest lakes in Norway and in Europe as a whole, after Hornindalsvatnet. It is located in the southern part of Norway, about 100 km north of Oslo...
: Lillehammer, MoelvMoelv is the second largest center in the municipality of Ringsaker in Norway.Situated at the shores of lake Mjøsa at the mouth of the Moelva river, the town is bordered by green, forested hills farmland. Home to about 4,000 inhabitants, the town consists of a few shopping centers, a railway...
, Gjøvikis a town and a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Gjøvik.In 1861, the village of Gjøvik in the municipality of Vardal was granted town status and was separated from Vardal to form a separate municipality...
, Hamaris a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
, and Eidsvollis a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Romerike traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sundet.-Name:...
.
- The ski jump at Lysgårdsbakkene.
- Sjusjøen
Sjusjøen is a Norwegian skiing destination with forest and mountain terrain, about 20 km east of the centre of Lillehammer, at . The area is located in the municipality of Ringsaker, Hedmark...
is a skiing destination with forest and mountain terrain only 20 km away (east) from the centre of Lillehammer in the municipality of Ringsakeris a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Brumunddal.The municipality of Ringsaker was established on 1 January 1838...
.
- The Sambandets Utdanning og Kompetansesenter
UKS Hærens Samband is a military station located on Jørstadmoen outside Lillehammer in central-eastern Norway. Their main task is to provide intelligence, personnel and signalling equipment to all units in the Norwegian Defence Force. SBUKS was called Sambandsregimentet until 2000 and have been...
is an army unit located in the camp JørstadmoenJørstadmoen is a village in Lillehammer municipality, in Oppland, Norway....
3–4 km northwest of Lillehammer.
- The rock carvings at Drotten
Rock carvings are found at Drotten, Fåberg, in Lillehammer municipality in the county of Oppland, Norway. The rock carvings are located west of the river Lågen about 1.5 km above the Brunlaug bridge ....
, Fåberg, west of Lågen about 1.5 km above Brunlaug bridge.
- Nansen Academy - the Norwegian Humanistic Academy - The Nansen Academy is an educational institution for adult students with different political, religious and cultural backgrounds. The Academy is founded on the inheritance of humanism and aims at strengthening the knowledge about this inheritance.
Sportclubs in Lillehammer
- Lillehammer Icehockey Club (The team competes in Norway's major hockey league, the GET-League.)
- Lillehammer Orienteeringclub
- Lillehammer Skiclub
- Lillehammer Speedskating club
Lillehammer Skiklub is a Norwegian skiing club from Lillehammer, Norway.It was founded in 1883. It is best known for arranging Birkebeinerrennet together with Rena IL...
- Faaberg Fotball Lillehammer
- Roterud Idrettslag
- Lillehammer Fotballklubb
Notable residents
- Sigrid Undset
Sigrid Undset was a Norwegian novelist who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1928.-Biography:Undset was born in Kalundborg, Denmark, but her family moved to Norway when she was two years old. In 1924, she converted to Catholicism and became a lay Dominican...
lived in Lillehammer at her home "Bjerkebæk" from 1919 through 1940. She brought her children with her for a short rest, planning on returning to OsloOslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. However, she chose to remain in Lillehammer. She wrote her most famous works there: the three-volume Kristin LavransdatterKristin Lavransdatter is the common name for a trilogy of historical novels written by Nobel laureate Sigrid Undset. The individual novels are Kransen , first published in 1920, Husfrue , published in 1921, and Korset , published in 1922...
, the six-volume Sverkholt tales, and the four-volume Olav Audunssønn. In 1940, because she had expressed strong anti-Nazi sentiments since the early 1930s, she fled Lillehammer before the invading German armyThe Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
reached the town. She returned to Lillehammer after the war and died there in 1949. She is buried at the cemetery in Mesnali, a nearby village.
- Toki Wartooth, rhythm guitar player for the fictional death metal band Dethklok
Dethklok is both a virtual band featured in the Adult Swim animated program Metalocalypse, as well as a real band created to perform the band's melodic death metal music in live shows. The band was created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha. The music heard on Metalocalypse is performed by Brendon...
was raised in a nearby abandoned village.
Twin towns — Sister cities
The following cities are
twinnedTwin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with Lillehammer:
External links