Sør-Aurdal
Encyclopedia
Sør-Aurdal is a municipality
in Oppland
county
, Norway
. It is part of the traditional region
of Valdres
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bagn
.
The parish
of Søndre Aurdal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
). The area of Bruflat
was transferred from Sør-Aurdal to Etnedal
on 1 January 1894.
form of the name was Aurardalr. The first element is the genitive case
of the old river name Aur (now called Bøaelva) and the last element is dalr which means "valley
" or "dale". The old river name is derived from aurr meaning "gravel
". The name Sør-Aurdal means '(the) southern (part of) Aurdal'. (The parish of Aurdal was divided in 1805.)
is from modern times. They were granted by royal decree on 9 February 1990. It is blue with gold silhouette of the gilt-copper medieval
reliquary
(chasse
) that is still found in the Hedal stave church
, but with five blue arches inspired by the arches on a similar medieval chasse from the medieval St. Thomas Church at Filefjell
and representing the five Lutheran parishes of the municipality. It was chosen because Sør-Aurdal is one of two municipalities in Norway that have two stave church
es that are still in use. The color blue was chosen to represent the two river systems in the municipality that were historically important for the logging
industry and sawmill
s in Sør-Aurdal.
and Etnedal
, on the northeast by Nordre Land
, on the east by Søndre Land
, on the south by Ringerike
and Flå
, and on the west by Nes
and Gol
.
Sør-Aurdal is part of the traditional district
of Valdres
in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal
and Hallingdal
.
(built 1190-1250) is the third church on the same location in Reinli. A new tower was added in 1685 and the building was reconditioned by the Society for Preservation of Ancient Buildings in 1885.
Olaf Haraldsson traveled through Valdres in 1023, and also visited Reinli. It is assumed, then, that there was a pagan
temple at the same location before the first church, some time before the year 1000.
Hedal stave church
was built after 1160 and in 1699 it was rebuilt and changed. An old legend says the valley was abandoned during the Black Death
and the church later discovered by a bear
hunter. A hide is hanging in the church, although now there is only a small part left as visitors have cut away pieces over the years.
, associated with Valdres Folkemuseum
is located 8 kilometres (5 mi) south of Bagn. It consists of twelve log houses, and a building for permanent displays. A part of the museum is at Sandviken and the farm is Bagnsbergatn.
Bautahaugen Samlinger
, associated with Valdres Folkemuseum is located in the middle of Hedalen. It consists of a collection of houses and items from Hedalen. Close by is Hedal stave church.
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Oppland
Oppland
is 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....
county
Counties of Norway
Norway 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...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , 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...
. It is part of the traditional region
Districts of Norway
The 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 Valdres
Valdres
Valdres is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal.Administratively, Valdres belongs to Oppland. It consists of the municipalities Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Vang and Etnedal. The main town in the region is...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bagn
Bagn
Bagn is the administrative centre of Sør-Aurdal municipality, Norway. Its population is 607.Attractions include the Valdrestunet mall as well as Bagn Bygdesamling....
.
The parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Søndre Aurdal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
). The area of Bruflat
Bruflat
Bruflat is the administrative centre of Etnedal municipality, Norway. Its population is 206.It originally belonged to Sør-Aurdal municipality, but on 1 January 1894 the whole parish was split away, together with Nord-Etnedal parish, to create Etnedal municipality.The most known persons using a the...
was transferred from Sør-Aurdal to Etnedal
Etnedal
Etnedal is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bruflat....
on 1 January 1894.
Name
The Old NorseOld Norse
Old 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....
form of the name was Aurardalr. The first element is the genitive case
Genitive case
In grammar, genitive is the grammatical case that marks a noun as modifying another noun...
of the old river name Aur (now called Bøaelva) and the last element is dalr which means "valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
" or "dale". The old river name is derived from aurr meaning "gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
". The name Sør-Aurdal means '(the) southern (part of) Aurdal'. (The parish of Aurdal was divided in 1805.)
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A 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...
is from modern times. They were granted by royal decree on 9 February 1990. It is blue with gold silhouette of the gilt-copper medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
reliquary
Reliquary
A reliquary is a container for relics. These may be the physical remains of saints, such as bones, pieces of clothing, or some object associated with saints or other religious figures...
(chasse
Chasse (casket)
A chasse or box reliquary is a shape commonly used in medieval metalwork for reliquaries and other containers. To the modern eye the form resembles a house, though a tomb or church was more the intention, with an oblong base, straight sides and two sloping top faces meeting at a central ridge,...
) that is still found in the Hedal stave church
Hedal stave church
Hedal Stave Church is a stave church located in Hedal in Sør-Aurdal, Norway.-History:The first reference to the church is in 1327. The original church was a much smaller single nave church built second half of 12th century. The west entrance remains from the original church...
, but with five blue arches inspired by the arches on a similar medieval chasse from the medieval St. Thomas Church at Filefjell
Filefjell
Filefjell is a mountainous area between Lærdal and Valdres in Norway.It is the historical, as well as modern, main route, linking West Norway and Østlandet.-Etymology:...
and representing the five Lutheran parishes of the municipality. It was chosen because Sør-Aurdal is one of two municipalities in Norway that have two stave church
Stave church
A stave church is a medieval wooden church with a post and beam construction related to timber framing. The wall frames are filled with vertical planks. The load-bearing posts have lent their name to the building technique...
es that are still in use. The color blue was chosen to represent the two river systems in the municipality that were historically important for the logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
industry and sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s in Sør-Aurdal.
Geography
Sør-Aurdal is bordered on the north by the municipalities of Nord-AurdalNord-Aurdal
Nord-Aurdal is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Fagernes....
and Etnedal
Etnedal
Etnedal is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bruflat....
, on the northeast by Nordre Land
Nordre Land
Nordre 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....
, on the east by Søndre Land
Søndre Land
Søndre 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 Hov....
, on the south by Ringerike
Ringerike
oskar er kjempe kulRingerike is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Ringerike...
and Flå
Flå
Flå is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Flå. The municipality of Flå was established when it was separated from the municipality of Nes on 1 January 1905...
, and on the west by Nes
Nes, Buskerud
Nes is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hallingdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Nesbyen....
and Gol
Gol, Norway
is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hallingdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Gol. Gol was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
.
Sør-Aurdal is part of the traditional district
Districts of Norway
The 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 Valdres
Valdres
Valdres is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal.Administratively, Valdres belongs to Oppland. It consists of the municipalities Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Vang and Etnedal. The main town in the region is...
in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal
Gudbrandsdal
The 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...
and Hallingdal
Hallingdal
Hallingdal is a valley and traditional district in Buskerud county in Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Flå, Nes, Gol, Hemsedal, Ål and Hol.-History:Ancient routes went to Vestlandet through Valdres and Hallingdal and down Røldal to Odda...
.
History
Reinli stave churchReinli stave church
The Reinli Stave Church is a Norwegian stave church built some time during the second half of the 13th century in Reinli, a village in the Sør-Aurdal municipality of Oppland county. It is the third church at the same location in Reinli....
(built 1190-1250) is the third church on the same location in Reinli. A new tower was added in 1685 and the building was reconditioned by the Society for Preservation of Ancient Buildings in 1885.
Olaf Haraldsson traveled through Valdres in 1023, and also visited Reinli. It is assumed, then, that there was a pagan
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
temple at the same location before the first church, some time before the year 1000.
Hedal stave church
Hedal stave church
Hedal Stave Church is a stave church located in Hedal in Sør-Aurdal, Norway.-History:The first reference to the church is in 1327. The original church was a much smaller single nave church built second half of 12th century. The west entrance remains from the original church...
was built after 1160 and in 1699 it was rebuilt and changed. An old legend says the valley was abandoned during the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
and the church later discovered by a bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
hunter. A hide is hanging in the church, although now there is only a small part left as visitors have cut away pieces over the years.
Attractions
Bagn BygdesamlingBagn Bygdesamling
Bagn Bydesamling is a small museum located in the hamlet of Dolven, south of Bagn in Sør-Aurdal, Norway.-History:The museum was founded in 1920 on the Islandsmoen farm. It includes the farm itself, a saw mill, a flour mill and other furnished buildings. The museum consisting of 12 log buildings...
, associated with Valdres Folkemuseum
Valdres Folkemuseum
The Valdres Folkemuseum, founded 1901, is located at Storøya outside Fagernes in Nord-Aurdal, Norway.The museum is on a small ridge reaching out into Strandefjorden, with the larger buildings closest to the entrance and with smaller farm houses up on the slightly higher area reaching out into the...
is located 8 kilometres (5 mi) south of Bagn. It consists of twelve log houses, and a building for permanent displays. A part of the museum is at Sandviken and the farm is Bagnsbergatn.
Bautahaugen Samlinger
Bautahaugen Samlinger
Bautahaugen Samlinger is a small museum in Hedalen, Sør-Aurdal municipality, Norway. The museum is a subsidiary of Valdres Folkemuseum.-History:...
, associated with Valdres Folkemuseum is located in the middle of Hedalen. It consists of a collection of houses and items from Hedalen. Close by is Hedal stave church.
Notable residents
- Mikkjel FønhusMikkjel FønhusMikkjel Fønhus was a Norwegian journalist, novelist and short story writer. Fønhus' stories are often set in the wilderness, featuring animals and animal behavior.-Personal life:...
(1874-1973), authorAuthorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, most famous for his books about animals in the wilderness. - Hans Jacob StabelHans Jacob StabelHans Jacob Stabel , priest in Sør-Aurdal and member of the constitutional assembly to draft and sign the Norwegian Constitution at Eidsvoll on May 17, 1814.Political affiliation in 1814: Independence party — Selstendighetspartiet...
, priest and member of the constitutional assemblyRiksforsamlingenNorwegian Constituent Assembly is the name given to the 1814 Constitutional Assembly at Eidsvoll in Norway, that voted the Norwegian Constitution and formalised the dissolution of the union with Denmark...
to draft and sign the Norwegian Constitution at EidsvollEidsvollis 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:...
on 17 May 1814.
External links
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics NorwayStatistics NorwayStatistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...
- Map of Sør-Aurdal municipality in Kulturnett.no
- Mikkjel Fønhus biography from DagbladetDagbladetDagbladet is Norway's second largest tabloid newspaper, and the third largest newspaper overall with a circulation of 105,255 copies in 2009, 18,128 papers less than in 2008. The editor in chief is Lars Helle....