Undredal
Encyclopedia
Undredal is a small village in the municipality of Aurland
in Sogn og Fjordane
county, Norway
. It is located along the Aurlandsfjord, about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of the Nærøyfjord
. The popular tourist destination of Undredal is located along the Aurlandsfjord which is a branch off the massive Sognefjord
in Norway's "fjord-country." It is most beautiful and also home to the smallest Stave church
in Northern Europe
.
With a population of approximately 100 people and 500 goats, Undredal is famous for the brown goat cheese (geitost
) that is still produced the traditional way. The production of cheese is important to the local economy as eight farms produce 10 to 12 ST (9,071.8 to 10,886.2 kg) of cheese each year. Goat sausage is also produced locally.
Prior to 1988, Undredal was only accessible by boat, but since then a road connection has been made by constructing two lengthy tunnels as part of the highway. The Gudvanga Tunnel leads southwest to Gudvangen
and the Flenja Tunnel goes to Flåm
and Aurlandsvangen
to the northeast. There is a brief 700 metres (2,296.6 ft) long length of road between the tunnels that has an access road to Undredal 6.5 kilometres (4 mi) to the north.
This little village was mentioned in Rick Steves
' show about Norway.
) placed Pål Bårdson, a known scholar, there as a representative of the church. Pål Bårdson was the Chancellor to the court of King Magnus
, and he later was the Archbishop of Nidaros (Trondheim
) from 1333 until 1346. The Undredal stave church
can be dated back to 1147.
Aurland
Aurland is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Aurlandsvangen. Other villages include Bakka, Flåm, Undredal, and Gudvangen....
in Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
county, 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 located along the Aurlandsfjord, about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of the Nærøyfjord
Nærøyfjord
The Nærøyfjord is a fjord in the municipality of Aurland in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. The narrow fjord is a branch of the large Sognefjord, and it is featured on the "Norway in a Nutshell" daytrips for tourists...
. The popular tourist destination of Undredal is located along the Aurlandsfjord which is a branch off the massive Sognefjord
Sognefjord
The Sognefjord is the largest fjord in Norway, and the second longest in the world. Located in Sogn og Fjordane county, it stretches inland to the small village of Skjolden...
in Norway's "fjord-country." It is most beautiful and also home to the smallest 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...
in Northern Europe
Northern Europe
Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. Northern Europe typically refers to the seven countries in the northern part of the European subcontinent which includes Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and Sweden...
.
With a population of approximately 100 people and 500 goats, Undredal is famous for the brown goat cheese (geitost
Brunost
Brunost , or mesost , mysuostur or myseost is a brown Scandinavian whey cheese. The Norwegian name brunost means brown cheese, and the others mean simply whey cheese...
) that is still produced the traditional way. The production of cheese is important to the local economy as eight farms produce 10 to 12 ST (9,071.8 to 10,886.2 kg) of cheese each year. Goat sausage is also produced locally.
Prior to 1988, Undredal was only accessible by boat, but since then a road connection has been made by constructing two lengthy tunnels as part of the highway. The Gudvanga Tunnel leads southwest to Gudvangen
Gudvangen
Gudvangen is a village in the municipality of Aurland in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is a popular tourist destination and is located at the end of the Nærøyfjord where the Nærøydalselvi river empties into the fjord. The highway passes by the village...
and the Flenja Tunnel goes to Flåm
Flåm
Flåm is a village at the inner end of the Aurlandsfjord, an arm of the Sognefjord. The village is located in the municipality of Aurland in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway...
and Aurlandsvangen
Aurlandsvangen
Aurlandsvangen is the administrative center of the municipality of Aurland in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The village is located on the east side of the Aurlandsfjord where the Aurlandselvi river flows into the fjord. The village of Undredal and the famous Nærøyfjord are located just a few...
to the northeast. There is a brief 700 metres (2,296.6 ft) long length of road between the tunnels that has an access road to Undredal 6.5 kilometres (4 mi) to the north.
This little village was mentioned in Rick Steves
Rick Steves
Richard "Rick" Steves is an American author and television personality focusing on European travel. He is the host of the American Public Television series Rick Steves' Europe, has a public radio travel show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored various location-specific travel...
' show about Norway.
History
Historically, Undredal was first mentioned when the Bishop of Bjørgvin (BergenBergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
) placed Pål Bårdson, a known scholar, there as a representative of the church. Pål Bårdson was the Chancellor to the court of King Magnus
Magnus IV of Sweden
Magnus Eriksson as Magnus IV was king of Sweden , including Finland, as Magnus VII King of Norway , including Iceland and Greenland, and also ruled Scania . He has also vindictively been called Magnus Smek...
, and he later was the Archbishop of Nidaros (Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , 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...
) from 1333 until 1346. The Undredal stave church
Undredal stave church
Undredal Stave Church is a stave church in the village of Undredal, Aurland municipality, Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway....
can be dated back to 1147.