Sør-Aurdal

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Sør-Aurdal kommune
Locator map showing Sør-Aurdal within Oppland
County Oppland
District Valdres
Municipality NO-0540
Administrative centre Bagn
Mayor (2003) Knut Torgersen (Ap)
Official language form Neutral
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Percentage
Ranked 93
1,109 km²
1,071 km²
0.34 %
Population
 - Total (2004)
 - Percentage
 - Change (10 years)
 - Density
Ranked 260
3,251
0.07 %
-8.4 %
3/km²
Coordinates 60°41′N, 9°39′E
www.sor-aurdal.kommune.no

Data from Statistics Norway

Coordinates: 60°41′N, 9°39′E

Sør-Aurdal is a municipality in the county of Oppland, Norway.

View over Bagn from Øystre Bagn, with Vestre Bagn to the left and Reinli in the background. Down by the river is the administrative center Bagn.
View over Bagn from Øystre Bagn, with Vestre Bagn to the left and Reinli in the background. Down by the river is the administrative center Bagn.


Contents

[edit] The name

The name Sør-Aurdal means '(the) southern (part of) Aurdal'. (The parish of Aurdal was divided in 1805.)

See > Nord-Aurdal

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1990). It shows a Middle Age reliquary (still standing in Hedal stave church).

[edit] Geography

Sør-Aurdal is bordered on the north by Nord-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.

[edit] History

Reinli Stavkyrkje
Reinli Stavkyrkje

Reinli stave church (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 there was a pagan temple at the same location before the first church, some time before 1000.

Hedal Stavkyrkje
Hedal Stavkyrkje

Hedal stave church was built after 1160 and in 1699 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.

[edit] What to see

Svartsetera, Bagn Bygdesamling
Svartsetera, Bagn Bygdesamling

Bagn Bygdesamling, associated with Valdres Folkemuseum is located 8 km south of Bagn. It consists of twelve log houses, and a building for permanent displays. A part of the museum is Sandviken and the farm 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.

[edit] Famous residents

[edit] References

East Norway and its Frontier by Frank Noel Stagg, George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. 1956

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


Municipalities of Oppland Oppland coat of arms

Dovre | Etnedal | Gausdal | Gjøvik | Gran | Jevnaker | Lesja | Lillehammer | Lom | Lunner | Nord-Aurdal | Nord-Fron | Nordre Land | Ringebu | Sel | Skjåk | Søndre Land | Sør-Aurdal | Sør-Fron | Vang | Vestre Slidre | Vestre Toten | Vågå | Østre Toten | Øyer | Øystre Slidre