Ringebu
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| Ringebu kommune | |||
| — Municipality — | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | Norway | ||
| County | Oppland | ||
| District | Gudbrandsdalen | ||
| Municipality ID | NO-0520 | ||
| Administrative centre | Ringebu | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor (2003) | Anders A. Fretheim (Sp) | ||
| Area (Nr. 78 in Norway) | |||
| - Total | 1,248 km² (481.9 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 1,221 km² (471.4 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2004) | |||
| - Total | 4,611 | ||
| - Density | 4/km² (10.4/sq mi) | ||
| - Change (10 years) | -8.2 % | ||
| - Rank in Norway | 209 | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Official language form | Neutral | ||
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| Website: www.ringebu.kommune.no | |||
Ringebu is a municipality in the county of Oppland, Norway.
Ringebu was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Sollia was separated from Ringebu as a municipality of its own in 1864.
Ringebu borders Sør-Fron municipality on the northwest, on the southwest by Gausdal, on the south by Øyer and by Stor-Elvdal municipality in Hedmark county on the east. The center of Ringebu is located at an elevation of 182 meters above sea level, but 50% of the area within the municipal borders is greater than 900 meters above sea level. From Ringebu, two mountain passes provide road access into the Østerdal; one of these is closed during the winter. Because these mountain areas reliably provide good snow conditions, the area is a popular tourist destination. Kvitfjell ski area in Ringebu was expanded to serve as a downhill venue for the 1994 Olympics.
[edit] The name
The Norse form of the name was Ringabú. The first element is probably derived from ringr m 'ring' (but in what meaning is unknown). The last element is bú n 'rural district'.
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1992). It shows three flames (to represent the three parishes of Ringebu, Fåvang and Venabygd).
[edit] History
The stave church at Ringebu, built circa 1220, is one of fewer than 30 surviving stave churches and is one of the largest.
Some 15 km north of the church lies Hundorp farm, the legendary home of Dale-Gudbrand. Dale-Gudbrand is mentioned in the Heimskringla (The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway) by Snorri Sturluson. The account of King Olaf's (A.D. 1015-1021) conversion of Dale-Gudbrand to christianity is popularly recognized.
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