Aurdal is the valley southeast of Fagernes, the valley is named after the river in this area.
At the bottom of Aurdal lies the idyllic Aurdalsfjorden with good swimming and fishing opportunities. Boat rentals and several activities are offered at Aurdal Fjordcamping and Cabins.
Aurdal - the village with the sunniest and most stable climate in Norway?
History
Written by: Erna Jordet and Egil Dieserud
Aurdal is characterized by a vibrant and performing cultural landscape. This is, and has been, the basis for a good living environment in a village with a diverse cultural life. In 2000, the village was named Nord - Aurdal Municipality's cultural site.
Here in this rich flora it was natural that he who wrote "See Norway's Flower Valley" settled. It was the district doctor Andreas Aabel who lived in the magnificent Juven.
Many famous cultural figures used the village as their recreation spot. Knut Hamsun came here for the first time in 1884. At that time he lived at Frydenlund Skysstasjon - and he regained his health here. He stayed in Aurdal for 1½ years, and got to know many of the village's residents. Hamsun was a postman for a time. He also came here on his honeymoon, when he lived at "Onstadmarken", about 1 km north of Aurdal center. There he wrote the romance novel "Victoria".
Onstadmarken where Hamsun lived when he wrote "Victoria"....
He also finished the novel "August" here, when he stayed with his friend Erik Frydenlund in 1930.
In August 2010, the "Victoria Statue", which was made by sculptor Nina Sundby, was unveiled in the forecourt of Frydenlund.
Others who visited the shuttle station were Grieg, LM Lindemann and Ivar Aasen.
At Frydenlund Skysstasjon, the Travel Association for Valdres and Jotunheimen was founded in 1888, as the first travel association in Norway. The King's Road to Bergen passed here.
Frydenlund Railway Station
The village's musicians Olav Moe and Ulrik i Jensestogo were great musicians, who often gave concerts at the train station.
The memorial to Olav Moe is set up directly above KIWI.
The first foreign car tourist, the Belgian Beduin, was here in 1901 on his journey to Western Norway.
Dag Frøland grew up in the neighborhood.
Many old buildings have left their mark on the village. In Søreigrenda - the old telegraph building.
Along "The Old Bergen King's Road" - and in Swiss style - Sofienlund, Lundberg and Fjelltun. In the same style along E-16, Ottestad and Evenstad. There we also find Knausen - in dragon style and Villa Haug - in typical Art Nouveau style.
Jensestogo, Bø and Sofienlund have received the municipality's award for good building practices.
Aurdal Church dates from 1737 and is the parish church in Valdres.
Aurdal Church
Nordaker Gård is located far north in the village, and is widely known for its excellent rakfisk production.
There was heavy fighting in Aurdal during the war. The memorial stone for the fallen is erected south of the church.
Aurdal today
Location : 165 km from Oslo, 105 km from Lillehammer and 13 km from Fagernes.
Aurdal is a beautiful place. The interaction between the old buildings and the surrounding cultural landscape is striking and characteristic. When you come out onto the open area, out into the valley, you get a view up and down the valley, fjord and mountains. Out on the area you also get an experience of the farmyard that lies up the steep slope. There are some frameworks in both the landscape and buildings that are important for Aurdal to have its special character.
In the village there are about 50 businesses consisting of farmers, shops and a wellness center. We have catering businesses, plumbers, carpenters, carpentry workshops, stonemasons, tinsmiths, painters, bricklayers, excavators, contractors and in addition a cleaning agency.
Kiwi is the 3rd largest grocery store in terms of sales in Valdres.
The village's natural beauty and inhabitants with human qualities have made it natural to develop various institutions such as Aurdalsheimen, DPS (district psychiatric center) and Valdresklinikken (drug treatment center). You get peace in Aurdal, and it is good for your health.
Culture: The cultural landscape is kept open by the farmer.
There is an active environment in this cultural village, which was named the municipality's cultural site in 2000.
The diversity is wide with gymnastics, football, alpine and cross-country skiing groups. We have horse farms, such as Valdres Ponniklubb and we have trotting at the trotting track. The motocross track is popular, and we also have motorcycle teams. We can fish in the fjord, the 9-hole golf course in Vestringsbygda is well visited, and we have cultural trails!
There is a path up to Jevneknatten and Vardeberget, and these and other hiking trails throughout Aurdal are widely used. As well as the numerous hiking trails up in the mountains! The Valdresbanevegen road, which winds through the entire village, gives both children and adults a safe paved road to walk and cycle on.
120 km of hiking trails and Valdres Alpine Center are actively used in winter.
There is a lot of activity in Aurdal Health Association and Nord Aurdal Red Cross.
The diversity of performing cultural forces is broad, and with many top performers. Ragnhild, Eldbjørg, Andris and Bente Hemsing, Elisabeth and Gunnar Kværne Amundsen, the Kjøbli brothers, Henning Andersen, Sivert Holmen, Oddrun Hegge, Arne Paus, Tormod Brufladt, Alf Sagbråten live here. And last but not least, the Norwegian Opera soloist Svein Erik Sagbråten comes from here.
Frydenlund Skysstasjon hosts Frydenlund Days, theme nights and exhibitions. The premises are rented out for meetings and parties. The history club is based there. Read more about Frydenlund under history.
The parish house at the church is used for church coffee, confirmations, funerals, rehearsal rooms for the children's choir, and for various meetings.
At Aurdal School there is a village hall.
The parish church in Valdres is located in Aurdal, see information about Aurdal Church here...
Wednesday evenings' "At Dusk" in church provides peace for the soul.
The mountain church is in frequent use.
Aurdals Musikkorps continues to play and create life with "See Norway's Flower Valley".
Ragnhild Hemsing and Halgrim Hansegård have become owners of Sorenskrivergarden.
Tourism: There are approximately 1,100 private cabins with approximately 275,000 guest nights per year, approximately 500 rental beds in total at Aurdal Fjellpark Valdres, Danebu, Aurdal Fjordcamping, Valdres Gjestegård, Munkekroa and approximately 200 places for caravans.
There are good places to eat here: Valdres Gjestegård, Aurdal Fjellpark Valdres, Alpinkroa, Danebu Kongsgaard and Aurdal Fjordcamping.
Farm tourism: Hjelle Gard has a glass gallery, theme days with "open farm" and a cultural trail.
Aurdal Church and Fjellkirka are also used for weddings and baptisms for people from other places with connections to Aurdal.
The "sunset in the mountains" at Aurdal Fjellpark Valdres is beautiful. The traditional New Year's celebration with the burning of cairns creates a very special atmosphere among the people and gives time for reflection - and to look ahead.|
Tourism has good development opportunities through comprehensive planning and operation of adventure offerings in the mountains and in the countryside. See more about experiences under culture.
Valdres: Visitors to the cabins and accommodation establishments make great use of the diverse experiences throughout Valdres. More at www.valdres.no
Residential area: The revised municipal sub-plan for 2012 regulates areas that will provide good quality housing according to future needs. The municipality has opened up the possibility for cabins to be used for residential purposes.
The settlement analysis of Aurdal provides a good description of the village. The interaction between the old buildings and the surrounding cultural landscape is striking. This analysis can be purchased at the municipality's town hall.
Toll road (after exit in Aurdal)
The barrier is operated according to the same guidelines as the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, the Norwegian Road Directorate, and the toll department. Rates and surcharges have been decided by the "Annual Meeting for the Road" and Nord Aurdal Municipality, cf. Road Act Chapter VII, Private Roads Section 56.
Danebuvegen, tolls and payment methods, READ MORE...