Fyresdal
Encyclopedia
Fyresdal is a municipality
in Telemark
county
, Norway
. It is part of the traditional region
of Vest-Telemark
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Moland. The municipality of Moland was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
). In 1879, the name was changed to Fyresdal.
form of the name was Fyrisdalr. The first element is the genitive case
of the name of the lake
Fyrir (now called Fyresvatn
). The last element is dalr which means "valley
" or "dale". The name of the lake is derived from the word fura which means "pine
tree". Prior to 1879, the municipality was called Moland.
is from modern times. They were granted in 1992. The arms show two silver-colored broadaxe
s on a green background. It was chosen to represent the forestry
work in the municipality.
, its mighty Viking graves, heaps of slag
, and the former pilgrim church that once stood proudly north of the village centre. People travelled to this church from all over Norway and even from Europe
. It was said that the stream
running behind the church had healing powers.
A few miles south of the site where the Heggland Pilgrim Church (|), once stood at Molandsmoen, a stone with Runic inscriptions
can be found. This is a reminder from the Viking Age when horse battles were held there. Originally, one believes, there were four of them.
Klokkarhamaren is a little mountain
on a peninsula
in the municipal centre, and it is the location of a cave called Munkhola. It is believed that a certain number of monk
s in Medieval times resided, held masses
, and sought refuge here.
, forestry
, trade
, and tourism
.
is located in Moland, with a nearby hotel. This is a joint operation under the name Airparc Fyresdal.
Fyresdal has bus connections with the city centres of Skien
and Porsgrunn
in Telemark county; Arendal
in Aust-Agder county; Bergen
in Hordaland
county; Haugesund
in Rogaland
county; and to the capital, Oslo
. A bus also travels between Fyresdal and Dalen
, the municipal centre of Tokke
, every school day of the year.
The municipality of Fyresdal consists of several little villages north of the municipal centre, in the main valley of Fyresdal, and on the western and southeastern shores of Fyresvatn (Lake Fyresdal), one of Norway's deepest lakes. The municipal centre of Fyresdal is Moland. This is the location of the municipal assembly, the school, the community house, kindergartens, the home for the elderly, and most of the commercial enterprises in the village. Moland is the most heavily populated aea of Fyresdal.
Fyresdal is the westernmost municipality in Telemark. It borders the municipalities of Tokke
, Kviteseid
, and Nissedal
in Telemark county. It also shares borders with the municipalities of Åmli
, Bygland
, and Valle in Aust-Agder
county.
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
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 Vest-Telemark
Vest-Telemark
The Vest-Telemark traditional district of Norway comprises the upper and western areas of the county of Telemark. The region consists of six municipalities: Fyresdal, Tokke, Vinje, Nissedal, Kviteseid and Seljord....
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Moland. The municipality of Moland was established 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...
). In 1879, the name was changed to Fyresdal.
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 Fyrisdalr. 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 name of the lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
Fyrir (now called Fyresvatn
Fyresvatn
Fyresvatn, , is the fifth deepest lake in Norway with a depth of 377 m.It is located in Fyresdal municipality, part of Telemark county....
). 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 name of the lake is derived from the word fura which means "pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
tree". Prior to 1879, the municipality was called Moland.
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 in 1992. The arms show two silver-colored broadaxe
Broadaxe
A broadaxe is a large-headed axe. There were two types of broadaxes both used for shaping logs by hand hewing. On one type, one side is flat and the other side beveled, a basilled edge, this is a hewing broadaxe...
s on a green background. It was chosen to represent the forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
work in the municipality.
History
Fyresdal is known for its many findings from the Viking AgeViking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
, its mighty Viking graves, heaps of slag
Slag
Slag is a partially vitreous by-product of smelting ore to separate the metal fraction from the unwanted fraction. It can usually be considered to be a mixture of metal oxides and silicon dioxide. However, slags can contain metal sulfides and metal atoms in the elemental form...
, and the former pilgrim church that once stood proudly north of the village centre. People travelled to this church from all over Norway and even from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It was said that the stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
running behind the church had healing powers.
A few miles south of the site where the Heggland Pilgrim Church (|), once stood at Molandsmoen, a stone with Runic inscriptions
Runic alphabet
The runic alphabets are a set of related alphabets using letters known as runes to write various Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet and for specialized purposes thereafter...
can be found. This is a reminder from the Viking Age when horse battles were held there. Originally, one believes, there were four of them.
Klokkarhamaren is a little mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
on a peninsula
Headland
A headland is a point of land, usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends out into a body of water.Headland can also refer to:*Headlands and bays*headLand, an Australian television series...
in the municipal centre, and it is the location of a cave called Munkhola. It is believed that a certain number of monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s in Medieval times resided, held masses
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
, and sought refuge here.
Economy
Most people in the municipality work in the fields of agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
, trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
, and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
.
Transportation
The Vest-Telemark airport, FyresdalVest-Telemark Airport, Fyresdal
Vest-Telemark is an airport in Fyresdal municipality in Telemark, Norway. It does not service commercial aircraft. It is today operated by Airparc Fyresdal and in a joint venture with a local hotel.-History:The airport was opened 23 September 1967...
is located in Moland, with a nearby hotel. This is a joint operation under the name Airparc Fyresdal.
Fyresdal has bus connections with the city centres of Skien
Skien
' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
and Porsgrunn
Porsgrunn
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Porsgrunn....
in Telemark county; Arendal
Arendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
in Aust-Agder county; Bergen
Bergen
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 , ....
in Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
county; Haugesund
Haugesund
is a town and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.-Location:Haugesund was separated from Torvastad as a town and municipality of its own in 1855. The rural municipality of Skåre was merged with Haugesund on January 1, 1958. Haugesund is a small municipality, only 73 km²...
in Rogaland
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
county; and to the capital, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. A bus also travels between Fyresdal and Dalen
Dalen, Telemark
Dalen is the administrative centre of Tokke municipality, Norway. Its population is 801 . Dalen is located on and around the delta where the river Tokke flows into the west end of the lake Bandak....
, the municipal centre of Tokke
Tokke
Tokke is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Dalen. The municipality of Tokke was created on 1 January 1964 upon the merger of the two older municipalities of Lårdal and Mo...
, every school day of the year.
Geography
Fyresdal is the westernmost municipality in Telemark. It borders the municipalities of Tokke
Tokke
Tokke is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Dalen. The municipality of Tokke was created on 1 January 1964 upon the merger of the two older municipalities of Lårdal and Mo...
, Kviteseid
Kviteseid
Kviteseid is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Kviteseid...
, and Nissedal
Nissedal
Nissedal is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Treungen. The municipality of Nissedal was established on January 1, 1838 .- Etymology :The modern form of the name stems...
in Telemark county. It also shares borders with the municipalities of Åmli
Åmli
Åmli is a municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. It is located in the traditional region of Sørlandet. The main population centre and administrative center is the village of Åmli which lies along the river Nidelva.-Name:...
, Bygland
Bygland
Bygland is a municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. The municipal center is the village of Bygland. Other villages in the municipality include Byglandsfjord, Lauvdal, and Åraksbø...
, and Valle in Aust-Agder
Aust-Agder
is a county in Norway, bordering Telemark, Rogaland, and Vest-Agder. In 2002, there were 102,945 inhabitants, which is 2.2% of the total population in Norway. Its area is . The administrative center of the county is in Arendal....
county.
Neighbourhoods in Fyresdal
- Geitstadgrend
- Spockeligrend
- Momrak
- Stykkjevika
- Klokkarhamaren
- Sitje
- Tøddebakkane
- Folkestadbyen
- Prærien
- Øvre Birtedalen
- Nedre Birtedalen
- Fardal
- Breivik
- Snarteland
- Hegglandsgrend
- Grunnvik
- Moland
- Veum
- Hauggrend
- Liegrend
- Fjellgardane
- Kilegrend
Attractions
- One of Fyresdal's two churches (Moland Kyrkje) and the vicarageRectoryA rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
(Fyresdal Prestegard) are located in Moland. According to Telemark folkloreFolkloreFolklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
, the TrollTrollA troll is a supernatural being in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. In origin, the term troll was a generally negative synonym for a jötunn , a being in Norse mythology...
of Røykjenes moved across the lake because the bells of the Moland church were disturbing its nap. The vicarage is where Vidkun QuislingVidkun QuislingVidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
was born.
- Within the administrative center of Moland, one also finds the old village centre, Folkestadbyen. Folkestadbyen is the location of the Fyresdal Vertshus, a Swiss-styledSwiss chalet styleSwiss chalet style is an architectural style inspired by the chalets of Switzerland. The style originated in Germany in the early 19th century and was popular in parts of Europe and North America, notably in the architecture of Norway, the country house architecture of Sweden, Cincinnati, Ohio,...
dwelling built in 1890. It has housed and served both food and drinks to locals and travellers for over 100 years. Øyskogen park, which contains Viking graves and a lot of traditional Telemark houses (e.g. lofts and stabbursHórreoAn hórreo is a granary built in wood or stone , raised from the ground by pillars ending in flat stones to avoid the access of rodents...
) is also part of the old village. The Fyresdal Bygdemuseum, the village museum, is also located in Øyskogen. Folkestadbyen was named the prettiest town/village centre in Telemark in 2003.
- Rv 355Norwegian national roadNorwegian national road , are roads thus categorized by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration which also maintains them...
runs straight through the municipality from north to south. Hegglandsgrend, Veum, and Hauggrend are villages along Rv 355 located north of Moland. Hegglandsgrend is the home of Heggland Gamle Kyrkjegard; Veum is the home of Veum Kyrkje. The Rudolf Steiner Schools are upper secondary level schoolEducation in NorwayEducation in Norway is mandatory for all children aged 6–16. The school year in Norway runs from mid August to late June the following year. The Christmas holiday from mid December to early January historically divides the Norwegian school year into two terms...
s that are located at Foldsæ in Hauggrend. This is a so-called friskole ("Free school") based on the thoughts and ideas of Rudolf SteinerRudolf SteinerRudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner was an Austrian philosopher, social reformer, architect, and esotericist. He gained initial recognition as a literary critic and cultural philosopher...
. In Hauggrend, one also finds the highest mountain in Fyresdal, Roan. This peak is about 1200 metres (3,937 ft) above sea level.
- North of Moland, to the west from the main valley we find the little settlements of Kleivgrend, Åslandsgrend. Turning left of the Rv 355 in Hegglandsgrend, one comes to Kleivgrend and Åslandsgrend. Between Kleivgrend and the neighbouring municipality Valle on the western side of the mountains, one finds an old track that priests and bishops used to get between the counties of AgderAgderAgder is a historical district of Norway in the southernmost region of Norway, corresponding to the two counties Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder. Today, the term Sørlandet is more commonly used.-Name:...
and Telemark. This track is named BispevegenBispevegenThe Bispevegen passes between Valle in Setesdal on the western side of the mountains and Fyresdal on the eastern side. The Bispevegen is a medieval east-west track over the high plateau that priests and bishops used to get between the counties of Agder and Telemark. Every year a march called...
("Bishop's Road") and every year a march called Bispevegmarsjen ("The Bishop's Road March") starts in Kleivgrend. In Fjellgardane, Germans ran mines in the 16th century at Moisesberg.
- On the western shores of Fyresvatn (Lake Fyresdal), to the southwest of Moland, one finds the villages of Fardal, Breivik, and Birtedalen. Here one finds an old and interesting stone called Røykjenessteinen. In 2005, one also found some arrowheadArrowheadAn arrowhead is a tip, usually sharpened, added to an arrow to make it more deadly or to fulfill some special purpose. Historically arrowheads were made of stone and of organic materials; as human civilization progressed other materials were used...
s in this area that are believed to be 4000–4500 years old. Birtedalen is a popular place for people who set up mountain cabins.
- South of Moland, at the southern end of Rv 355 across the scenic and mighty mountain of Våmur where one can see the lake from up above, one comes to the little village of Kilegrend. In the old days there was no road connecting Kilegrend with the municipal centre. Thus one had to travel by boat. For years the steamboats called Teisner and Fyresdølen travelled between Moland and Kilegrend. The latter eventually capsized and sank. The wreck is still visible in Kilegrend.
Notable natives
- Kjell Audun Aalandsli - troubadourTroubadourA troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
- Jon Qvisling - clergyman, 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:...
and genealogist - Vidkun QuislingVidkun QuislingVidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
- Head of government during the occupation of Norway by Nazi GermanyOccupation of Norway by Nazi GermanyThe occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
, traitorTreasonIn law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a... - Sugar Plum FairiesSugar Plum FairiesSugar Plum Fairies is a folk and pop band from Fyresdal, Vest-Telemark, Norway formed in 2000, who have released one studio album. The band plays pop-music leaning heavily on the folk music tradition of their native Telemark and its immediate surroundings, using folk instruments like the Norwegian...
- band - Ivar Peterson TveitenIvar Peterson TveitenIvar Peterson Tveiten was the Norwegian Minister of Education and Church Affairs 1924-1926.-References:...
- politician - Petter Veum - fiddlerFiddlerA fiddler is a person who plays a fiddle or violin.Fiddler may also refer to:*Fabrangen Fiddlers, an American musical group founded in 1971*Tupolev Tu-28 "Fiddler", a fighter aircraft*Fiddler , a DC Comics villain...
- John LieJohn LieJohn Lie is Class of 1959 Professor of sociology and Dean of International and Area Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. His principal academic interests are social theory, political economy, social identity, and East Asia....
- 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:...
with a big audience among Norwegian-Americans. - Haakon Lie - 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:...
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...