Gran, Norway
Encyclopedia
is a municipality
in Oppland
county
, Norway
. It is part of the traditional region
of Hadeland
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Jaren
. There is also a village of Gran located within the municipality.
The municipality of Gran was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
). Brandbu
was separated from Gran on 1 January 1897, but it was merged back into the municipality of Gran on 1 January 1962.
) is named after the old Gran farm (Old Norse
: Grön), since the first church was built there. The name is identical with the word grön which means "spruce
".
is from modern times. They were granted on 11 December 1987. The coat-of-arms is red with two gold triangles stretching upwards with a bottony
cross on the tip of each triangle. It is meant to represent the spires of the medieval Sister Churches
which are located in the municipality. The arms were designed by Kari Ruud Flem from Jevnaker
.
, two stone churches from the Middle Ages
. They are constructed side by side. The smaller and older is the Mariakirke, a single nave
church built in the Romanesque
style. The neighbouring Nikolaikirke is a three-aisled basilica
, probably inspired by the construction of the St. Halvardskirke in Oslo
. According to local folklore
, the churches were built by two sisters. These two detested each other so much they could not share the same church. A more likely explanation however, is that the Mariakirke was built for the local congregation, while the Nikolaikirke was the main church for Hadeland parish. The Granavollen stone is located behind the Nikolaikirken.
At Tingelstad, there is another medieval stone church. It is dated to the 12th century and is called the Tingelstad old church
. This church has survived even though it has not been in regular use for some 140 years. This is also the location of Hadeland Folkemuseum
with a collection of buildings from the area, farm implements as well as a grave mound from the Viking Age
and a copy of the 11th century Dynna stone
. It also holds an archive of photographs and documents.
region. It is bordered to the north by the municipalities of Søndre Land
and Vestre Toten
, to the east by Hurdal
and Nannestad
, to the south by Lunner
and Jevnaker
, and to the west by Ringerike
. Areas of concentrated population include Moen
, Brandbu
, Gran, and Jaren
.
with Gran: - Favrskov
, Region Midtjylland
, Denmark
- Kungsbacka
, Halland County
, Sweden
- Lugazi
, Kampala District
, Uganda
- Mukono
, Mukono District
, Uganda
- Pärnu
, Pärnu County
, Estonia
- Saarijärvi
, Länsi-Suomi
, Finland
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Oppland
Oppland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Akershus, Oslo and Hedmark. The county administration is in Lillehammer. Oppland is, together with Hedmark, one of the only two landlocked counties of Norway....
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 Hadeland
Hadeland
Hadeland is a traditional district in the south-eastern part of Norway. It is located around the southern part of lake Randsfjorden in Oppland county, and consists of the municipalities of Gran, Jevnaker and Lunner. Hadeland occupies the area north of the hills of Nordmarka close to the Norwegian...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Jaren
Jaren
Jaren is the administrative centre of Gran municipality, Norway. Together with Brandbu it forms an urban area with a population of 4,423....
. There is also a village of Gran located within the municipality.
The municipality of Gran 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...
). Brandbu
Brandbu
Brandbu is a village in the municipality of Gran in Oppland county, Norway.Brandbu is located in the traditional district of Hadeland. It was earlier known as "Augedalsbro" . Locals still commonly refer to the village as "Brua" . Brandbu was a parish in earlier times and later a municipality of...
was separated from Gran on 1 January 1897, but it was merged back into the municipality of Gran on 1 January 1962.
Name
The municipality (originally the parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
) is named after the old Gran farm (Old Norse
Old 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....
: Grön), since the first church was built there. The name is identical with the word grön which means "spruce
Norway Spruce
Norway Spruce is a species of spruce native to Europe. It is also commonly referred to as the European Spruce.- Description :...
".
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 on 11 December 1987. The coat-of-arms is red with two gold triangles stretching upwards with a bottony
Bottony
In heraldry, bottony refers to a symbol having a bud or button, or a kind of trefoil, at the end; furnished with knobs or buttons. Hence, a cross bottony is a cross having each arm terminating in three rounded lobes, forming a sort of trefoil...
cross on the tip of each triangle. It is meant to represent the spires of the medieval Sister Churches
Sister Churches
The Sister Churches consist of two late 12th century churches built side by side at Granavollen, Gran, Hadeland, in Norway.-History:According to local folklore, the two churches were commissioned by two sisters who had fallen out and therefore would not be seen in the same church...
which are located in the municipality. The arms were designed by Kari Ruud Flem from Jevnaker
Jevnaker
Jevnaker is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Jevnaker with a population of 4,302.The parish of Jævnaker was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
.
History
Granavollen is the site of the Sister ChurchesSister Churches
The Sister Churches consist of two late 12th century churches built side by side at Granavollen, Gran, Hadeland, in Norway.-History:According to local folklore, the two churches were commissioned by two sisters who had fallen out and therefore would not be seen in the same church...
, two stone churches from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. They are constructed side by side. The smaller and older is the Mariakirke, a single nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
church built in the Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
style. The neighbouring Nikolaikirke is a three-aisled basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
, probably inspired by the construction of the St. Halvardskirke in 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...
. According to local folklore
Folklore
Folklore 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 churches were built by two sisters. These two detested each other so much they could not share the same church. A more likely explanation however, is that the Mariakirke was built for the local congregation, while the Nikolaikirke was the main church for Hadeland parish. The Granavollen stone is located behind the Nikolaikirken.
At Tingelstad, there is another medieval stone church. It is dated to the 12th century and is called the Tingelstad old church
Tingelstad old church
Tingelstad Old Church , is a Romanesque stone church in Gran, Norway. Dendrochronological dating shows that parts of the timber within the church was felled between 1219-1220.The original name for this church was "St...
. This church has survived even though it has not been in regular use for some 140 years. This is also the location of Hadeland Folkemuseum
Hadeland Folkemuseum
Hadeland Folkemuseum is a regional museum for Hadeland . It was founded in 1913, and is located in Tingelstad in Gran. The museum is situated along Kongevegen , the road from Oslo to Bergen which passes through Hadeland...
with a collection of buildings from the area, farm implements as well as a grave mound from the Viking Age
Viking 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,...
and a copy of the 11th century Dynna stone
Dynna stone
The Dynna Stone is a runestone from the late Viking period that was originally located in Gran, Norway.-Description:The Dynna Stone, listed as N 68 under Rundata, is a roughly 3 meter tall, triangular slab of pinkish-red sandstone with runic inscriptions running down one of its edges, and with...
. It also holds an archive of photographs and documents.
Economy
The economy of the municipality was in 2002 of in free income per inhabitant, and net debt per inhabitant was NOK 41,835 (also municipal economy, not private). Health care spendings represents about one third of the total budget, which is 7.5 per cent higher than the average for Norway.Geography
Gran is part of the HadelandHadeland
Hadeland is a traditional district in the south-eastern part of Norway. It is located around the southern part of lake Randsfjorden in Oppland county, and consists of the municipalities of Gran, Jevnaker and Lunner. Hadeland occupies the area north of the hills of Nordmarka close to the Norwegian...
region. It is bordered to the north by the municipalities of Søndre Land
Søndre Land
Søndre Land is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Land. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hov....
and Vestre Toten
Vestre Toten
Vestre Toten is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Toten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Raufoss.-Name:...
, to the east by Hurdal
Hurdal
Hurdal is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hurdal....
and Nannestad
Nannestad
Nannestad is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Teigebyen...
, to the south by Lunner
Lunner
Lunner is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hadeland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Roa...
and Jevnaker
Jevnaker
Jevnaker is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Jevnaker with a population of 4,302.The parish of Jævnaker was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
, and to the west by Ringerike
Ringerike
oskar er kjempe kulRingerike is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Ringerike...
. Areas of concentrated population include Moen
Moen, Troms
Moen is a village area and administrative centre of the municipality of Målselv in Troms county, Norway. The population is 838. Moen is located in the Målselvdalen valley about north of the village of Andselv and Bardufoss Airport....
, Brandbu
Brandbu
Brandbu is a village in the municipality of Gran in Oppland county, Norway.Brandbu is located in the traditional district of Hadeland. It was earlier known as "Augedalsbro" . Locals still commonly refer to the village as "Brua" . Brandbu was a parish in earlier times and later a municipality of...
, Gran, and Jaren
Jaren
Jaren is the administrative centre of Gran municipality, Norway. Together with Brandbu it forms an urban area with a population of 4,423....
.
Sister cities
The following cities are twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with Gran: - Favrskov
Favrskov municipality
Favrskov is a municipality in Region Midtjylland in Denmark north of Aarhus and is a part of the Aarhus area. It covers an area of 487 km² and has a total population of 45,604 ....
, Region Midtjylland
Region Midtjylland
Central Denmark Region or Central Jutland Region is an administrative region of Denmark established on January 1, 2007 as part of the 2007 Danish Municipal Reform, which replaced the traditional counties with five larger regions. At the same time, smaller municipalities were merged into larger...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
- Kungsbacka
Kungsbacka Municipality
Kungsbacka Municipality is a municipality in Halland County on the Swedish west coast, some 30 km south of Gothenburg. The municipal seat is located in the town Kungsbacka....
, Halland County
Halland County
Halland County is a county on the western coast of Sweden. It corresponds roughly to the cultural and historical province of Halland. The capital is Halmstad....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
- Lugazi
Lugazi
Lugazi is a town in Buikwe District, in Central Uganda. The town is also called Kawolo, and the two names are interchangeably used by the local inhabitants.-Location:...
, Kampala District
Kampala District
Kampala District is a district in Uganda that is coterminous with the country's capital city, Kampala. The district is named after the city. The main language spoken is Luganda. However many other languages are spoken, including: English, Swahili, Runyankole/Rukiga, Acholi and...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
- Mukono
Mukono Town
Mukono Town is a municipality in Mukono District, Central Uganda. The town is administered by Mukono Town Council, an Urban Local Government within Mukono District Administration. Mukono Town has links to the English town Guildford.-Location:...
, Mukono District
Mukono District
Mukono District is a district in Central Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town' - Mukono.-Location:Mukono District is bordered by Kayunga District to the north, Buikwe District to the east, the Republic of Tanzania to the south, Kalangala District to the...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
- Pärnu
Pärnu
Pärnu is a city in southwestern Estonia on the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It is a popular summer vacation resort with many hotels, restaurants, and large beaches. The Pärnu River flows through the city and drains into the Gulf of Riga...
, Pärnu County
Pärnu County
Pärnu County , or Pärnumaa , is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is situated in south-western part of the country, on the coast of Gulf of Riga, and borders Lääne and Rapla counties to the north, Järva and Viljandi counties to the east, and Latvia to the south...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
- Saarijärvi
Saarijärvi
Saarijärvi is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, Länsi-Suomi
Western Finland
Western Finland was a province of Finland from 1997 to 2010. It bordered the provinces of Oulu, Eastern Finland and Southern Finland. It also bordered the Gulf of Bothnia towards Åland.- History :...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
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...
- Official website of Gran
- Hadeland Folkemuseum
- Raukr Viking Centre