Kvinnherad
Encyclopedia
Kvinnherad is a municipality in the county of Hordaland
, Norway. The parish of Kvindherred was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
). Fjelberg
, most of Varaldsøy
and parts of Skånevik
merged with Kvinnherad on 1 January 1965.
The municipality is the 5th in size in Hordaland
. The largest village is Husnes
, with about 6,000 people living in or near the village.
Kvinnherad is situated in Sunnhordland
, southeast of the Hardangerfjord
. In the southern part of Kvinnherad you will find the typical fjord landscape of western Norway. The areas of Mauranger
and Rosendal
are said to have about the most beautiful fjord landscape of Hardanger
as a whole: narrow fjords, wild water-falls, and the Folgefonna
- the third biggest glacier in Norway.
form of the name was Kvinnaherað. The first element is maybe derived from tvinnr which means "double" (referring to the two rivers running through Rosendal
, the administration centre of the municipality). The last element is herað which means "district" or "municipality".
The municipality name has been spelled several ways. Before 1889, the name was written "Quindherred", then from 1889-1917 it was "Kvinnherred", and since 1918 it has been spelled "Kvinnherad".
is from modern times. They were granted on 18 June 1982. The arms symbolize the many stream
s and river
s in the municipality, especially the Hattebergselvi and the Melselvi, that come together just before they run into the sea at Rosendal
.
and Grenda
, as well as a local TV channel, TV Sydvest.
), sea-farming, shipbuilding (Eidsvik Skipsbyggeri
, Hellesøy Verft, Bergen Group Halsnøy) and lifeboat production (Umoe Schat-Harding, Norsafe, Eide Marine Tech, Noreq) all have water as the main basis of production. These industries are spread throughout the municipality.
, the shipping mural
in Høylandsbygd and Radiohola
to mention some. Rosendal is the main tourist village in the area, as well as the administration centre of the municipality. The greatest tourist attraction in Kvinnherad is also found here - the Barony Rosendal
- the only one of its kind in Norway. The Barony is a museum, which offers valuable information about an important period of Norwegian history - the time of the Union with Denmark.
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...
, Norway. The parish of Kvindherred was established as a municipality 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...
). Fjelberg
Fjelberg
Fjelberg is a village and former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.The parish of Fjældberg was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . According to the 1835 census the municipality had a population of 2,986. Already in 1855 the municipality Eid was incorporated into Fjelberg,...
, most of Varaldsøy
Varaldsøy
Varaldsøy is a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.Varaldsøy is an island in the Hardangerfjord in western Kvinnherad. The village of Varaldsøy is located on the island....
and parts of Skånevik
Skånevik
Skånevik is a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.The parish of Skonevik was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 ....
merged with Kvinnherad on 1 January 1965.
The municipality is the 5th in size 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...
. The largest village is Husnes
Husnes
Husnes is the largest urban area in Kvinnherad, Norway, with c. 2500 inhabitants as of 2010, and about 8000 in the local region. The village is centered around Sør-Norge Aluminium , and has become the center of commerce and education in Kvinnherad....
, with about 6,000 people living in or near the village.
Kvinnherad is situated in Sunnhordland
Sunnhordland
Sunnhordland is a traditional district in the western part of Norway, consisting of the southern, coastal regions of the county of Hordaland, from the mouth of the Hardangerfjord and outwards to the Atlantic Ocean...
, southeast of the Hardangerfjord
Hardangerfjord
With a length of , the Hardangerfjord in the county of Hordaland in Norway is the third largest fjord in the world and the second largest in Norway. The surrounding district is called Hardanger....
. In the southern part of Kvinnherad you will find the typical fjord landscape of western Norway. The areas of Mauranger
Mauranger
Mauranger is the name of the northernmost district of Kvinnherad. Mauranger consists of the villages Sundal, Austrepollen, Nordrepollen and Gjetingsdalen. The scenery is characterised by its closeness to Folgefonna, several valleys and precipitous mountainsides...
and Rosendal
Rosendal, Norway
Rosendal is the administrative centre of Kvinnherad municipality, Norway. Its population is 944 . It is especially known for the Barony Rosendal.Rosendal has its own website at ....
are said to have about the most beautiful fjord landscape of Hardanger
Hardanger
Hardanger is a traditional district in the western part of Norway, dominated by the Hardangerfjord. It consists of the municipalities of Odda, Ullensvang, Eidfjord, Ulvik, Granvin, Kvam and Jondal, and is located inside the county of Hordaland....
as a whole: narrow fjords, wild water-falls, and the Folgefonna
Folgefonna
Folgefonna is a collective term for three plateau glaciers in Hardanger, Norway,* Nordre Folgefonna * Midtre Folgefonna...
- the third biggest glacier in Norway.
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 Kvinnaherað. The first element is maybe derived from tvinnr which means "double" (referring to the two rivers running through Rosendal
Rosendal
Rosendal may refer to:*Rosendal, Norway in Hordaland county, Norway**The Barony Rosendal located there*Rosendal, Free State in the Free State province, South Africa*Rosendal Castle, Helsingborg in Scania, Sweden...
, the administration centre of the municipality). The last element is herað which means "district" or "municipality".
The municipality name has been spelled several ways. Before 1889, the name was written "Quindherred", then from 1889-1917 it was "Kvinnherred", and since 1918 it has been spelled "Kvinnherad".
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 18 June 1982. The arms symbolize the many 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...
s and river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
s in the municipality, especially the Hattebergselvi and the Melselvi, that come together just before they run into the sea at Rosendal
Rosendal, Norway
Rosendal is the administrative centre of Kvinnherad municipality, Norway. Its population is 944 . It is especially known for the Barony Rosendal.Rosendal has its own website at ....
.
Local media
Kvinnherad has two local newspapers, KvinnheringenKvinnheringen
Kvinnheringen is the local newspaper for the county of Kvinnherad in Western Norway. It was founded and first released in 1973, and today has a circulation of approx. 5000. It is released on a tri-weekly basis, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In addition to its hard copy circulation, the...
and Grenda
Grenda
Grenda is a third generation Australian family business maintaining its position as one of the major players in the Australian bus and coach industry. Grenda Corporation is a bus manufacturing and mass transit company, delivering over twenty-five per cent of Melbourne’s public bus system. In...
, as well as a local TV channel, TV Sydvest.
Industry
The industry of Kvinnherad is based on the rich water resources within its boundaries. Power production, aluminium production (Sør-Norge AluminiumSØRAL
Sør-Norge Aluminium AS or SØRAL is one of the seven aluminium producers in Norway.SØRAL is located in Husnes, Kvinnherad. The plant includes facilities for producing raw aluminium by electrolysis, casthouse for casting extrusion ingots, silos for storing aluminium oxide and a dock...
), sea-farming, shipbuilding (Eidsvik Skipsbyggeri
Eidsvik Skipsbyggeri
Eidsvik Skipsbyggeri is a small shipyard in Kvinnherad, Norway. The yard has mainly been building fishing vessels, but is now preparing to build its first offshore vessel, a platform supply vessel.- External links :*...
, Hellesøy Verft, Bergen Group Halsnøy) and lifeboat production (Umoe Schat-Harding, Norsafe, Eide Marine Tech, Noreq) all have water as the main basis of production. These industries are spread throughout the municipality.
Tourism and places of interest
Kvinnherad is a popular tourism location, and in addition to its landscape, has several places of interest for tourists; the Kvinnherad church, BondhusbreenBondhusbreen
The glacier Bondhusbreen in is an offshoot of the Folgefonna glacier, with a length of around four kilometres, and a height difference of 1,100 metres. It lies in Kvinnherad municipality of Hordaland county in Norway. Water draining under the glacier is catched through a tunnel and exploited in the...
, the shipping mural
Høylandsbygd shipping mural
The Høylandsbygd shipping mural is a wall mural located in Høylandsbygd in Kvinnherad. It is currently the biggest painted mural in the world, with the larger of the two painted walls measuring 80 metres long and 16 metres tall...
in Høylandsbygd and Radiohola
Radiohola
Radiohòla is a natural shelter used by the Norwegian resistance during the second world war. It served as a hiding place for a radio that brought news from the British, during a time of which radios were banned and the German occupants arrested and prosecuted those found in possession of one.-...
to mention some. Rosendal is the main tourist village in the area, as well as the administration centre of the municipality. The greatest tourist attraction in Kvinnherad is also found here - the Barony Rosendal
Barony Rosendal
Barony Rosendal is a historic estate and manor situated in Kvinnherad in Hordaland county, Norway.-History:The history of Rosendal dates back to the 1650s, when the nobleman Ludvig Holgersen Rosenkrantz came to Bergen as commissioner of war for the Danish king...
- the only one of its kind in Norway. The Barony is a museum, which offers valuable information about an important period of Norwegian history - the time of the Union with Denmark.
External links
- http://www.kvinnherad.kommune.no
- http://www.baroniet.uio.no
- Kvinnheradguiden.no
- Kvinnheringen.no
- Grenda.no
- Innsida.no
- Husnes Ungdomsskule