Melhus
Encyclopedia
Melhus is a village and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag
county
, Norway
. It is part of the Gauldal
en region
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Melhus. Other villages include Gimse, Gåsbakken, Hovin
, Korsvegen
, Kvål
, Ler
, and Lundamo
.
Agriculture
is important in Melhus, and the extensive lowland areas in the almost flat valley surrounding the Gaula River are dominated by grain fields. Many inhabitants work in the city of Trondheim
, a 20 minute drive north from Melhus.
The village of Melhus is located on the shores of the Gaula River in the north part of the municipality. The 3.41 square kilometres (1.3 sq mi) village has a population (2009) of 5,097. The population density
is 1495 PD/km2. The 100+ year old Melhus Church
is located on the south side of the village.
). In 1865, the western district of Høilandet
(population: 1,818) was separated from Melhus to form a separate municipality. Then on 1880, the eastern district of Flå
(population: 614) was separated to form its own municipality. On 1 January 1964, Melhus (population: 3,978) was merged together with Hølonda
(population: 1,428), Flå
(population: 843), Horg
(population: 2,560), and the small Langørgen farm area in Buvik
(population: 11) to form a new, larger municipality of Melhus.
) is named after the old Melhus farm (Old Norse
: Meðalhúsar), since the first church was built there. The first element is meðal which means "middle" and the last element is the plural
form of hús which means "house". The farm is one part of a greater and older farm, which had the name Óðinssalr which means "the salr (mead hall
) of Odin
".
is from modern times; they were granted on 8 November 1979. The arms show a gold-colored archer
with a red background. The arms were chosen to symbolize Einar Tambarskjelve, who was a famous chief and archer from Melhus in the 11th century. He is mentioned as an archer for King Olav Tryggvason
in the Battle of Svolder
.
has four parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Melhus. It is part of the Deanery
(prosti) of Gauldal and the Diocese of Nidaros
.
in Melhus at which Jarl Haakon was killed by his slave, Tormod Kark
. Jarlshola is the location in Melhus thought to have been the hiding place of Jarl Haakon and Tormod Kark on their last night before the infamous murder at Rimul.
. The lake Svorksjøen
lies on the western border with Orkdal
and Meldal
. The lakes Benna and Ånøya lie in the central part of the municipality, and the lake Samsjøen lies on the southeastern border with Midtre Gauldal
. The mountains of Rensfjellet and Vassfjellet
lie on the eastern border with Selbu
and Klæbu
respectively.
highway runs north and south through the municipality, following the Gaula River. There is also a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) long stretch of European route E39
passes east and west in the northern part of Melhus between Buvika
and Leinstrand
.
The Dovrebanen
railway line also follows the river through Melhus. The following stations are located along the railway line in Melhus: Melhus Station
, Kvål Station
, Ler Station
, Lundamo Station
, and Hovin Station
.
Sør-Trøndelag
- References :...
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 Gauldal
Gauldal
Gauldal or Gauldalen is a valley and traditional district in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The Gaula River runs through the valley before flowing into the Trondheimsfjord.The district includes the municipalities of Holtålen, Midtre Gauldal, and Melhus...
en 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,...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Melhus. Other villages include Gimse, Gåsbakken, Hovin
Hovin, Sør-Trøndelag
Hovin is a village in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located along the Gaula River between the villages of Støren and Lundamo. The village has a population of 640. The population density of Hovin is ....
, Korsvegen
Korsvegen
Korsvegen is a village in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the Hølonda area about south of Trondheim, just west of the lake Benna. The village has a population of 462. The population density of Korsvegen is ....
, Kvål
Kvål, Sør-Trøndelag
Kvål is a village in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located along the Gaula River between the villages of Ler and Melhus. The village has a population of 471. The population density of Kvål is ....
, Ler
Ler, Norway
Ler is a village in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located along the Gaula River between the villages of Kvål and Lundamo. The village has a population of 565. The population density of Ler is ....
, and Lundamo
Lundamo
Lundamo is a village in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located along the Gaula River between the villages of Hovin and Ler. The village has a population of 1,125. The population density of Lundamo is ....
.
Agriculture
Agriculture
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...
is important in Melhus, and the extensive lowland areas in the almost flat valley surrounding the Gaula River are dominated by grain fields. Many inhabitants work in the city of Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, a 20 minute drive north from Melhus.
The village of Melhus is located on the shores of the Gaula River in the north part of the municipality. The 3.41 square kilometres (1.3 sq mi) village has a population (2009) of 5,097. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
is 1495 PD/km2. The 100+ year old Melhus Church
Melhus church
Melhus Church , also known as "the Gauldal Cathedral", is a large stone church in Melhus, Norway. It was built in 1892, after the older church building was demolished. The churchyard contains a cemetery....
is located on the south side of the village.
General information
Melhus was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistriktFormannskapsdistrikt
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 1865, the western district of Høilandet
Hølonda
Hølonda is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. Hølonda encompasses the southwestern part of the present-day municipality of Melhus, west of the Gaula River. The main church for the area is Hølonda Church.-History:...
(population: 1,818) was separated from Melhus to form a separate municipality. Then on 1880, the eastern district of Flå
Flå, Sør-Trøndelag
Flå is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. Flå is located in the eastern part of the present-day municipality of Melhus. The administrative centre was the village of Ler. The main church for the area is Flå Church.-History:...
(population: 614) was separated to form its own municipality. On 1 January 1964, Melhus (population: 3,978) was merged together with Hølonda
Hølonda
Hølonda is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. Hølonda encompasses the southwestern part of the present-day municipality of Melhus, west of the Gaula River. The main church for the area is Hølonda Church.-History:...
(population: 1,428), Flå
Flå, Sør-Trøndelag
Flå is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. Flå is located in the eastern part of the present-day municipality of Melhus. The administrative centre was the village of Ler. The main church for the area is Flå Church.-History:...
(population: 843), Horg
Horg
Horg is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The administrative centre was the village of Lundamo. Horg encompasses the southern part of the present-day municipality of Melhus on both sides of the Gaula River...
(population: 2,560), and the small Langørgen farm area in Buvik
Buvik
Buvik is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The administrative centre was located in the village of Buvika. Buvik encompasses the extreme northeastern part of the present-day municipality of Skaun...
(population: 11) to form a new, larger municipality of Melhus.
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 Melhus 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....
: Meðalhúsar), since the first church was built there. The first element is meðal which means "middle" and the last element is the plural
Plural
In linguistics, plurality or [a] plural is a concept of quantity representing a value of more-than-one. Typically applied to nouns, a plural word or marker is used to distinguish a value other than the default quantity of a noun, which is typically one...
form of hús which means "house". The farm is one part of a greater and older farm, which had the name Óðinssalr which means "the salr (mead hall
Mead hall
In ancient Scandinavia and Germanic Europe a mead hall or feasting hall was initially simply a large building with a single room. From the fifth century to early medieval times such a building was the residence of a lord and his retainers. The mead hall was generally the great hall of the king...
) of Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
".
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 8 November 1979. The arms show a gold-colored archer
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
with a red background. The arms were chosen to symbolize Einar Tambarskjelve, who was a famous chief and archer from Melhus in the 11th century. He is mentioned as an archer for King Olav Tryggvason
Olaf I of Norway
Olaf Tryggvason was King of Norway from 995 to 1000. He was the son of Tryggvi Olafsson, king of Viken , and, according to later sagas, the great-grandson of Harald Fairhair, first King of Norway.Olaf played an important part in the often forcible, on pain of torture or death, conversion of the...
in the Battle of Svolder
Battle of Svolder
The Battle of Svolder was a naval battle fought in September 999 or 1000 in the western Baltic Sea between King Olaf Tryggvason of Norway and an alliance of his enemies...
.
Churches
The Church of NorwayChurch of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
has four parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Melhus. It is part of the Deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
(prosti) of Gauldal and the Diocese of Nidaros
Diocese of Nidaros
Nidaros is a diocese in the Lutheran Church of Norway. It covers Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag counties and its cathedral city is Trondheim, which houses the well-known Nidaros Cathedral. The diocese is divided into 12 deaneries . Finn Wagle was the bishop from 1991 to 2008...
.
| Parish (Sokn) | Church Name | Year Built | Location of the Church |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flå | Flå Church Flå Church Flå Church is a parish church in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the village of Ler.The wooden church was built in 1794 to hold up to 150 people. The church is part of the Flå parish in the Gauldal deanery in the Diocese of Nidaros.-See also:*Horg... |
1794 | Ler Ler, Norway Ler is a village in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located along the Gaula River between the villages of Kvål and Lundamo. The village has a population of 565. The population density of Ler is .... |
| Horg | Horg Church Horg Church Horg Church is a parish church in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The church is located in the southern side of the village of Lundamo, just east of the European route E6 and the Gaula River.... |
1892 | Lundamo Lundamo Lundamo is a village in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located along the Gaula River between the villages of Hovin and Ler. The village has a population of 1,125. The population density of Lundamo is .... |
| Hølonda | Hølonda Church Hølonda Church Hølonda Church is a parish church in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located near the Krokstad farm, about west of Hovin and about southwest of Korsvegen.... |
1848 | Hølonda Hølonda Hølonda is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. Hølonda encompasses the southwestern part of the present-day municipality of Melhus, west of the Gaula River. The main church for the area is Hølonda Church.-History:... |
| Melhus | Melhus Church Melhus church Melhus Church , also known as "the Gauldal Cathedral", is a large stone church in Melhus, Norway. It was built in 1892, after the older church building was demolished. The churchyard contains a cemetery.... |
1892 | Melhus |
History
Melhus was the site of many important events during the Viking Era. It was the site of the farm RimulRimul
Rimul is a farm in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is the scene of the murder of Håkon Sigurdsson by his slave Tormod Kark , as described in the Saga of king Olav Tryggvason in Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla.-Location:There is still a farm named Romol in the western...
in Melhus at which Jarl Haakon was killed by his slave, Tormod Kark
Tormod Kark
Tormod Kark was the slave and friend of Håkon Sigurdsson . Hoping for a reward, Kark killed the wanted earl and brought his head to enemy Olaf Tryggvason, later king of Norway. The murder happened at Rimul in Melhus...
. Jarlshola is the location in Melhus thought to have been the hiding place of Jarl Haakon and Tormod Kark on their last night before the infamous murder at Rimul.
Geography
The 695 square kilometres (268.3 sq mi) municipality of Melhus includes the valley of the Gaula River as it flows northwards towards its mouth at the Gaulosen, an arm of the TrondheimsfjordTrondheimsfjord
The Trondheimsfjord , an inlet of the Norwegian Sea, is Norway's third longest fjord at long. It is located in the west central part of the country, and it stretches from Ørland in west to Steinkjer in north, passing the city of Trondheim on its way...
. The lake Svorksjøen
Svorksjøen
Svorksjøen is a lake on the border of the municipalities of Melhus, Meldal and Orkdal in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The lake lies about east of the village of Svorkmo in Orkdal....
lies on the western border with Orkdal
Orkdal
Orkdal is a municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Orkdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Orkanger. Other villages in the municipality include Kjøra, Geitastrand, Gjølme, Thamshavn, Fannrem, Vormstad, Svorkmo, and...
and Meldal
Meldal
Meldal is a village and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Orkdalen region.The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Meldal. The village of Meldal has a population of 609. Other villages include Løkken Verk, Bjørnli, and Storås...
. The lakes Benna and Ånøya lie in the central part of the municipality, and the lake Samsjøen lies on the southeastern border with Midtre Gauldal
Midtre Gauldal
Midtre Gauldal is a municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Gauldalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Støren...
. The mountains of Rensfjellet and Vassfjellet
Vassfjellet
Vassfjellet is a mountain on the border of the municipalities of Melhus and Klæbu in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The eastern side of the mountain hosts a ski resort, Vassfjellet Skisenter....
lie on the eastern border with Selbu
Selbu
Selbu is a municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Mebonden. Other villages in Selbu include Flora, Fossan, Hyttbakken, Innbygda, Selbustrand, Tømra, and Vikvarvet.-General information:...
and Klæbu
Klæbu
Klæbu is a village and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the southern part of the Trondheim Region, about south of the city of Trondheim. The administrative center is the village of Klæbu. The other major village in Klæbu is Tanem.The village of Klæbu is located...
respectively.
Transportation
The European route E6European route E6
European route E 6 is the designation for the main north-south road in Norway, and the west coast of Sweden, running from the southern tip of Sweden, at Trelleborg, into Norway and through almost all of the country north to Finnmark. The route ends close to the Norwegian border with Russia...
highway runs north and south through the municipality, following the Gaula River. There is also a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) long stretch of European route E39
European route E39
E 39 is the designation of a 1330 km long north-south road in Norway and Denmark, running from Klett just south of Trondheim to Aalborg, via Orkanger, Vinjeøra, Halsa ... Straumsnes, Krifast, Batnfjordsøra, Molde ... Vestnes, Skodje, Ålesund ... Volda ... Nordfjordeid ... Sandane, Førde,...
passes east and west in the northern part of Melhus between Buvika
Buvika
Buvika is a village in the municipality of Skaun in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located at the end of the Gaulosen, an arm of the Trondheimsfjord, about from the mouth of the Gaula River. Buvika lies along the European route E39, about halfway between the villages of Børsa and Leinstrand...
and Leinstrand
Leinstrand
Leinstrand is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The area of Leinstrand encompasses the south central part of the city of Trondheim. The local Leinstrand Church was built in 1673.-History:...
.
The Dovrebanen
Dovrebanen
The Dovre Line is the main line of the Norwegian railway system between Oslo and Trondheim. The 64 km section south of Eidsvoll has been replaced by the Gardermo Line, the only high-speed line in the country. The line between Eidsvoll and Dombås is from old times the Eidsvoll–Dombås Line. The line...
railway line also follows the river through Melhus. The following stations are located along the railway line in Melhus: Melhus Station
Melhus Station
Melhus Station is a railway station in the village of Melhus in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The station is located on the Dovrebanen railway line, about south of Trondheim Central Station and about north of Oslo Central Station . The station sits at an...
, Kvål Station
Kvål Station
Kvål Station is a railway station in the village of Kvål in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The station is located on the Dovrebanen railway line, about south of Trondheim Central Station and about north of Oslo Central Station . The station sits at an elevation of...
, Ler Station
Ler Station
Ler Station is a railway station in the village of Ler in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The station is located on the Dovrebanen railway line, about south of Trondheim Central Station and about north of Oslo Central Station . The station sits at an elevation of ...
, Lundamo Station
Lundamo Station
Lundamo Station is a railway station in the village of Lundamo in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The station is located on the Dovrebanen railway line, about south of Trondheim Central Station and about north of Oslo Central Station . The station sits at an...
, and Hovin Station
Hovin Station
Hovin Station is a railway station in the village of Hovin in the municipality of Melhus in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The station is on the Dovrebanen railway line, about south of Trondheim Central Station and about from Oslo Central Station at an elevation of above sea level. Hovin...
.
Newspapers
- Trønderbladet: Largest newspaper in Melhus.
- Gaula: Newspaper published in Melhus which also covers the Midtre GauldalMidtre GauldalMidtre Gauldal is a municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Gauldalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Støren...
and BynesetBynesetByneset is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The largest village in Byneset is Spongdal, other villages include Byneset and Langørjan. The municipality of Byneset encompassed the western part of present-day Trondheim municipality. It sits along an arm of the Trondheimsfjord,...
Notable residents
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...
- Municipal website
- Melhus Prestegårdslåna
- Local history of Melhus