Reisehaandbog over Norge
Encyclopedia
Reisehaandbog over Norge is a Norwegian travel guide book first published in 1879 by Yngvar Nielsen
. It was re-issued in twelve different editions between 1879 and 1915. The guide book became quite popular, and played an important role in the development of tourism
in Norway. An English
edition of the guide book was published in 1886.
, historian
, and politician Yngvar Nielsen. He was an eager hiker
, and made long journeys in Norway every year. He was a board member of the Norwegian Trekking Association from 1879, and chaired the organization for 18 years, from 1890 to 1908. As a young boy Nielsen travelled along with his father, Carsten Tank Nielsen, who was in charge of the development of a telegraph infrastructure in Norway. He crossed the glacier Jostedalsbreen
by foot in 1864, from Jostedal
to Stryn
; this visit sparked his interest for the glacier, the surrounding districts, and tourism. Nielsen travelled all over the country, and became familiar with various aspects of travelling. In 1873 he was offered the opportunity to write a travel guide to Norway, which was issued in German language
as Norwegen. Ein praktisches Handbuch für Reisende, published in Hamburg in 1874.
and engineer Gunnar Sætren
.
Yngvar Nielsen
Yngvar Nielsen was a Norwegian historian, politician, geographer and pioneer of tourism in Norway.-Background:...
. It was re-issued in twelve different editions between 1879 and 1915. The guide book became quite popular, and played an important role in the development of 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...
in Norway. An English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
edition of the guide book was published in 1886.
Authorship
The author of the travel guide was geographerGeographer
A geographer is a scholar whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's natural environment and human society.Although geographers are historically known as people who make maps, map making is actually the field of study of cartography, a subset of geography...
, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, and politician Yngvar Nielsen. He was an eager hiker
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, and made long journeys in Norway every year. He was a board member of the Norwegian Trekking Association from 1879, and chaired the organization for 18 years, from 1890 to 1908. As a young boy Nielsen travelled along with his father, Carsten Tank Nielsen, who was in charge of the development of a telegraph infrastructure in Norway. He crossed the glacier Jostedalsbreen
Jostedalsbreen
Jostedalsbreen is the largest glacier in continental Europe. It is situated in Sogn og Fjordane county in Western Norway. Jostedalsbreen lies in the municipalities of Luster, Balestrand, Jølster, and Stryn. The highest peak in the area is Lodalskåpa at a height of .Jostedalsbreen has a total area...
by foot in 1864, from Jostedal
Jostedal
Jostedal is a village and a former municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county in Norway. It is located in the northern part of the present-day municipality of Luster, about north of Gaupne. The village of Jostedal currently has around 410 inhabitants ....
to Stryn
Stryn
Stryn is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Stryn which had a population of 2,177 in 2009. The municipality is located along the innermost part of the...
; this visit sparked his interest for the glacier, the surrounding districts, and tourism. Nielsen travelled all over the country, and became familiar with various aspects of travelling. In 1873 he was offered the opportunity to write a travel guide to Norway, which was issued in German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
as Norwegen. Ein praktisches Handbuch für Reisende, published in Hamburg in 1874.
Contents
The original 1879 edition of Reisehaandbog over Norge, had 234 pages, while the tenth edition, from 1903, had 554 pages. The guide book covered themes such as transport, lodging, prices, mountain passages, distances, glacier walks, and historical and cultural overviews. From the 11th edition (1908) the book was split geographically into four parts, called: I. Søndenfjeldske, II. Østenfjeldske, III. Vestenfjeldske, and IV. Nordenfjeldske. Among the map suppliers for the book were topographer and military officer Kristen Gran GleditschKristen Gran Gleditsch
Kristen Gran Gleditsch was a Norwegian military officer and topographer.He was born in Overhalla as a son of dean Lars August Gleditsch . He was a brother of bishop Jens Gran Gleditsch, an uncle of Ellen, Kristian and Henry Gleditsch, and a first cousin once removed of Odd Gleditsch, Sr...
and engineer Gunnar Sætren
Gunnar Sætren
Gunnar Sætren was a Norwegian engineer, manager and magazine editor. He was an important figure at Kanalvæsenet for more than forty years, and made several contributions to the exploitation of Norwegian water resources.-Personal life:Sætren was born in Elverum as the son of farmer Carsten Sæthren...
.