Veøya
Encyclopedia
Veøya is an island in the municipality of Molde
in Møre og Romsdal
county, Norway
. It is located at a junction of the three main branches of the Romsdalsfjord
between Sekken
and the mainland near the village of Nesjestranda
. Veøy consists of one larger and two smaller islands. The island was Norway's first legally protected land, and the buildings on the island are now part of the Romsdal Museum
.
period. The southern branch of Romsdalsfjord
lead to Romsdal
(the present day town of Åndalsnes
), where important trade routes led up the valley to Lesja
. From there it followed the pilgrim trail over Dovre
to Trøndelag
, or down the Gudbrandsdal
to Ostlandet. The eastern branch led through Langfjorden where they hauled their ships over the 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) wide, low-lying ithmus at Eidsvåg
, in order to avoid the dreaded waters of Hustadvika
, and then back to the shipping routes northwards to Nidaros
(modern day Trondheim
). To the west, past the inlet of the fjord, were the southbound routes to Bergen
.
At this junction, Veøy was established as a kaupang (Old Norse
for a market town
), and Romsdal’s economic, administrative and religious center. It had only 300-500 permanent residents, but as an important commercial center, it saw many more during the sailing season in the summer. The Apostle Peter's church, which is built in stone, the only survivor of three churches on Veøya in the Middle Ages
, dates from around the year 1200. It has a capacity of 400 people, and served the entire region, while the other churches served the local population.
Veøya is mentioned by Snorre Sturlason in connection with the battle of Sekken
in 1162 where king Håkon Herdebrei
was killed by Erling Skakke
on 7 July 1162, during the Norwegian civil wars
. Veøya, or nearby on the mainland, was probably the seat of Ragnvald Eysteinsson
(Ragnvald Mørejarl), earl
of Møre, whose son was Hrolf Ganger (Gange-Rolv).
The island became the seat for the municipality of Veøy
in 1838. On 1 January 1964 the islands Sekken and Veøya as well as the Nesjestranda
district, with 756 inhabitants in total, were incorporated into the neighboring municipality Molde. The island was Norway's first legally protected land, and the buildings on the island are now part of the Romsdal museum
.
Molde
is a city and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Romsdal region. The municipality is located on the Romsdal Peninsula, surrounding the Fannefjord and Moldefjord...
in Møre og Romsdal
Møre og Romsdal
is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. The county administration is located in Molde, while Ålesund is the largest city.-The name:...
county, 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 located at a junction of the three main branches of the Romsdalsfjord
Romsdalsfjord
Romsdalsfjord is the ninth longest fjord in Norway. It is long and located in the Romsdal district of Møre og Romsdal county. It flows through the municipalities of Midsund, Haram, Vestnes, Molde, Nesset, and Rauma...
between Sekken
Sekken
Sekken is an island in the Romsdalsfjord, at the mouth of the Langfjorden, in the municipality of Molde in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The island lies about south of the island of Bolsøya and about west of the island of Veøya. There are no road connections to the island except for a ferry...
and the mainland near the village of Nesjestranda
Nesjestranda
Nesjestranda is a small village situated along the Romsdalsfjord in the municipality of Molde in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located along the highway on the Romsdal Peninsula facing the islands of Sekken and Veøya, just north of the mouth of the Langfjorden. The village has a...
. Veøy consists of one larger and two smaller islands. The island was Norway's first legally protected land, and the buildings on the island are now part of the Romsdal Museum
Romsdal Museum
-History:It was founded by Peter Tønder Solemdal in 1912 and is one of the largest and most extensive folk museums in the country. In addition, the museum has a library and several archives for prints, text, and photographs. In 1928 the museum was opened to the public. In the middle of the field...
.
History
The island was a strategic location for the coastal routes during the VikingViking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
period. The southern branch of Romsdalsfjord
Romsdalsfjord
Romsdalsfjord is the ninth longest fjord in Norway. It is long and located in the Romsdal district of Møre og Romsdal county. It flows through the municipalities of Midsund, Haram, Vestnes, Molde, Nesset, and Rauma...
lead to Romsdal
Romsdal
Romsdal is the name of a traditional district in the Norwegian county Møre og Romsdal, located between Nordmøre and Sunnmøre. The district of Romsdal comprises Aukra, Fræna, Midsund, Molde, Nesset, Rauma, Sandøy, and Vestnes. It is named for the valley of Romsdalen, which covers part of Rauma.The...
(the present day town of Åndalsnes
Åndalsnes
is a town in the municipality of Rauma in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. Åndalsnes is the administrative center of Rauma. The town has a population of 2,207...
), where important trade routes led up the valley to Lesja
Lesja
Lesja is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lesja....
. From there it followed the pilgrim trail over Dovre
Dovre
Dovre is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Dovre. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Dovre....
to Trøndelag
Trøndelag
Trøndelag is the name of a geographical region in the central part of Norway, consisting of the two counties Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag. The region is, together with Møre og Romsdal, part of a larger...
, or down the Gudbrandsdal
Gudbrandsdal
The Gudbrandsdalen is a valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county of Oppland. The valley is oriented in a north-westerly direction from Lillehammer at Mjøsa, extending 230 km toward Romsdal...
to Ostlandet. The eastern branch led through Langfjorden where they hauled their ships over the 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) wide, low-lying ithmus at Eidsvåg
Eidsvåg, Nesset
Eidsvåg is a village in the municipality of Nesset in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is the administrative centre of the municipality. Eidsvåg is located at the end of the Langfjorden on the isthmus connecting the Romsdal peninsula to the Norwegian mainland...
, in order to avoid the dreaded waters of Hustadvika
Hustadvika
Hustadvika is a long section of coastline outside the municipality of Fræna in Romsdal, Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located in the shipping route between Molde and Kristiansund. The area is shallow and is full of little islands and reefs...
, and then back to the shipping routes northwards to Nidaros
Nidaros
Nidaros or Niðarós was during the Middle Ages, the old name of Trondheim, Norway . Until the Reformation, Nidaros remained the centre of the spiritual life of the country...
(modern day 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...
). To the west, past the inlet of the fjord, were the southbound routes to 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 , ....
.
At this junction, Veøy was established as a kaupang (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....
for a market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
), and Romsdal’s economic, administrative and religious center. It had only 300-500 permanent residents, but as an important commercial center, it saw many more during the sailing season in the summer. The Apostle Peter's church, which is built in stone, the only survivor of three churches on Veøya in 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...
, dates from around the year 1200. It has a capacity of 400 people, and served the entire region, while the other churches served the local population.
Veøya is mentioned by Snorre Sturlason in connection with the battle of Sekken
Sekken
Sekken is an island in the Romsdalsfjord, at the mouth of the Langfjorden, in the municipality of Molde in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The island lies about south of the island of Bolsøya and about west of the island of Veøya. There are no road connections to the island except for a ferry...
in 1162 where king Håkon Herdebrei
Haakon II of Norway
Haakon II Sigurdsson , also known as Haakon Herdebrei, was King of Norway from 1157 until 1162 during the Civil war era in Norway.-Biography:His nickname, Herdebrei, means broad-shouldered...
was killed by Erling Skakke
Erling Skakke
Erling Skakke was a Norwegian Jarl during the 12th century. He was the father of Magnus V, who reigned as King of Norway from 1161 to 1184....
on 7 July 1162, during the Norwegian civil wars
Civil war era in Norway
The Civil war era of Norwegian history is a term used for the period in the history of Norway between 1130 and 1240. During this time, a series of civil wars were fought between rival kings and pretenders to the throne of Norway. The reasons for the wars is one of the most debated topics in...
. Veøya, or nearby on the mainland, was probably the seat of Ragnvald Eysteinsson
Ragnvald Eysteinsson
Rognvald "The Wise" Eysteinsson is the founder of the Earldom of Orkney in the Norse Sagas. Three quite different accounts of the creation of the Norse earldom on Orkney and Shetland exist...
(Ragnvald Mørejarl), earl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
of Møre, whose son was Hrolf Ganger (Gange-Rolv).
The island became the seat for the municipality of Veøy
Veøy
Veøy is a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. It initially consisted of Vestnes, as well as the southern part of Molde and the northern part of Rauma. Vestnes was demerged in 1838, later the same year the municipality was established. From 1964, the municipality was split between Molde...
in 1838. On 1 January 1964 the islands Sekken and Veøya as well as the Nesjestranda
Nesjestranda
Nesjestranda is a small village situated along the Romsdalsfjord in the municipality of Molde in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located along the highway on the Romsdal Peninsula facing the islands of Sekken and Veøya, just north of the mouth of the Langfjorden. The village has a...
district, with 756 inhabitants in total, were incorporated into the neighboring municipality Molde. The island was Norway's first legally protected land, and the buildings on the island are now part of the Romsdal museum
Romsdal Museum
-History:It was founded by Peter Tønder Solemdal in 1912 and is one of the largest and most extensive folk museums in the country. In addition, the museum has a library and several archives for prints, text, and photographs. In 1928 the museum was opened to the public. In the middle of the field...
.