Ådal
Encyclopedia
Ådal is a valley in the municipality of Ringerike
and was a former municipality in Buskerud
County, Norway.
The municipality was created in 1857 by a split from Norderhov
. At that time Ådal had a population of 2,382. On 1 January 1964 Ådal was merged with Hønefoss
, Tyristrand
, Hole
and Norderhov to form the new municipality Ringerike
. Prior to the merger Ådal had a population of 3,442.
Traditionally the Ådal parish has been divided three ways. Ytre Ådal includes the village of Hallingby
and is the site of Hallingby school and Hval Church (Hval kirke). Øvre Ådal includes the village of Nes, Ådal
and is the site of Nes school, Ringmoen school and Nes Church (Nes kirke). Vestre Ådal is the site of Viker Church and the Ådal Mountains (Ådalsfjellene), a small mountain range which stretches from Ådal to Vassfarfoten on the border with Vassfaret
and Sør-Aurdal
in Oppland
.
, the 33rd largest lake in Norway, is located in Ådal. The rivers Begna (from Begnadalen) and Urula (from Hedalen) flow into the lake from the north. At the south end of the lake, there is a dam located near Ringmoen. The lake is well known for its fisheries and is one of the few within Norway with a commercial fishery.
built during the 15th century. It is mentioned in Diplomatarium Norvegicum
in 1462. Before the 17th century it was related to Hole
and then connected after the Protestant Reformation
to Norderhov
parish. By 1700 Ådal needed a new church to serve the growing needs of its parish.
Viker Church (Norwegian: Viker Kirke) is located on the west shore of Sperillen Lake. The church dates to 1702. The pulpit, altar and crucifes from the old Stave church were saved and placed in the new church. The church has an open interior ceilings and wood walls that are oiled. The wooden exterior is dark brown. The altarpiece is from 1720's. The baptismal font is from 1728 and has an octagon top and bottom. The church tower has two bells, dating to 1721 and 1842. Because it is situated in the middle of a forested area, it is difficult to see Viker Church from a distance.
name of the district was Árdalr. The first element is the genitive case of á for 'river', the last element is dalr meaning 'dale or valley'.
Ringerike
oskar er kjempe kulRingerike is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Ringerike...
and was a former municipality in Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
County, Norway.
Norderhov
Norderhov is a former municipality in Buskerud county, Norway.-Municipality:Norderhov municipality was established on January 1, 1838 . According to the 1835 census the municipality had a population of 7,234. On 22 April 1852 the city of Hønefoss was separated from Norderhov to constitute a...
. At that time Ådal had a population of 2,382. On 1 January 1964 Ådal was merged with Hønefoss
Hønefoss
Hønefoss is a city in Buskerud county, Norway, and the center of the municipality of Ringerike.In 1852, Hønefoss received town status and was separated from Norderhov. Hønefoss celebrated its 150th year of township in 2002...
, Tyristrand
Tyristrand
Tyristrand is a former municipality in Buskerud county, Norway.-Background:Tyristrand was created by a split from Hole on 1 July 1916. On 1 January 1964 Tyristrand was merged with the municipalities Hole, Hønefoss, Norderhov and Ådal to form the new municipality of Ringerike. Before the merger...
, Hole
Hole, Norway
Hole is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Ringerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vik. Hole is located around lake Tyrifjorden and extends to the woodland around Oslo...
and Norderhov to form the new municipality Ringerike
Ringerike
oskar er kjempe kulRingerike is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Ringerike...
. Prior to the merger Ådal had a population of 3,442.
Traditionally the Ådal parish has been divided three ways. Ytre Ådal includes the village of Hallingby
Hallingby
Hallingby is a village in Ringerike municipality, in the county of Buskerud, Norway.Hallingby is located north of Hønefoss, along the European route E16 towards Valdres and Western Norway. Hallingby was the administrative centre in the former municipality Ådal, which became a part of Ringerike in...
and is the site of Hallingby school and Hval Church (Hval kirke). Øvre Ådal includes the village of Nes, Ådal
Nes, Ådal
Nes i Ådal is a small village in Ådal in the Norwegian municipality Ringerike.The village lies on both sides of the river Begna, just northern of the river's outlet in Lake Sperillen, It is situated on the E16 Highway north of Hønefoss, towards Valdres and Vestlandet...
and is the site of Nes school, Ringmoen school and Nes Church (Nes kirke). Vestre Ådal is the site of Viker Church and the Ådal Mountains (Ådalsfjellene), a small mountain range which stretches from Ådal to Vassfarfoten on the border with Vassfaret
Vassfaret
Vassfaret is a desolate mountain valley in southern Norway, bordering Flå, Nes, Ringerike and Sør-Aurdal municipalities and Oppland and Buskerud counties. The valley is said to be between the Hallingdal and Hedalen in the traditional district of Valdres....
and Sør-Aurdal
Sør-Aurdal
Sør-Aurdal is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bagn....
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....
.
Sperillen
SperillenSperillen
Sperillen is Norway's 33rd largest lake.Sperillen is located in Ådal in Ringerike municipality in the county of Buskerud. The lake has an area of 37 km², has a volume of 13 km³ , is 123 meters deep at its deepest, and lies 150 meters above sea levelThe rivers Begna from the valley of...
, the 33rd largest lake in Norway, is located in Ådal. The rivers Begna (from Begnadalen) and Urula (from Hedalen) flow into the lake from the north. At the south end of the lake, there is a dam located near Ringmoen. The lake is well known for its fisheries and is one of the few within Norway with a commercial fishery.
Viker Church
The first church located at Ådal was a Stave churchStave church
A stave church is a medieval wooden church with a post and beam construction related to timber framing. The wall frames are filled with vertical planks. The load-bearing posts have lent their name to the building technique...
built during the 15th century. It is mentioned in Diplomatarium Norvegicum
Diplomatarium Norvegicum
Diplomatarium Norvegicum is a series of books containing the texts of documents and letters from Norway older than 1590, verbatim and in the original language. The series consists of 22 volumes, containing the texts of approximately 20,000 documents....
in 1462. Before the 17th century it was related to Hole
Hole, Norway
Hole is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Ringerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vik. Hole is located around lake Tyrifjorden and extends to the woodland around Oslo...
and then connected after the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
to Norderhov
Norderhov
Norderhov is a former municipality in Buskerud county, Norway.-Municipality:Norderhov municipality was established on January 1, 1838 . According to the 1835 census the municipality had a population of 7,234. On 22 April 1852 the city of Hønefoss was separated from Norderhov to constitute a...
parish. By 1700 Ådal needed a new church to serve the growing needs of its parish.
Viker Church (Norwegian: Viker Kirke) is located on the west shore of Sperillen Lake. The church dates to 1702. The pulpit, altar and crucifes from the old Stave church were saved and placed in the new church. The church has an open interior ceilings and wood walls that are oiled. The wooden exterior is dark brown. The altarpiece is from 1720's. The baptismal font is from 1728 and has an octagon top and bottom. The church tower has two bells, dating to 1721 and 1842. Because it is situated in the middle of a forested area, it is difficult to see Viker Church from a distance.
The 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....
name of the district was Árdalr. The first element is the genitive case of á for 'river', the last element is dalr meaning 'dale or valley'.