Øystre Slidre
Encyclopedia
Øystre Slidre 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
The old municipality of Slidre
(created in 1838) was divided into Øystre Slidre and Vestre Slidre
in 1849. The majority of today's residents live in the villages of Heggenes, Rogne, Skammestein, Beito, and Beitostølen
.
) is named after the old Slidre farm (Old Norse
: Slíðrar), since the first church was built here. The name is probably derived from slíðr which means "sheath
" (which is probably referring to a long depression near the church). The meaning of the name Øystre Slidre is "(the) eastern (part of) Slidre" (since the parish and municipality of Slidre was divided in 1849.)
is from modern times. They were granted in 1989. The arms show blue and silver tile
s made of slate
. This recognizes that the slate industry was a formerly important industry in the area. Slate roofing was very common in Valdres.
where in medieval times people from Øystre Slidre dragged their boats through, therefore the name. A bit further into the mountain there is a big lake called Vinstervatnet with a lot of fine trout
. As a result of a dispute between people from Valdres and people from Gudbrandsdal, they could not leave their boats behind. Therefore they had to resort to dragging their boats through Båtskaret. According to local folklore
, the dispute began in medieval times with a young bride being married to an old man and a knight stealing his way over the mountains to rescue her.
Hegge stave church
, at Hegge, was originally constructed in the year 1216 or slightly later. It has been extensively rebuilt and is mostly post-reformation
. It contains a fine altarpiece (reredos
) carved by Kjørn from Heidal
between 1781-1782.
and Vestre Slidre
in the south, Vang in the west, Gausdal
, Sør-Fron
, and Nord-Fron
to the east, and up to Valdresflya, at the border of Vågå
in the north. Øystre Slidre is part of the traditional district
of Valdres
in central, southern Norway, situated between the valleys of Gudbrandsdal
and Hallingdal
. Øystre Slidre is 45.1 kilometres (28 mi) on a north-south axis and 39.8 kilometres (24.7 mi) on an east-west axis.
The highest point is Øystre Rasletind at a height of 2010 metres (6,594.5 ft) above sea level. About 73% of the land is over 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) in elevation. More than 10% of the land is over 1300 metres (4,265.1 ft) above sea level. The lowest points lie at 410 metres (1,345.1 ft) above sea level. Lake
s and river
s cover 75 square kilometre of the area. The largest lakes are Vinstri, Yddin, Vangsjøen, Javnin and Olevatn.
in the summer time.
The winter sports resort of Beitostølen
, host to World Cup events in biathlon
and cross-country skiing
, is located here. It is the biggest tourist
area in the municipality, and provides a large fraction of the municipality's income.
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
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....
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 traditional 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,...
of Valdres
Valdres
Valdres is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal.Administratively, Valdres belongs to Oppland. It consists of the municipalities Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Vang and Etnedal. The main town in the region is...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of
The old municipality of Slidre
Slidre
Slidre is the administrative centre of Vestre Slidre municipality, Norway. It is located by the Slidrefjord. Its population is 293.Slidre was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . It was divided into Vestre Slidre and Øystre Slidre in 1849....
(created in 1838) was divided into Øystre Slidre and Vestre Slidre
Vestre Slidre
Vestre Slidre 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 Slidre...
in 1849. The majority of today's residents live in the villages of Heggenes, Rogne, Skammestein, Beito, and Beitostølen
Beitostølen
Beitostølen is a village in Øystre Slidre, Norway. As of 1 January 2009, it had 247 residents, and is located above mean sea level. It is largely a tourist area, with many cabins and hotels serving various winter sports facilities. The village has hosted FIS Cross-Country World Cup and Biathlon...
.
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 Slidre 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....
: Slíðrar), since the first church was built here. The name is probably derived from slíðr which means "sheath
Scabbard
A scabbard is a sheath for holding a sword, knife, or other large blade. Scabbards have been made of many materials over the millennia, including leather, wood, and metals such as brass or steel.-Types of scabbards:...
" (which is probably referring to a long depression near the church). The meaning of the name Øystre Slidre is "(the) eastern (part of) Slidre" (since the parish and municipality of Slidre was divided in 1849.)
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 in 1989. The arms show blue and silver tile
Tile
A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass. Tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls, showers, or other objects such as tabletops...
s made of slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
. This recognizes that the slate industry was a formerly important industry in the area. Slate roofing was very common in Valdres.
History
Båtskaret (The boat pass) is a narrow pass along BitihornBitihorn
Bitihorn is a mountain in the southernmost outskirts of Jotunheimen, Norway. It is situated due west of national route 51, and is therefore a landmark for tourists following that popular route.- Geology :...
where in medieval times people from Øystre Slidre dragged their boats through, therefore the name. A bit further into the mountain there is a big lake called Vinstervatnet with a lot of fine trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
. As a result of a dispute between people from Valdres and people from Gudbrandsdal, they could not leave their boats behind. Therefore they had to resort to dragging their boats through Båtskaret. According to local folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
, the dispute began in medieval times with a young bride being married to an old man and a knight stealing his way over the mountains to rescue her.
Hegge stave church
Hegge stave church
Hegge stave church is an early 13th century stave church located in Øystre Slidre municipality in Valdres, Norway.The first recorded reference to the church is from 1327. Dendrochronological dating of some of the logs in the church, however, indicates that the church was built around 1216...
, at Hegge, was originally constructed in the year 1216 or slightly later. It has been extensively rebuilt and is mostly post-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...
. It contains a fine altarpiece (reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
) carved by Kjørn from Heidal
Heidal
Heidal is a valley and parish within Gudbrandsdalen valley, in the county of Oppland, Norway.-History:Heidal parish was separated from Vågå as a separate municipality of its own on January 1, 1908. It was merged with the municipality of Sel on January 1, 1965.Heidal is a side valley of Gudbrandsdalen...
between 1781-1782.
Geography
Øystre Slidre shares borders with the municipalities of Nord-AurdalNord-Aurdal
Nord-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 Fagernes....
and Vestre Slidre
Vestre Slidre
Vestre Slidre 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 Slidre...
in the south, Vang in the west, Gausdal
Gausdal
Gausdal 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 Segalstad bru...
, Sør-Fron
Sør-Fron
Sør-Fron 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 Hundorp....
, and Nord-Fron
Nord-Fron
Nord-Fron 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 Vinstra. The old municipality of Fron was divided into Nord-Fron and Sør-Fron in 1851...
to the east, and up to Valdresflya, at the border of Vågå
Vågå
Vågå 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 Vågåmo....
in the north. Øystre Slidre is part of the traditional district
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,...
of Valdres
Valdres
Valdres is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal.Administratively, Valdres belongs to Oppland. It consists of the municipalities Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Vang and Etnedal. The main town in the region is...
in central, southern Norway, situated between the valleys of 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...
and Hallingdal
Hallingdal
Hallingdal is a valley and traditional district in Buskerud county in Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Flå, Nes, Gol, Hemsedal, Ål and Hol.-History:Ancient routes went to Vestlandet through Valdres and Hallingdal and down Røldal to Odda...
. Øystre Slidre is 45.1 kilometres (28 mi) on a north-south axis and 39.8 kilometres (24.7 mi) on an east-west axis.
The highest point is Øystre Rasletind at a height of 2010 metres (6,594.5 ft) above sea level. About 73% of the land is over 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) in elevation. More than 10% of the land is over 1300 metres (4,265.1 ft) above sea level. The lowest points lie at 410 metres (1,345.1 ft) above sea level. Lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
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 cover 75 square kilometre of the area. The largest lakes are Vinstri, Yddin, Vangsjøen, Javnin and Olevatn.
Economy
Because of the rugged landscape, farming is only possible on a small scale, but this is still one of the main sources of income. There are only about 30 square kilometre of agricultural land in the municipality. About 85% of farmers in the municipality use the high mountain pasturesTranshumance
Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and to lower valleys in winter. Herders have a permanent home, typically in valleys. Only the herds travel, with...
in the summer time.
Beitostølen
Beitostølen is a village in Øystre Slidre, Norway. As of 1 January 2009, it had 247 residents, and is located above mean sea level. It is largely a tourist area, with many cabins and hotels serving various winter sports facilities. The village has hosted FIS Cross-Country World Cup and Biathlon...
, host to World Cup events in biathlon
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
and cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
, is located here. It is the biggest tourist
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...
area in the municipality, and provides a large fraction of the municipality's income.
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...
- Official website
- Beitostølen Resort