stegastein
stegastein
The Stegastein Viewpoint Stegastein is a scenic overlook on Sogn og Fjordane County Road 243 in Norway, aka the 'Snow Road' which conntent Aurland with Laardal.
Show moreThe 30-metre (98 ft) long and 4-metre (13 ft) wide platform of steel and laminated pine overlooks Aurlandsvangen and the Aurlandsfjord. This project is part of a national program of tourist routes commissioned by the Norwegian Highway Department.
Berekvam
Berekvam
Berekvam is located between Flåm and Myrdal in the Flåm valley.
Show moreThe scenic Flåmsdalen, or Flåm valley, was used to transport materials for the Bergen (Oslo to Bergen) railway in 1898. In 1940 the Flåm Railway opened and this started the modern tourism industry in Aurland. Now folks from Oslo could see the beautiful inland fjords and fish for the renowned salmon without as much as switching trains. Berekvam is accessible and hosts a train stop (white horizontal line in photo is the train tracks). The farm itself in ancient but I do not believe there are any of the old structures. It appears that the farm is active and populated but I have no knowledge of the current owners.
melhus
melhus
Melhus is located in the Flåmsdalen along the Flåmsbana Railway. The best way to access gård Melhus is to take the Flåmsbana Train to the Bloomheller Station. From there it's a short walk.
Show moreThere's not much to see at the gård Melhus so I've added a photo of the Kjosfossen waterfall. It's near Melhus and there's a rumor that the troll, Huldra can be seductively dancing there.
There is another Melhus in the valley above Undredal but there are no structures here. This was possibly an area where their livestock grazed but I am uncertain.
There are two cluster farms, one for each family. the Southern most farm, at some time, moved further South due to rockslides.
On August 8th, 1963 the owner of Melhus was killed while driving a handcar on the railroad tracks. I understand he was hit by a train. The farm was then abandoned in 1967.
From 1860 to 1903, 26 people were documented as immigrating to America from Melhus.
Anders Jonsen Hjellum was born here in 1870. His father, Jon Sjursen Kleivane Kolve Hjellum lived here before he purchased the Hjellum gård in 1873.
Nærøyfjord
Nærøyfjord
The Nærøyflord is a branch of the Aurlandfjord and consists of the small villages: Dyrdal, Styvi, Tufte, Bakka and the inhabitants in the Nærøydalen valley up to the regional border towards Voss.
Show moreThe church of this community is situated at Bakka. In the beginning Nærøy belong to Undredal community, and it was the tiny church in Undredal which served the whole area. In those days the transport was by rowing boats or sailboats and it was not easy to get to the church in Undredal in stormy winter weather. So in the 1830's the local people had a strong desire to have their own church. The church was officially inaugurate on 11th of May 1859. The date can be read on one of the chancel panels. The names of those who helped finance the building of the church can also be read there. The church has been drawn by the architect Grosch. Bakka church seats approx. 200 people. The altarpiece dates back from 1907 and was painted by Nils Bergslien. The theme is Jesus in Getsemane. The frame and woodwork was made by the craftsman Magnus Dagestad. The Norwegian Church is Lutheran evangelist. A minister living in the main community of Vangen serves all four churches in Aurland parish. There are about 10 church services per year in Bakka church.
Otternes Bygdetun
Otternes Bygdetun
Now a museum by the name of Otternes Bygdetun, this farm was situated about 110 meters above the fjord. Otternes is an old farm complex with 27 buildings. The oldest house is documented from the year 1700, although permanent habitation is much older, perhaps back to A.D. 200, while the place has been in use since the stone age. In pagan times, the Otternes community probably buried its dead in Fronnes on the other side of the fjord, where the remains of ancient burial can be seen.
Show moreFrom the woods and upland pastures they carried down hay and foliage to feed their cattle, sheep and goats, and also firewood. In the summer they made butter and cheese at the high chalets. The cultivated fields were used mostly for grain and potatoes. since 1996 the old buildings have stood empty, but the farmers have built houses near by and have agriculture as a sideline.
At its height Otternes was a home to about 60 people, including crofter families down by the shore. In the latter half of the 1800's about 50 people left these farms for America.
Undredal Stave
Undredal Stave
Idyllic Undredal is located along the Næroyfjorden and Aurlandfjorden which is a branch off of the massive Sognfjorden in Norways "fjord-country". It is most beautiful and also home to the smallest stave-church in Northern Europe. Historically, Undredal was first mentioned when the Bishop of Bjørgvis (Bergen) placed Pål Bårdson, a known scholar, there as a representative of the church. Pål Bårdson was the Chancellor to King Magnus' court, and later Archbishop of Nidaros (Trondheim) during the years of 1333 to 1346. The chapel can be dated back to 1147.
Show moreIn the 1500's, the Soop family had their main residence in Undredal. Anfinn Soop was one of the largest tax payers in Sogn and may have had a noble background. The Soop family's intermarried with the local farmer's families which can be seen with the name tradition: Anders, Gjertrud, Peder,and Endre.
This is a translated quote from a historical document regarding Undredal:
...Undredal became, in spite of small units of land, a place for great and powerful families such as the Losna family, Soop family, and the intermarriage with the Finne family in Voss...
Currently the population of Undredal is 130 people, and relies on goat-ranching and the production of goat cheese as its main income revenue.