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District in Innlandet, Norway
Photo: Olivier Bruchez from Lausanne, Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Valdres is a romantic and wild highland region in western Oppland County, Norway. This region reaches the edge of the wild Jotunheimen and also includes more gentle and wide tundra-like highlands, while down below there are lovely lakes, great valleys and little villages all along. Valdres is also known for its food traditions as well as the picturesque churches dotting the landscape.
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Lomen stavkyrkje
A 12th century stave church in the small village of Lomen in Vestre Slidre municipality. Can be visited outdoor anytime, but the church is close to residential buildings - respect the privacy of residents. The church is without electric light and heating, and it is only used for weddings and church services during the summer season. This small wooden building has survived for 800 years. Lomen stave Church is of the most elaborate type with an elevated mid section.
A small wooden stave church from 13th century in Reinli, a village in the Sør-Aurdal municipality.
Valdres museum of cultural heritage
There are 95 houses and other constructions, comprising around 20,000 items, and the museum is the fourth largest Norwegian outdoor museum.
Hedalen stavkyrkje
A 12th century stave church at the settlement of Hedalen in Sør-Aurdal district. The western portal is one of the most elaborate in Norway. The building was originally small and rectangular. In 1699 it was enlarged and changed to cruciform shape, this addition was done with log construction (horizontal planks) as can be seen inside. The tower was added in 1738 and in 1902 the wooden roof cover was replaced with slate. Hedalen valley as presumably deserted for more than a century after the Black Plague around 1350. According to a legend the abandoned and forgotten church was rediscovered by a hunter. Inside the church there is a bear fur-skin from around year 1300. The church owns a Madonna and a reliquary from the 13th century.
Høre stavkyrkje
Wooden Church from 1180, one of less than 30 such remaining from the Middle Ages. Runic inscriptions refers to "recent events" in year 1179. Age of the building has been confirmed by other methods.
Vestre Slidre kyrkje
Slidredomen ("Slidre cathedral") is a masonry romanesque church from around 1200. Presumably this was the main church for Valdres in the Middle Ages. The interior is from the 1700s. The wooden stand alone bell tower presumably built in 1676.
Cross country ski tracks and alpine slopes. Relatively long season from November to late April. Beitostølen is a small village with lots of holiday homes.
the old prison
This building is a former prison - the cellars still with the prison cells intact. In the beef restaurant you can enjoy a good steak with wine or beer, the tables actually set in the prison cells themselves. Candle lights are lit - and privacy is enforced with the 1 meter thick stone walls.
Local foods, great beef and a chance of dining outside if weather and temperature allows.
Traditional cafeteria targeting drivers on main roads
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Oslo (Gardermoen) · International · OSL
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