Sigdal
Encyclopedia
Sigdal is a municipality
in Buskerud
county
, Norway
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Prestfoss
.
). The area of Krødsherad
was separated from Sigdal on 1 January 1901. The municipality has common borders with the municipalities of Flå
, Krødsherad, Modum
, Øvre Eiker
, Flesberg
, Rollag
, and Nore og Uvdal
.
form of the name was Sigmardalr or Sigmudalr. The first element is the genitive case
of a river name Sigm(a) (now called the Simoa
) and the last element is dalr which means "valley
" or "dale". The Simoa river runs through Sigdal, flowing in a south-easterly course until it flows into Drammenselva
at Åmot
in Modum
. The meaning of the river name is unknown, but is maybe derived from síga which means to "ooze" or "slide".
is from modern times. They were granted on 18 November 1983. The arms show a heraldic image of the mountain that dominates the view around the village, the Andersnatten
. The profile of the mountain is yellow with a blue-colored sky above.
or the administrative centre of Prestfoss. Sigdal is densely populated, dominated by mountain
s and valleys.
About 72% of the area is covered with forest
, 20% is mountain areas, and 4% of the area is cultivated. Agriculture
, forestry
, and the kitchen-producing enterprise of Sigdal Kjøkken are still important industries.
with Sigdal: Äänekoski
, Western Finland
, Finland
Hveragerði
, Iceland
Örnsköldsvik
, Västernorrland County
, Sweden
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
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
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...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Prestfoss
Prestfoss
Prestfoss is the administrative center of the Sigdal municipality in Buskerud county, Norway.-Background:The population of Pressfoss as of 2005 was 465. Prestfoss is located 1.5 hours northwest of Oslo...
.
Background
The municipality of Sigdal was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistriktFormannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
). The area of Krødsherad
Krødsherad
Krødsherad is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Noresund. The municipality of Krødsherad was established when it was separated from the municipality of Sigdal on 1 January 1901.-Name:The Old Norse form of the name was...
was separated from Sigdal on 1 January 1901. The municipality has common borders with the municipalities of Flå
Flå
Flå is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Flå. The municipality of Flå was established when it was separated from the municipality of Nes on 1 January 1905...
, Krødsherad, Modum
Modum
Modum is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hallingdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Vikersund. The municipality of Modum was established on 1 January 1838 .The area has a long tradition of skiing with several famous...
, Øvre Eiker
Øvre Eiker
Øvre Eiker is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Eiker. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hokksund. The old municipality of Eiker was divided into Øvre Eiker and Nedre Eiker on 1 July 1885.-Name:The Old Norse form of...
, Flesberg
Flesberg
Flesberg is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Numedal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lampeland....
, Rollag
Rollag
Rollag is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Numedal. The municipality of Rollag was established on 1 January 1838 . Nore og Uvdal was separated from Rollag in 1858....
, and Nore og Uvdal
Nore og Uvdal
Nore og Uvdal is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Numedal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Rødberg....
.
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....
form of the name was Sigmardalr or Sigmudalr. The first element is the genitive case
Genitive case
In grammar, genitive is the grammatical case that marks a noun as modifying another noun...
of a river name Sigm(a) (now called the Simoa
Simoa
Simoa is the name of a river which flows through the municipalities of Sigdal and Modum in Buskerud County, Norway.-Location:The Simoa river runs from Lake Soneren through the municipality of Sigdal in a south-easterly course until it flows into Drammenselva at Åmot in Modum...
) and the last element is dalr which means "valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
" or "dale". The Simoa river runs through Sigdal, flowing in a south-easterly course until it flows into Drammenselva
Drammenselva
Drammenselva is a river in Buskerud county, southeastern Norway.-Location:Drammenselva is one of the largest rivers in Norway, with a drainage basin of about 17,000 square kilometers and a flow rate of 300 cubic meters per second. The river has an average discharge of about 300 m3 / s...
at Åmot
Åmot
Åmot is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Rena...
in Modum
Modum
Modum is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hallingdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Vikersund. The municipality of Modum was established on 1 January 1838 .The area has a long tradition of skiing with several famous...
. The meaning of the river name is unknown, but is maybe derived from síga which means to "ooze" or "slide".
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 on 18 November 1983. The arms show a heraldic image of the mountain that dominates the view around the village, the Andersnatten
Andersnatten
Andersnatten is a mountain south in the valley Eggedal, in the municipality Sigdal in Buskerud, Norway.The southeast wall is popular among climbers, both summer and winter. The first route was established in 1942 by Einar Hoff Hansen and Egmont Nørregaard....
. The profile of the mountain is yellow with a blue-colored sky above.
Geography and population
Most of the citizens live in the village of EggedalEggedal
Eggedal consisting of the northwestern half of Sigdal Kommune in Buskerud county, Norway.-Location:Eggedal is located to the west of the Norefjell mountain range. In all other directions, the terrain rises quite steeply. There is farmland on the valley floor. The sprawling, meandering valley of...
or the administrative centre of Prestfoss. Sigdal is densely populated, dominated by mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
s and valleys.
About 72% of the area is covered with forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
, 20% is mountain areas, and 4% of the area is cultivated. Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
, and the kitchen-producing enterprise of Sigdal Kjøkken are still important industries.
Local Attractions
- Folk Music Center (Folkemusikksenteret) is a cultural heritage museum offering a good image of the building style and traditions of the district. The Folk Music Center is principally responsible for collecting, storing and promoting local folk music and dance.
- Sigdal-Eggedal Museum is a regional museum for Krødsherad, Modum and Sigdal. This museum dedicated to the region's culture and history is arranged particularly authentically.
- Holmen ChurchHolmen Church (Buskerud)Holmen Church is a church located in Prestfoss, Sigdal municipality, Buskerud county, Norway.Holmen Church is the principal church for Sigdal municipality. The cruciform church, which seats 750, was constructed of wood. It was dedicated in 1853 by Jens Lauritz Arup, Bishop of Oslo...
in Sigdal dates to 1855. - Lauvlia is the former home of Theodor KittelsenTheodor KittelsenTheodor Severin Kittelsen was a Norwegian artist. He is one of the most popular artists in Norway. Kittelsen became famous for his nature paintings, as well as for his illustrations of fairy tales and legends, especially of trolls.-Biography:Kittelsen was born in the coastal town of Kragerø in...
, one of the most popular artists in Norway, who settled near Prestfoss during 1899. Today Lauvlia is a private museum featuring an exhibition of Kittelsen’s original work - AndersnattenAndersnattenAndersnatten is a mountain south in the valley Eggedal, in the municipality Sigdal in Buskerud, Norway.The southeast wall is popular among climbers, both summer and winter. The first route was established in 1942 by Einar Hoff Hansen and Egmont Nørregaard....
is a well-known mountain and landmark. The mountain has inspired painters visiting or living in Sigdal, notably Theodor KittelsenTheodor KittelsenTheodor Severin Kittelsen was a Norwegian artist. He is one of the most popular artists in Norway. Kittelsen became famous for his nature paintings, as well as for his illustrations of fairy tales and legends, especially of trolls.-Biography:Kittelsen was born in the coastal town of Kragerø in...
and Christian SkredsvigChristian SkredsvigChristian Skredsvig was a Norwegian painter and writer. He is especially well known for his picturesque paintings.-Biography:Christian Skredsvig was born in Modum, Buskerud in 1854. When he was 15 years old he became a pupil at the Eckersberg drawing and paint school in Christiania . He later...
. It is recognized by mountain climbersMountaineeringMountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
as a tough challenge.
Protected areas in Sigdal Municipality
- Heimseteråsen nature reserve, established on 13 December 2002, 2,515 acres
- Solevatn nature reserve, established 20 June 1986, 538 acres
- TrillemarkaTrillemarkaTrillemarka is a nature reserve located in Buskerud, Norway. It was created on December 13, 2002 and is located in the hill- and mountain areas between Nore in Numedal and Solevann in Sigdal, partially in the municipalities of Sigdal, Nore og Uvdal and Rollag...
nature reserve, established on 13 December 2002, 43,285 acres
Notable residents
- Dag Aabye (born 1941) "Father of Freeride Skiing"
- Gulbrand HagenGulbrand HagenGudbrand Torsteinson Hagen was an American newspaper editor, writer, photographer in Minnesota and North Dakota at the end of 19th Century and beginning of the 20th.-Biography:...
(1864 - 1919) Norwegian-American newspaper editor and writer - Theodor KittelsenTheodor KittelsenTheodor Severin Kittelsen was a Norwegian artist. He is one of the most popular artists in Norway. Kittelsen became famous for his nature paintings, as well as for his illustrations of fairy tales and legends, especially of trolls.-Biography:Kittelsen was born in the coastal town of Kragerø in...
(1857 - 1914) Norwegian artist and painter - Olaf KnudsonOlaf KnudsonOlaf Knudson was a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party.He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Buskerud in 1954, and was re-elected on five occasions....
(1915 – 1996), politician for the Norwegian Conservative Party - Erik RamstadErik RamstadErik Ramstad was one of the founders of Minot, North Dakota.-Biography:Erik Ramstad and his brother Peter were natives of Sigdal, Buskerud County, Norway. They were early settlers in the Souris River Valley of North Dakota arriving in May 1883. They staked a claim to property on both the north and...
(1860 - 1951) Norwegian-American founder of Minot, North DakotaMinot, North DakotaMinot is a city located in north central North Dakota in the United States. It is most widely known for the Air Force base located approximately 15 miles north of the city. With a population of 40,888 at the 2010 census, Minot is the fourth largest city in the state... - Christian SkredsvigChristian SkredsvigChristian Skredsvig was a Norwegian painter and writer. He is especially well known for his picturesque paintings.-Biography:Christian Skredsvig was born in Modum, Buskerud in 1854. When he was 15 years old he became a pupil at the Eckersberg drawing and paint school in Christiania . He later...
(1854 - 1924) Norwegian artist and painter - Olaf SolumsmoenOlaf SolumsmoenOlaf Solumsmoen was a Norwegian newspaper editor and politician for the Labour Party.He was born in Sigdal, and decided to be a stenographer. He was hired in the Labour Party newspaper Fremtiden in Drammen, where he also was involved in local politics. He eventually left stenography to become a...
(1896 - 1972) Newspaper editor and politician for the Norwegian Labour PartyNorwegian Labour PartyThe Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
.
Sister cities
The following cities are twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with Sigdal: Äänekoski
Äänekoski
Äänekoski is a town and municipality of Finland.-Geography:It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. It is neighboured by Kannonkoski, Konnevesi, Laukaa, Saarijärvi, Uurainen, Vesanto and Viitasaari. The town has a population of and covers an area...
, Western Finland
Western Finland
Western Finland was a province of Finland from 1997 to 2010. It bordered the provinces of Oulu, Eastern Finland and Southern Finland. It also bordered the Gulf of Bothnia towards Åland.- History :...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Hveragerði
Hveragerði
Hveragerði is a town and municipality in the south of Iceland located 45 km to the east of Reykjavík on Iceland's main ringroad, Route 1.The river Varmá runs through the town. The population was 2,316 on 1 January 2011.-Overview:...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
Örnsköldsvik
Örnsköldsvik
Örnsköldsvik is a locality and the seat of Örnsköldsvik Municipality in Västernorrland County, Sweden with 28,617 inhabitants in 2005.Its natural harbour and archipelago is in the Gulf of Bothnia and the northern boundaries of the High Coast area. It is well known as an exporter of paper products...
, Västernorrland County
Västernorrland County
Västernorrland County is a county or län in the north of Sweden. It is bordered by the counties of Gävleborg, Jämtland, Västerbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia.- Province :...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Other sources
- Mørch, Andreas & Thormod Skatvedt Sigdal og Eggedal (Sigdal og Eggedal, 1914)
- Mørch, Andreas Frå gamle dagar. Folkeminne frå Sigdal og Eggedal (Norsk Folkeminnelag: 1932)
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...
- Kunstnerdalen, Valley of Artists
- Sigdal & Eggedal Tourist Service
- Sigdalslag
- Sigdal Kommune official webpage
- Krødsherad, Sigdal and Modum
- Information and news from Sigdal and Eggedal