Ulvik
Encyclopedia
Ulvik is a municipality
in Hordaland
county
, Norway
. The municipality stretches from the Hardangerfjord
to 1,800 metres above sea level, and borders the municipalities of Granvin
, Eidfjord
, Ullensvang
, Voss
, Aurland
, and Hol
. It takes around two hours to drive from Bergen
to Ulvik. The nearest airport is Bergen Flesland Airport. The railway station at Finse
on the Bergensbanen
at 1,222 metres is the highest station on the Norwegian railway system. Ulvik is visited by numerous foreign cruise ship
s in the summer.
, wick
'.
) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
), which also included two annexes, Ulvik and Eidfjord
. In 1858, Ulvik became the main parish, making Granvin and Eidfjord annexes to Ulvik, and the name of municipality was changed accordingly. Granvin and Eidfjord were separated from Ulvik as municipalities of their own on 1 May 1891.
The coat of arms
is modern, having been granted on 19 December 1986. The figure shown on the arms is a traditional figure in the local folk-art and in local textiles. The pattern can be traced in local arts as far back as the 16th century, and is similar to the selburose
. This figure is also used in the bunad
of Ulvik.
or on the farms surrounding the village.
. The Ulvik urban settlement
, as defined by Statistics Norway
, has 661 inhabitants as of 2008. As the urban area covers 0.97 km², the population density is 681 per km². The centre of the village, Brakanes, has a cinema as well as a few shops.
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
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 municipality stretches from the Hardangerfjord
Hardangerfjord
With a length of , the Hardangerfjord in the county of Hordaland in Norway is the third largest fjord in the world and the second largest in Norway. The surrounding district is called Hardanger....
to 1,800 metres above sea level, and borders the municipalities of Granvin
Granvin
Granvin is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. The population is 964. About half of these, 444 people, live in the village of Granvin, situated at the end of a side arm of the Hardangerfjord.-Name:...
, Eidfjord
Eidfjord
Eidfjord is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Eidfjord was separated from Ulvik May 1, 1891....
, Ullensvang
Ullensvang
Ullensvang is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Hardanger. The administrative centre is the village of Kinsarvik....
, Voss
Voss
is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Voss. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Vossevangen....
, Aurland
Aurland
Aurland is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Aurlandsvangen. Other villages include Bakka, Flåm, Undredal, and Gudvangen....
, and Hol
Hol
Hol is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway.-Administrative history:The area of Hol was separated from the municipality of Ål in 1877 to become a separate municipality. In 1937 a part of neighboring Uvdal with 220 inhabitants was moved to Hol municipality. The area of Dagali was transferred...
. It takes around two hours to drive from Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
to Ulvik. The nearest airport is Bergen Flesland Airport. The railway station at Finse
Finse
Finse is an area in the Ulvik municipality of Hordaland, Norway. The railway station at Finse on the Bergensbanen at 1,222m is the highest station on the entire Norwegian railway system. Since there are no roads to Finse, the railway provides the sole means of transportation to and from Finse....
on the Bergensbanen
Bergensbanen
The Bergen Line , also called the Bergen Railway, is a standard gauge railway line between Bergen and Hønefoss, Norway. The name is often applied for the entire route from Bergen via Drammen to Oslo, where the passenger trains go, a distance of...
at 1,222 metres is the highest station on the Norwegian railway system. Ulvik is visited by numerous foreign cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
s in the summer.
The name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the farm Ulvik (Norse Ulfvík), since the first church was built there. The first element is ulfr m 'wolf', the last element is vík f 'coveCove
A cove is a small type of bay or coastal inlet. They usually have narrow, restricted entrances, are often circular or oval, and are often inside a larger bay. Small, narrow, sheltered bays, inlets, creeks, or recesses in a coast are often considered coves...
, wick
Wick
Wick may refer to:* David Wicks, fictional character from a British soap opera. Not to be confused with David Wicks, American comedian/actor.* Candle wick, the cord used in a candle or oil lamp...
'.
History
The parish of Graven (GranvinGranvin
Granvin is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. The population is 964. About half of these, 444 people, live in the village of Granvin, situated at the end of a side arm of the Hardangerfjord.-Name:...
) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt
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...
), which also included two annexes, Ulvik and Eidfjord
Eidfjord
Eidfjord is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Eidfjord was separated from Ulvik May 1, 1891....
. In 1858, Ulvik became the main parish, making Granvin and Eidfjord annexes to Ulvik, and the name of municipality was changed accordingly. Granvin and Eidfjord were separated from Ulvik as municipalities of their own on 1 May 1891.
The coat of arms
Coat 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 modern, having been granted on 19 December 1986. The figure shown on the arms is a traditional figure in the local folk-art and in local textiles. The pattern can be traced in local arts as far back as the 16th century, and is similar to the selburose
Selburose
A selburose or is a knitted rose pattern from Selbu in Norway in the shape of a regular octagram. It is a traditional pattern used for winter clothing. Perhaps the most typical garment is the Selbu mitten, selbuvott...
. This figure is also used in the bunad
Bunad
Bunad is an umbrella term encompassing, in its broadest sense, a range of both traditional rural garments as well modern 20th century folk costumes. In its narrow sense the word Bunad does only refer to garments constructed in the early 20th century very loosely based on tradition...
of Ulvik.
Settlements
Of the municipality's total population of 1,107 (as of 2008), the majority live in Ulvik village at the end of the Ulvik fjord. The vast majority of those who do not live at the end of the OsafjordOsafjord
The Osafjord is an arm of the Hardangerfjord in Hordaland county, Norway. Fully located within Ulvik municipality, the fjord is 12 km long. The outermost part of the fjord is known as Bagnsfjorden, named after the headland where the fjord starts. The Ulvikfjord is an arm of the Osafjord....
or on the farms surrounding the village.
Ulvik
The population and administration centre of the municipality is Ulvik village, located at the end of the Ulvik fjord, a side arm of the HardangerfjordHardangerfjord
With a length of , the Hardangerfjord in the county of Hordaland in Norway is the third largest fjord in the world and the second largest in Norway. The surrounding district is called Hardanger....
. The Ulvik urban settlement
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
, as defined by Statistics Norway
Statistics Norway
Statistics 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...
, has 661 inhabitants as of 2008. As the urban area covers 0.97 km², the population density is 681 per km². The centre of the village, Brakanes, has a cinema as well as a few shops.
Famous residents
- Olav H. HaugeOlav H. HaugeOlav Håkonson Hauge was a Norwegian poet. He was born in Ulvik and lived his whole life there, working as a gardener in his own orchard....
, poet - Lars SponheimLars SponheimLars Sponheim is a Norwegian politician. He was leader of the Liberal Party from 1996 to 2010. He was a member of the Storting from 1993 to 2009, and a government minister from 1997 to 2000 and from 2001 to 2005. He is the current County Governor of Hordaland, serving since March 2010.Sponheim was...
, politician - Lars OsaLars OsaLars Osa was a Norwegian artist. He also worked with church decoration and restoration and was a noted fiddle player.-Biography:...
, artist - Øystein Hide, non-fiction writer and translator
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...
- Municipality website
- Ulvik Tourist Office (available in English/German/Norwegian)