Valle
Encyclopedia
is a municipality in Aust-Agder
county
, Norway
. It is part of the traditional district
of Setesdal
. The administrative center is the village of Valle.
). The area of Bykle
(population: 476) was separated from the municipality of Valle on 1 January 1902. This left Valle with 1,720 inhabitants. On 1 July 1915, the area of Hylestad
(population: 658) was separated from the municipality of Valle (remaining population: 1,051). On 1 January 1962, Hylestad (population: 662) and Valle (population: 902) were merged back into one municipality named Valle.
) is named after the old Valle farm (Old Norse
: Vǫllr), since the first church was built there. The form of the name is the genitive case
, from the common expressions Vallar kirkja (church) and Vallar sókn (parish).
is from modern times. They were granted on 11 May 1984. The arms show five Saint Andrew's cross
es, forming a larger cross. The composition was based on the decoration in the medieval church in Hylestad in the municipality, and this pattern is used in traditional clothes made in the municipality.
in Telemark
, to the east by Fyresdal
in Telemark, to the south by Bygland
in Aust-Agder, and to the west by Sirdal
in Vest-Agder
county.
Valle lies in the middle of Setesdal
, a valley
and a traditional district in Aust-Agder that included the municipalities of Bykle, Valle, Bygland, Iveland
, and Evje og Hornnes
. The Otra
river flows from the Hardangervidda
plateau
in Telemark to the north, through the valley of Setesdal (and through Valle), into the sea near the Kristiansand
.
Valle is separated from the neighbouring valleys in the east and west by large mountain plateaus. Before the valley was linked by road to Kristiansand in the 1840s, people routinely traveled east and west across these moorland
s. The highest point is the Skammefjell at 1418 metres (4,652.2 ft). Another high mountain in Valle is Urddalsknuten
on the border with Sirdal. Waterfalls include the Hallandsfossen and the Gloppefossen.
Several large lakes are located in Valle including Botnsvatnet
, Kolsvatnet
, Rosskreppfjorden
, Store Bjørnevatn
, and Øyarvatnet
.
There are two central population areas in the municipality, Valle and Rysstad
, with the administration of the municipality located in Valle. These were originally in two separate municipalities (Rysstad was part of Hylestad
municipality), but Hylestad and Valle were combined in 1962.
, constructed in the 12th century in Setesdal was demolished in the 19th century. Its portal, with several carved scenes illustrating the legend of Sigurd Fåvnesbane (Sigurd the Dragon-slayer), is on display at University Museum of Antiquities in Oslo
(Universitetets Oldsaksamling, Historisk Museum, Oslo). Sigurd's slaying of Fafnir
with his sword Gram is described in the Prose Edda
of Snorri Sturluson and the Volsunga saga as well as alluded to in Beowulf
and Njáls saga.
Rygnestadtunet
is a historical family farm, built by Vonde-Åsmund
(Åsmund the Evil) in the mid 1500. Today, a farm museum with buildings at Rygnestad
, far north in Valle in Setesdal and in Bø. The farm was sold to the Setesdalsmusseet
(museum) by Gyro Rygnestad and her family. Today, it is represented to visitors exactly as it was in 1919. Grave findings around the farm indicate that the site was settled as early as 900 AD. Old silver smithies and barns can be seen in Rysstad.
The Byklestigen pass is a torturous trail up a steep cliff face. Until the 1870s it was the only route to travel from Valle the middle Setesdal valley to Bykle in the north. It runs above the river Otra and was the site of numerous accidents on the hazardous route.
Between Valle in Setesdal on the western side of the mountains and Fyresdal on the eastern side, one finds a medieval
track over the high plateau that priests and bishops used to get between the counties of Agder and Telemark. This track is named Bispevegen
("Bishop's Road") and every year a march called "Bispevegmarsjen" ("The Bishop's Road March") starts at Kleivgrend in Fyresdal.
Traditional music is popular in this region. There is a Jew's harp
monument in the town.http://www.munnharpe.no/nmf_tidlegare_festivalar-filer/image064.jpg
Aust-Agder
is a county in Norway, bordering Telemark, Rogaland, and Vest-Agder. In 2002, there were 102,945 inhabitants, which is 2.2% of the total population in Norway. Its area is . The administrative center of the county is in Arendal....
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 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 Setesdal
Setesdal
Setesdal is a valley and a traditional district in Aust-Agder County in southern Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Bykle, Valle, Bygland, Iveland, and Evje og Hornnes....
. The administrative center is the village of Valle.
General information
Valle was established as a municipality 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 Bykle
Bykle
Bykle is a municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional region of Setesdal. The administrative center is the village of Bykle in the southern part of the municipality. Another village nearby is Nordbygdi...
(population: 476) was separated from the municipality of Valle on 1 January 1902. This left Valle with 1,720 inhabitants. On 1 July 1915, the area of Hylestad
Hylestad
Hylestad is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is currently located in the municipality of Valle in the traditional region of Setesdal. The former municipality of Hylestad had an area of .-Name:...
(population: 658) was separated from the municipality of Valle (remaining population: 1,051). On 1 January 1962, Hylestad (population: 662) and Valle (population: 902) were merged back into one municipality named Valle.
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 Valle 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....
: Vǫllr), since the first church was built there. The form of the name is the genitive case
Genitive case
In grammar, genitive is the grammatical case that marks a noun as modifying another noun...
, from the common expressions Vallar kirkja (church) and Vallar sókn (parish).
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 11 May 1984. The arms show five Saint Andrew's cross
Saltire
A saltire, or Saint Andrew's Cross, is a heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross or letter ex . Saint Andrew is said to have been martyred on such a cross....
es, forming a larger cross. The composition was based on the decoration in the medieval church in Hylestad in the municipality, and this pattern is used in traditional clothes made in the municipality.
Politics
In the 2007 municipal elections, Valle recorded the highest vote for the Conservative Party in Norway at 48.9 per cent.Geography
Valle is bordered to the north by Bykle in Aust-Agder and TokkeTokke
Tokke is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Dalen. The municipality of Tokke was created on 1 January 1964 upon the merger of the two older municipalities of Lårdal and Mo...
in Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
, to the east by Fyresdal
Fyresdal
Fyresdal is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Moland. The municipality of Moland was established on 1 January 1838 . In 1879, the name was changed to...
in Telemark, to the south by Bygland
Bygland
Bygland is a municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. The municipal center is the village of Bygland. Other villages in the municipality include Byglandsfjord, Lauvdal, and Åraksbø...
in Aust-Agder, and to the west by Sirdal
Sirdal
Sirdal is a municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. Sirdal was separated from Bakke in 1849. Sirdal was divided into Tonstad and Øvre Sirdal on 1 January 1905, but these were again merged to recreate Sirdal on 1 January 1960....
in Vest-Agder
Vest-Agder
In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding...
county.
Valle lies in the middle of Setesdal
Setesdal
Setesdal is a valley and a traditional district in Aust-Agder County in southern Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Bykle, Valle, Bygland, Iveland, and Evje og Hornnes....
, a 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...
and a traditional district in Aust-Agder that included the municipalities of Bykle, Valle, Bygland, Iveland
Iveland
Iveland is a village and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Sørlandet. The administrative center is the village of Birketveit.-General information:...
, and Evje og Hornnes
Evje og Hornnes
Evje og Hornnes is a municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional region of Setesdal. Evje og Hornnes was created as a new municipality on 1 January 1960 after the merger of the two older municipalities of Evje and Hornnes....
. The Otra
Otra
The Otra river is the largest river in the Sørlandet region of Norway. It flows from the Setesdalsheiene mountains in Bykle municipality in Aust-Agder county in the north, down to the municipality of Kristiansand in the south, where it flows into the Skagerrak.The Otra is long, making it Norway’s...
river flows from the Hardangervidda
Hardangervidda
The Hardangervidda is a mountain plateau in the Hardanger region of western Norway. It is the largest such plateau in Europe, with a cold year-round alpine climate and is the site of one of Norway's largest glaciers. Much of the plateau is protected as part of Hardangervidda National Park; it is a...
plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
in Telemark to the north, through the valley of Setesdal (and through Valle), into the sea near the Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
.
Valle is separated from the neighbouring valleys in the east and west by large mountain plateaus. Before the valley was linked by road to Kristiansand in the 1840s, people routinely traveled east and west across these moorland
Moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
s. The highest point is the Skammefjell at 1418 metres (4,652.2 ft). Another high mountain in Valle is Urddalsknuten
Urddalsknuten
Urddalsknuten or Urdalsknuten is a mountain that lies on the border of the municipalities Sirdal in Vest-Agder county and Valle in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The mountain is located in the Setesdalsheiene mountain range, and at , it is the highest mountain in Vest-Agder county...
on the border with Sirdal. Waterfalls include the Hallandsfossen and the Gloppefossen.
Several large lakes are located in Valle including Botnsvatnet
Botnsvatnet
Botnsvatnet or Botsvatnet is a lake in the municipality of Valle in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The lake is located just north of the lakes Rosskreppfjorden and Kolsvatnet and also to the north of the mountain Urddalsknuten. The village of Valle is located to the east of the lake. The lake has...
, Kolsvatnet
Kolsvatnet
Kolsvatnet is a lake in the municipality of Valle in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located about southwest of the village of Valle. The lake is located south of the lake Botnsvatnet, east of the mountain Urddalsknuten, and northeast of the lake Rosskreppfjorden. The lake has an area of and...
, Rosskreppfjorden
Rosskreppfjorden
Rosskreppfjorden is a lake on the border between the municipalities of Valle and Sirdal , Norway. The lake is part of the Kvina river system and has a hydroelectric power plant in a dam on the south end of the lake. The lake has an area of and sits at an elevation of about above sea level.The...
, Store Bjørnevatn
Store Bjørnevatn
Store Bjørnevatn is a lake in the municipality of Valle in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The lake is located in the northern part of the municipality, near the village of Rygnestad, and about north of the municipal center of Valle. The lake has an area of at an elevation of above sea level....
, and Øyarvatnet
Øyarvatnet
Øyarvatnet or Øyarvatn is a lake in the municipality of Valle in Aust-Agder county and Sirdal in Vest-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the Kvina river system. It is located just to the south of the lake Rosskreppfjorden. The lake has an area of and sits at an elevation of ....
.
There are two central population areas in the municipality, Valle and Rysstad
Rysstad
Rysstad is a village in Aust-Agder, Norway....
, with the administration of the municipality located in Valle. These were originally in two separate municipalities (Rysstad was part of Hylestad
Hylestad
Hylestad is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is currently located in the municipality of Valle in the traditional region of Setesdal. The former municipality of Hylestad had an area of .-Name:...
municipality), but Hylestad and Valle were combined in 1962.
History
The Hylestad stave churchStave church
A stave church is a medieval wooden church with a post and beam construction related to timber framing. The wall frames are filled with vertical planks. The load-bearing posts have lent their name to the building technique...
, constructed in the 12th century in Setesdal was demolished in the 19th century. Its portal, with several carved scenes illustrating the legend of Sigurd Fåvnesbane (Sigurd the Dragon-slayer), is on display at University Museum of Antiquities in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
(Universitetets Oldsaksamling, Historisk Museum, Oslo). Sigurd's slaying of Fafnir
Fafnir
In Norse mythology, Fáfnir or Frænir was a son of the dwarf king Hreidmar and brother of Regin and Ótr. In the Volsunga saga, Fáfnir was a dwarf gifted with a powerful arm and fearless soul. He guarded his father's house of glittering gold and flashing gems...
with his sword Gram is described in the Prose Edda
Prose Edda
The Prose Edda, also known as the Younger Edda, Snorri's Edda or simply Edda, is an Icelandic collection of four sections interspersed with excerpts from earlier skaldic and Eddic poetry containing tales from Nordic mythology...
of Snorri Sturluson and the Volsunga saga as well as alluded to in Beowulf
Beowulf
Beowulf , but modern scholars agree in naming it after the hero whose life is its subject." of an Old English heroic epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in Scandinavia, commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature.It survives in a single...
and Njáls saga.
Rygnestadtunet
Rygnestadtunet
Rygnestadtunet is a farmyard museum at Nordigard, Nørdre Rygnestad in the municipality of Valle in the Setesdal region of Aust-Agder, Norway. It's located near the junction between highways 9 and 45. The farm museum today looks exactly as it did when it was deserted in 1919 and preserved in 1923. ...
is a historical family farm, built by Vonde-Åsmund
Vonde-Åsmund
Vond-Åsmund Rygnestad or Åsmund the evil, is a legend in the history of Setesdal. He built and lived at the farm Rygnestadstunet. The legend states that he was blond, handsome, well built - strong and vigorous. The legend also tells that he had great courage, he was proud and bold, smart, literate,...
(Åsmund the Evil) in the mid 1500. Today, a farm museum with buildings at Rygnestad
Rygnestad
Rygnestad is a village in the municipality of Valle in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the Setesdal region near the river Otra in northern Valle near the lake Store Bjørnevatn. It is about north of the municipal center of Valle. The Rygnestadtunet museum is located just north of the...
, far north in Valle in Setesdal and in Bø. The farm was sold to the Setesdalsmusseet
Rygnestadtunet
Rygnestadtunet is a farmyard museum at Nordigard, Nørdre Rygnestad in the municipality of Valle in the Setesdal region of Aust-Agder, Norway. It's located near the junction between highways 9 and 45. The farm museum today looks exactly as it did when it was deserted in 1919 and preserved in 1923. ...
(museum) by Gyro Rygnestad and her family. Today, it is represented to visitors exactly as it was in 1919. Grave findings around the farm indicate that the site was settled as early as 900 AD. Old silver smithies and barns can be seen in Rysstad.
The Byklestigen pass is a torturous trail up a steep cliff face. Until the 1870s it was the only route to travel from Valle the middle Setesdal valley to Bykle in the north. It runs above the river Otra and was the site of numerous accidents on the hazardous route.
Between Valle in Setesdal on the western side of the mountains and Fyresdal on the eastern side, one finds a medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
track over the high plateau that priests and bishops used to get between the counties of Agder and Telemark. This track is named Bispevegen
Bispevegen
The Bispevegen passes between Valle in Setesdal on the western side of the mountains and Fyresdal on the eastern side. The Bispevegen is a medieval east-west track over the high plateau that priests and bishops used to get between the counties of Agder and Telemark. Every year a march called...
("Bishop's Road") and every year a march called "Bispevegmarsjen" ("The Bishop's Road March") starts at Kleivgrend in Fyresdal.
Traditional music is popular in this region. There is a Jew's harp
Jew's harp
The Jew's harp, jaw harp, mouth harp, Ozark harp, trump or juice harp, is thought to be one of the oldest musical instruments in the world; a musician apparently playing it can be seen in a Chinese drawing from the 4th century BC...
monument in the town.http://www.munnharpe.no/nmf_tidlegare_festivalar-filer/image064.jpg
Notable residents
- Kirsten Bråten BergKirsten Bråten BergKirsten Marie Bråten Berg is a Norwegian folk singer and silversmith currently living in Valle in the Setesdal area of southern Norway. She trained as a silversmith at the Torleiv H. Bjørgums Vocational College Kirsten Marie Bråten Berg (born 7 January 1950 in Arendal, Norway) is a Norwegian folk...
, folksinger and silversmithSilversmithA silversmith is a craftsperson who makes objects from silver or gold. The terms 'silversmith' and 'goldsmith' are not synonyms as the techniques, training, history, and guilds are or were largely the same but the end product varies greatly as does the scale of objects created.Silversmithing is the... - Paal-Helge HaugenPaal-Helge HaugenPaal-Helge Haugen is an award-winning Norwegian lyricist, novelist, dramatist and children's writer.Haugen was educated as a medical student at the University of Oslo. During the period 1965-67, Haugen was a member of the editorial team of literary magazine Profile...
, authorAuthorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:... - Josh Homme, frontman of hard rock band Queens of the Stone AgeQueens of the Stone AgeQueens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
, has ancestral roots from Valle.
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...
- Valle municipality
- Otra Kraft
- Culture in Valle on the map
- Map hiking