Gudbrandsdalen

Gudbrandsdalen is a valley in Oppland. This grand, central valley runs for some 250 kilometers from Lillehammer to the uplands and central mountains. Nicknamed "the valley of valleys" because of its size and variety. The valley makes up more than half of Oppland county. The central mountains create a long rain shadow leaving little precipitation for most of the area. Summers are pleasently warm.

The valley hosted major events at the 1994 winter Olympics, alpine skiing venues at Kvitfjell and Hafjell are now popular winter sport resorts. The valley is home to a number of ancient wooden buildings (including stave churches) and other cultural legacy. Overland transport between Oslo and central eastern lowlands to Nordfjord, Trøndelag and Møre og Romsdal runs through the valley.

Towns

Otta
Lillehammer 61.79|9.37|height=500

More Destinations

Hafjell - ski resort (Olympic slalom)
Kvitfjell - alpine ski resort (Olympic downhill)
Nordseter - highland cross-country resort

Notable adjacent valleys (tributaries) in Gudbrandsdalen neighborhood

Ottadalen home of Otta river
Heidal and Sjodal home of the Sjoa river
Vinstra river valley
Frydalen home of Frya river
Gausdal and Espedal

Gudbrandsdalen Halal Travel Guide

Gudbrandsdalen stretches from Lillehammer at the northern shores of Lake Mjøsa to the higlands around Dombås and county border with Møre og Romsdal, about 250 km. At the watershed there is in fact a lake, Lesjaskogsvatnet at Lesjaskog, that is shared by Lågen river (flowing east) and Rauma river (flowing west to Åndalsnes). Gudbrandsdalen is home to the great Lågen river. The Gudbrandsdalen neighborhood also includes several connected valleys and their tributaries (notably Ottdalen with Otta river, as well as Gausa, Sjoa and Vinstra rivers), large parts of Oppland county falls within this area. These tributaries are among Norway's prettiest and wildest rivers. Many of these rivers, particularly from the west (the right) carry glacial melt water, as can be seen on the opaque color.

Gudbrandsdalen and adjacent valleys are surrounded by major mountain ranges such as Jotunheimen, Breheimen (next door to Jostedalsbreen), Reinheimen/Tafjord/Romsdalen, Dovrefjell and Rondane. At Otta the main valley is joined by the major Otta valley that also holds the road to Stryn and Geiranger.

Ringebu stavkirke IMG 4071 rk 85295 - 140px|Ringebu Stave Church

Because of its central position in the interior of South Norway, Gudbrandsdalen hosts E6 (the main north-south road with branch to Åndalsnes and Ålesund) and the Oslo-Trondheim railway (with arm to Åndalsnes). About 70,000 people live in the area and the regional centre Lillehammer is home to about half the population.

Gudbrandsdalen neighborhood sits in the rain shadow and is one of the driest areas in Norway. The climate is continental: winters are cold and summers are mild. Bjorli and the most north-western village, receives heavy snowfall and is a popular winter resort.

History

Henrik Ibsen, Norwegian playwright, hiked through the valley in 1862 and compiled material for dramas "Peer Gynt" as well as "Brand".

During the invasion of Norway in April 1940, some of the heaviest fighting occurred in Gudbrandsdalen around village Kvam. British troops had landed at Åndalsnes to support the Norwegian Army and with plans to recapture Trondheim. In addition to the sea battle at Narvik, this was the first engagement of Allied and German troops during the war (a few weeks later fighting began in France and Be-Ne-Lux). The British troops were not prepared for the task. There is a war memorial at Kvam. The first US casualty in world war II was the U.S. military attache killed during the bombing of Dombås station. There is a war memorial at Dombås. The King, cabinet and Bank of Norway's Gold and cash holdings were evacuated through Gudbrandsdalen towards Åndalsnes and Molde amidst heavy fighting in a bold and legendary operation. The king and the cabinet were hiding in Gudbrandsdalen while waiting for safe passage to unoccupied harbors at Åndalsnes and Molde. This was one of the most dramatic and decisive events in the history of modern Norway. British troops were evacuated on May 2. The failed British campaign in Gudbrandsdalen (and Namsos) led to the downfall of Neville Chamberlain as prime minister and Winston Churchill became prime minister.

Ironically, more than 300 years earlier Scottish mercenary troops landed at Åndalsnes and marched through Gudbrandsdalen to join the war in Sweden. Between Otta and Kvam the Scottish troops were slaughtered my local militia in a legendary ambush. This event is also included in the Kvam war memorial.

Local Languages

The language is Norwegian with some notable dialect differences, particularly in the northern valley. English is spoken everywhere.

Travel to Gudbrandsdalen

Fly to Gudbrandsdalen

Oslo Airport, 140 kilometers south of Lillehammer. A major international airport with Flights from the USA and major European cities.

Travel by train to Gudbrandsdalen

Oslo -Trondheim railway (Dovrebanen) via Oslo airport at Gardermoen
Dombås -[[Åndalsnes railway (Raumabanen)

File:Öyer Laagen Maagaali IMG 1127 - 140px|E6 along Lågen river

Rent a Car or Limousine in Gudbrandsdalen

See also E6 through Sweden and Norway

Tabliczka E6.svg|30px Oslo -Dombås -Trondheim primary street, scenic drive through Dovre plateau
Tabliczka E136.svg|30px Ålesund -[[Åndalsnes -Dombås and the Bjorli-Dombås stretch runs through Lesja neighborhood in Northern Gudbrandsdal, very scenic drive.

Stamvei 15.svg|30px Otta -Stryn -Måløy primary street, scenic drive.

Road 51 (Valdresflya pass) from Fagernes (Valdres) to Vågå, scenic drive, national tourist route.
Road 55 (Sognefjellet pass) from Sogndal and Luster (Sognefjorden area) to Bøverdalen and Lom, scenic drive, national tourist route.
Road 27 from Folldal to Ringbu, commonly called Rondane road, national tourist route
Road 63 (Norway) | Road 63 from Geiranger to Skjåk and further to Otta

Get Around

Dovre panorama - upright=1.7|Upper part of Gudbrandsdalen near Dombås junction

By rail

The Oslo-Lillehammer-Trondheim railway (Dovrebanen) runs along the valley until Dombås where the railway climbs onto the Dovrefjell plateau. The Dombås-Åndalsnes railway (Raumabanen) continues along the northernmost section of the valley (Lesja-Bjorli area). There is no railway in the Otta-Lom-Skjåk valley (Ottadalen).

Dombås train station 62.0695, 9.1251 - Dombås junction where the Rauma railway branches off towards Åndalsnes.

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By car

For more details see: Driving in Norway

Tabliczka E6.svg|30px Lillehammer-Dombås primary street
Tabliczka E136.svg|30px Bjorli-Lesja-Dombås

Stamvei 15.svg|30px Otta-Lom-Skjåk primary street (also served by bus)

County roads and private (toll) roads into the hinterland

What to See

Sorfronkirke - Sør-Fron Church, nickname Gudbrandsdal "cathedral", is a landmark in the valley. The primary street E6 now runs in a tunnel under Hundorp village and the church.

Culture & Tradition of Gudbrandsdalen

Kvam (war memorial) 61.6642, 9.6874 - Heavy fighting during second world war between British and German troops.

Ringebu Stave Church - Ringebu stavkyrkje - South of Ringebu village 61.5090, 10.1732 Leave E6 at sign - 50 NOK (interior) Ringebu stavkyrkje in late autumn sun - One of the few remaining of Norway's once countless stave churches. Built around 1200 AD.

Sel church - Sel kyrkje | Valley floor just north of Otta village 61.801667, 9.552778 Close to road E6 at Sel - Sel kirke rk 85413 IMG 1357.JPG Wooden church, 1742. Colorful, decorated interior, particularly the rich altarpiece carved in wood, copied largely from Lesja Church.

Lesja Church - Lesja kyrkje | Valley floor at Lesja village 62.112164, 8.853953 Leave E136 at sign - Lesja kyrkje.JPG A landmark in the high, even valley at Lesja. Noted mainly for the large and unusually rich altarpiece carved in wood, a masterpiece by Jacob Klukstad, Gudbrandsdalen craftsman. Church erected 1749.

Nature

Rondane National Park|Rondane range and national park 61.883333, 9.816667 Road 27 Opening Hours: 24/7 free Rondane National Park - Vinjeronden and Storronden . Rondane mountains was protected in 1962 as Norway's first national park. No road through the park but road 27 along the edge, access also from Høvringen at E6 north of Otta.
Dovrefjell Dombås-Oppdal-Folldal 62.220, 9.553 Road E6 and Dovre (Trondheim) railway, road 29 Opening Hours: 24/7 free Dovrefjell - Dovre Snöhetta gryta vesttoppen 2253m midttoppen 2261m IMG 9057 Dovrefjell mountains/plateau and national park.
Jotunheimen range 61.488, 8.8423 Road 15 to Vågå (then road 51) or Lom (Norway) | Lom (road 55). Also road 257 Sjoa-Heidal Opening Hours: 24/7 free Jotunheimen Knutshøe - Jotunheimen alpine mountains (national park).
Sjoa river and Heidal valley 61.7378 , 9.3913 Road 257 from the main valley Opening Hours: 24/7 free Heidal| image=Bjølstad, Oppland - Riksantikvaren-T125 01 0008 - Heidal is known for its fine ancient wooden architecture, including Bjølstad farm. The Sjoa river, well-known among rafters, flows from Jotunheimen through the valley into the main valley. }}

Ridderspranget II.jpg

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Gudbrandsdalen

Lesjaskogsvatnet - Lesjaskogsvatnet lake near Bjorli

Skiing

Cross-country skiing in all mountain areas and close to towns.

Nordseter - 61.176, 10.617 - Wide network of groomed cross-country trails the hills near Lillehammer

Alpine skiing

Hafjell ski resort - Hafjell alpinsenter - Øyer 61.2349, 10.4470 E6 just north of Lillehammer

Hafjell alpine skiing resort was a 1994 olympic venue. Summer activities too

Kvitfjell (1994 Olympic downhill venue)
Skeikampen
Grotli

Bjorli ski resort - Bjorli 62.2642, 8.2118 Dombås-Åndalsnes along E136 or Rauma railway

Bjorli ski resort does not have big and very steep hills, but plenty of snow and long season.

Dombås

Other outdoor

Ridderspranget - Sjoa river

Gudbrandsdalen cuts deep into Norway's wilderness and as the big valley is also home to major rivers, including rivers popular among rafters. Warning: Only skilled rafters should go down rivers on their own. There are numerous obstacles such as power stations, rapids, canyons and waterfalls.

Sjoa river rafting Heidal, Sjoa river 61.6792, 9.5457 Sjoa village and road 257 - The Sjoa river is famous and used for rafting - either alone in kayak (only for the very experienced) or on large rafts. Caution: The river is treacherous, go with a guide and get first hand information. Several operators offer rafting.

Hiking in mountains and uplands Gudbrandsdalen and adjacent valleys cuts into the base of the central mountains and uplands. Day hikes and in particular multi-day hikes are abundant in these areas:
Jotunheimen
Breheimen-Stryn
Lillehammer-Nordseter-Ringebu-Venabu uplands
Rondane -Dovrefjell
Dovre-Sunndalsfjella
Tafjordfjella-Reinheimen
Huldreheimen (West Gausdal-Valdresflya)

Amusement

Hundefossen - Eventyrslottet - Hunderfossen park

Hunderfossen Troll Park Hunderfossen familiepark| 15 kilometers north of Lillehammer on E6 - Amusement park (fair) for families

Halal Restaurants

Stay Safe

News & References Gudbrandsdalen

Travel Next

Rondane mountains by Lake Ranglartjønna - Rondane summits on eastern edge of Gudbrandsdalen

Rondane and Dovrefjell mountains
Jotunheimen mountains
Valdres - a parallel valley in the uplands
Sogn og Fjordane: Luster, Stryn
Møre og Romsdal: Åndalsnes and Geiranger
Oppdal - ski resort in the Trøndelag uplands
Oslo

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