Lærdal
2171 ( March 31, 2013 )
Laerdal is a commune in the province of Sogn og Fjordane in Norway, in the innermost part of the Sognefjord. It has about 2,200 inhabitants, of whom about 1,300 live in the central town Lærdalsøyri.
The old town Gamle Lærdalsøyri built in the 18th and 19th centuries. 161 wooden buildings representing the typical architectural style of that time and were declared a national monument in 1971. On the night of 19 January 2014, the town was hit by a severe fire disaster, at least 23 wooden houses burned down, about 90 people were injured.
The place is characterized by a relatively dry local climate, so farmers began here early to improve irrigated their fields and meadows. The river is known as Lærdalselva good salmon river. In Laerdal is the Wild Salmon Museum Norsk Villakssenter.
By Laerdal led the Bergen Street King (The Bergenske Kongevei ), which was built in the 18th century and led by mountains on Oslo, Sweden and Finland to St. Petersburg. East of Lærdalsøyri remains of the road are preserved at the Lærdalselva.
In Laerdal is one of the most beautiful stave churches in Norway, Stave Church Borgund.
The place Laerdal is eponymous for the longest road tunnel in the earth, the Lærdalstunnelen that connects the villages of Laerdal and Aurland together.
Gamle Laerdalsoyri. Photo: Frode Inge Helland
Gamle Laerdalsoyri. Photo: Frode Inge Helland
Gamle Laerdalsoyri. Photo: Frode Inge Helland
Borgund Stave Church and New Church, 2006. Photo: J. P. Fagerback