Valdres, Oppland, Norway
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Valdres is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdalen and Hallingdal. The region around Valdres consists of the six municipalities of Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Vang and Etnedal.
Valdres is located approximately midway between Oslo and Bergen. The valley is protected to the west and north by the Jotunheimen mountains (see Valdresflye) and to the south by the Gol mountain ridge (Golsfjellet). |
View over Begnadalen from Lærskogen, with the large woodland ranging all over to Randsfjorden on the left and Hedalsfjella in the right background.
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The main rivers are Begna and Etna. Historically, Valdres has had an agricultural economy, but tourism has grown in prominence in later years. Beitostølen, a highly developed tourist area for winter tourists and who have hosted FIS Cross-Country World Cup multiple times is located in Valdres.
The name of the district comes from the Old Norse stem words völlr (a mountainous plain) and dres (a cleaved road to be ridden on by a horse). Another explanation to the etymology is that Valdres stems from "Valdles", which is from the stem words vald (forest) and les (pasture), i.e. "the valley of pastures in the forest".
The name of the district comes from the Old Norse stem words völlr (a mountainous plain) and dres (a cleaved road to be ridden on by a horse). Another explanation to the etymology is that Valdres stems from "Valdles", which is from the stem words vald (forest) and les (pasture), i.e. "the valley of pastures in the forest".
