Gudvangen, Norway Show Segment
Before continuing our journey and heading to Oslo we had several wonderful experiences in store for us.
The first, was our evening at, Gudvangen.
The western branch of the Aurlandsfjord is hemmed in by almost vertical rock faces. At the head of the fjord is Gudvangen.
We spent the night at the Gudvangen Fjordtell. This is a triumph of imagination, blending 11th century Viking traditions with modern Norwegian design concepts. This innovative building complex is nestled in the beautiful Gudvangen valley. It is surrounded by towering mountains with innumerable waterfalls and borders a crystal clear river.
The Viking style hotel blends in with the environment. This unique round architecture offers each visitor a room with complete privacy. The decor, filled with Viking motifs, blends with the mountain scenery visible through the skylight in each room. To insure that your tranquillity is not interrupted there are no phones or TVs, but instead you can choose between classical or Norwegian music to enhance your Norwegian get- away.
The Lodge is both majestic and functional. An air of grace and light pervades the building. Beneath the lofty ceiling one finds everything for the traveler’s comfort; cafeteria, restaurant and gift shop.
Our evening meal was crowned by the placement of the Viking hat on each of the Group leaders. Jean and Bob sure have a head for Norse helmets.
If you are looking for a quiet and tranquil spot, then the accommodations offered at the Gudvangen Fjordtell may offer the answer. People come from al over the world because it has everything they expect in a Norwegian holiday - nature at its most spectacular along with excellent opportunities for fishing, hiking and photography. The union of ancient and modern, nature and art, peaceful solitude and warm hospitality combine to make each visit a uniquely satisfying experience. Gudvangen is a starting place for ferries that provide the fjord tours as well as transportation to the places of interest for which the Sogn is famous. The next morning we boarded the ferry for our ride on the Sognefjord. This is Norway’s deepest fjord, with several waterfalls that among the highest in the world. Henrik Ibsen, a noted Norwegian dramatist once said the Norwegians were “hypnotized by the water”. This is not so amazing when you realize that 75 percent of the population live within sight of the coast. Less than a century ago, most Norwegians made their livings from fishing, farming or forestry. Water has revolutionized life in Norway by providing an abundance of hydroelectric power. This resource has also accelerated the rate of industrialization and urbanization.
For centuries, overland transport routes were so limited and hazardous that this offshore passage was the critical link between the widely scattered communities.
Today the ferries take visitors on tour of this area which provides a view of the snowcapped mountains and thundering waterfalls. Despite the rain, the view was spectacular. The enclosed lounge area allowed us to enjoy the scenery as well as the company of others. Our cameraman braved the elements to capture some of the beauty of the glaciers and fjord covered with the mist and rain. We headed to Kaupanger where people disembarked and boarded and then on to our final destination of Laerdal.
Once again we were on the bus and despite the rain, head to the Borgund Stave Church. Here we stop for a photo op of this unique building. The stave churches form part of Europe’s rich building tradition dating from the Middle Ages. The church owes it name to it method of construction - corner staves, or pillars, set up on a framework of sills and bound together at the top by a second framework.
Back on the bus we head over to Torpo for lunch and then a tour one of the oldest stave churches in Norway. This church is believed to have been built around the middle of the 12th century. According to a runic inscription on a chancel rail, the church was built by a man called Torolf.
The stave church has two richly carved doorways on the West and South walls. The rich wood-carving consists of interlacing and animal ornamentation, including dragons. Wood carving of this kind has its roots back in the pre-Christian era, and several stave churches and certain other Middle Age buildings have similar doorways.
The church’s small interior seems incomplete without the chancel. The great arch shows the original opening to the chancel after the latter had been enlarges to the same width as the nave. The arch is supported by a beautifully carved capital on each side. The nave is nowadays dominated by a great decorated vault depicting Christ, the apostles and the legend of St. Margaret. The vault is the greatest attraction in Torpo stave church with some of the oldest decorative paintwork in Norway.
A little more knowledgeable about stave churches we’re back on the bus and headed down the valley over the wet roads and the landscape dotted with snow and ice, for our final destination. Oslo.
When we remember this day, we will remember; our dinner among the towering mountains with innumerable waterfalls and crystal clear river, with reminders of the Vikings blended with modern day accommodations, the unsurpassed beauty of the fjords, the few remaining structural reminders of a time gone by, and a past that sets the mind reeling with dragons, saints and other legends of Norway .
