View source for Hemsedal

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox kommune
| name               = Hemsedal
| native_name        =
| native_name_lang   =
| other_name         =
| official_name      =
| idnumber           = 3042
| image_skyline      =File:Hydnefossen3.jpg 
| county             = Buskerud
| district           = Hallingdal
| capital            = [[Trøym]]
| demonym            = Hemsedøl
| language           = [[Norwegian Nynorsk|Nynorsk]]
| coatofarms         = Hemsedal_komm.svg
| munwebpage         = www.hemsedal.kommune.no
| mayor              = Pål Rørby
| mayor_party        = [[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]]
| mayor_as_of        = 2020
| area_rank          = 145
| area_total_km2      = 753
| area_land_km2       = 711
| area_water_percent  = 0.23
| population_as_of   = 2004
| population_rank    = 341
| population_total   = 1,876
| populationpercent  = 0.04
| population_density_km2= 3
| population_increase= 13.2
| coordinates        = {{coord|60|54|21|N|8|30|53|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
| utm_zone = 32V | utm_northing = 6752420 | utm_easting = 0473683 | geo_cat = adm2nd
}}

'''Hemsedal''' is a [[Municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Buskerud]] [[Counties of Norway|county]], [[Norway]].  It is part of the [[Districts of Norway|traditional region]] of [[Hallingdal]].  The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of [[Trøym]].  Hemsedal lies on the Norwegian National Road 52 (Rv 52). Hemsedal Municipality is located {{convert|220|km|2|abbr=on}} northwest of [[Oslo]] and {{convert|273|km|2|abbr=on}} from [[Bergen]]. In 1897, Hemsedal was separated from [[Gol Municipality]] to become a municipality of its own.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snl.no/Hemsedal|title= Hemsedal|publisher = Store norske leksikon |author= Geir Thorsnæs|access-date= 15 September 2016}}</ref>

==General information==
===Name===
The [[Old Norse]] form of the name was ''Hemsudalr''. The second element is ''dalr'', which means "dale" or "valley"; the first element is usually taken as the [[genitive case]] of the river name ''Hemsa'' (now [[Hemsil]]) of unknown derivation, although [[Sophus Bugge]] believed that it might derive from the [[Old Norse]] ''hemsa'', ''hefnsa'' or ''hofn'', meaning "going to pasture". The [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] word ''hems'' ("bed built in a small loft room") is named after the valley of Hemsedal.<ref>[[Einar Haugen|Haugen, Einar]] (1967) ''Norwegian-English Dictionary A Pronouncing and Translating Dictionary of Modern Norwegian'' (University of Wisconsin Press) {{ISBN|978-0-299-03874-8}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] is from modern times.  The arms were granted on 2 October 1992 and were designed by Stein Davidsen.  The arms show a gold [[lynx]] head on a red background.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hemsedal.kommune.no/nn-no/Om-Hemsedal/Kommunevapenet/ |title=Kommunevåpenet |publisher=Hemsedal kommune |access-date=2009-01-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222004646/http://www.hemsedal.kommune.no/nn-no/Om-Hemsedal/Kommunevapenet/ |archive-date=22 December 2008 |language=no}}</ref> {{See also-text|Coats of arms of [[Coat of arms of Bygland|Bygland]] and [[Coat of arms of Hamarøy|Hamarøy]]}}

{| style="float: center;" class="wikitable"
|+ '''Number of minorities (1st and 2nd generation) in Hemsedal by country of origin in 2017'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/selectvarval/Define.asp?subjectcode=&ProductId=&MainTable=FolkInnvkatLand&nvl=&PLanguage=1&nyTmpVar=true&CMSSubjectArea=befolkning&KortNavnWeb=innvbef&StatVariant=&checked=true |title=Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by immigration category, country background and percentages of the population |language=en |publisher=ssb.no |access-date=29 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702101705/https://www.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/selectvarval/Define.asp?subjectcode=&ProductId=&MainTable=FolkInnvkatLand&nvl=&PLanguage=1&nyTmpVar=true&CMSSubjectArea=befolkning&KortNavnWeb=innvbef&StatVariant=&checked=true |archive-date=2 July 2015 }}</ref>
 
|-
! style="background:#efefef;"|Ancestry
! style="background:#efefef;"|Number
|-
| {{flag|Poland}}||130
|-
| {{flag|Sweden}}||126
|-
| {{flag|Denmark}}||65
|}

==History==
[[File:Hemsedal Kyrkje.jpg|thumb|Hemsedal Church]] 
[[File:Hemsedal kyrkje inni.jpg|thumb|Hemsedal Church sanctuary]]

===Early history===
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2015}}
Hemsedal stave church (''Hemsedal stavkyrkje'') is believed to have been built between 1207 and 1224, and is first mentioned, as ''Ecclesia Aamsodal'', in the accounts and diaries of the Papal [[nuncio]]s sent to Scandinavia to collect [[tithe]]s in 1282&ndash;1324.<ref>P. A. Munch, ed., ''Pavelige Nuntiers [J. de Serone, B. de Ortolis, P. Gervasii] Regnskabs-og Dagböger, førte under Tiende-Opkrævningen i Norden 1282&ndash;1334'', Christiania: 1864, {{OCLC|562932132}}  {{in lang|da}}</ref> In 1327 it was also mentioned under the name ''Skodvinar Kirkja i Hemsudali''; this refers to alternate names of the farm where it stood, ''Kyrkjebøen'': ''Skodvin'' and ''Skadengård''. The church was dismantled in 1882.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stavkirke.info/stolpekirker/hemsedal/|title= Hemsedal stavkirke |publisher = Stavkirke.info  |author=Håkon Christie|access-date= 15 September 2016}}</ref>

Hemsedal Church (''Hemsedal kyrkje'') was built during 1882 as a replacement for Hemsedal stave church. It was constructed of wood on the basis of plans by architect [[Johannes Henrik Nissen]]. It has 500 seats. The organ was built in 1888 by Olsen & Jørgensens orgelfabrikk and was restored in 1976. The church is associated with the Hallingdal deanery of the [[Diocese of Tunsberg]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.norgeskirker.no/wiki/Hemsedal_kirke|title= Hemsedal kirke|publisher = Norges kirker|author= Sigrid Marie Christie, Håkon Christie|access-date= 15 September 2016}}</ref>
	
Hemsedal's economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. The valley had small and medium-sized farms that were widely scattered on the valley bottom on both sides of the river and along the slopes. Because of the high altitude, farming has concentrated for the most part on livestock and dairy, and use of summer [[shieling]]s has been important for the farms, which could not find sufficient pasturage in the valley bottom. Most therefore had milking stations on the shielings.

In the 1647 [[cadastre]] there was only one farm in Hemsedal large enough to pay full taxes; there were 24 liable for half taxation and 15&ndash;16 assessed as disused. In addition, there were a number of enterprises that were not assessed tax. The estimated population was about 400 (the exact number is unknown). Until the mid-19th century, the population increased steadily. In 1845 there were 1,775 people in the village. However, the population declined again over the next 75 years. In 1920 it had fallen to 1,358, before once more starting to increase.
<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090208145110/http://ssb.no/english/municipalities/0618 Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]]</ref>

===Recent history===
[[File:Hemsedal fraa fly 1.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Hemsedal in winter]]
[[File:Hemsedal-Tuv.JPG|thumb|right|View of Hemsedal in summer from Tuv]]

[[Skogstad Hotell]] was completed in 1905 as the first hotel in the village. Before that, in the latter half of the 19th century, a road had been built through the village with the hope that it would become a major route to [[Western Norway]]. However, things changed dramatically with the opening of the [[Bergen Railway]] in 1909. Hemsedal once more became a detour, while upper Hallingdal took over as the main route.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hemsedal.com/en/A/skogstad-hotell/skogstad-hotell/|title=Skogstad Hotell|publisher=Destination Hemsedal|access-date= 1 October 2017}}</ref>

After the [[World War II]], new places to stay were established in the valley, such as Vangen Pensjonat (inn) at Tuv (1947) and Lykkjaheim Pensjonat (1953). A tourist agency was established in 1939 and in 1952 suggested building a [[ski lift]] in Hemsedal, but this did not happen until 1959, when Fossheim Pensjonat created the Tottenheisen, a {{convert|350|m|ft|adj=on}} ski lift behind the inn at Ulsåk, serving the first piste in the village, Tottenløypa. However, this lift was torn down in 1961.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digitaltmuseum.no/011014906270/vangen-pensjonat-80-18-24-pa-tuv-i-hemsedal/media|title= Vangen Pensjonat på Tuv i Hemsedal |publisher=digitaltmuseum.no |access-date= 1 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.omnia.ie/index.php?navigation_function=2&navigation_item=%2F2022608%2FHEMB__HEMSARK_05_285|title=Lykkjaheim Pensjonat og Kafé i Lykkja i Hemsedal|publisher=omnia.ie|access-date= 1 October 2017}}</ref>

[[Hemsedal Skisenter]] opened at Holdeskaret in 1961, and a few years later, planning began for tourist development. Over the five years beginning in 1980, a series of new businesses aimed at tourists were established. The first chairlift, Olaheisen, opened in 1983. Tourism has continued to grow in economic significance for Hemsedal. More than half of visitors come from abroad. Hemsedal is now also popular in the summer season, due to opportunities for fishing, hiking, climbing, cycling, golf and other activities.<ref name="storelia1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hemsedal.com/en/Activities/Winteractivities/Hemsedal-Skisenter/|title= Hemsedal Skisenter|publisher=hemsedal.com|access-date= 1 October 2017}}</ref>

==Geography==
The municipality is bordered to the north by [[Vang Municipality]] and [[Vestre Slidre Municipality]] (both in [[Innlandet]] county), to the east by [[Nord-Aurdal Municipality]] (in Innlandet county) and [[Gol Municipality]], to the south by [[Ål Municipality]] and [[Hol Municipality]], and to the west by [[Lærdal Municipality]] (in [[Vestland]] county). Lakes in the region include [[Juklevatnet]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aroundguides.com/30420714|title= Juklevatnet|publisher=aroundguides.com |access-date= 1 October 2017}}</ref>

===Mountains===
*[[Hydalsberget]]
*[[Langebottfjellet]]
*[[Leinenosi]]
[[File:01081999. Skogshorn.jpg|thumb|right|Skogshorn]]
[[File:ForsideTopp20-2011.jpg|thumb|Hemsedal Top 20]]

===Tourism===
One of the first tourists in Hemsedal was the Norwegian polar explorer [[Fritjof Nansen]], who visited in 1898 and stayed at the Bjøberg Fjellstue. Today Hemsedal is a popular destination, with Hemsedal Skisenter the main attraction. About 70% of all visitors come in the winter season (December–May) and most of the remaining 30% in the summer months.<ref name="storelia1">[http://www.storelia.no/English/en-hemsedal.html "Hemsedal facts"], Storelia.no</ref>

Hemsedal Skisenter is the second largest [[ski]] resort in Norway, with 44 km slopes. The ski centres in Hemsedal and Grøndalen were bought in 2000 by the Swedish company Sälenstjärnen, which changed its name the following year to [[SkiStar]]. Skistar also owns Trysil Ski Centre, Sälen and Åre, Vemedalen and Hammarbybacken in Sweden.<ref name="kommune1">{{cite web |url=http://www.hemsedal.kommune.no/Hemsedal-in-english/Welcome-to-Hemsedal/Seasonalworker-in-Hemsedal/Hemsedal-for-dummiesE/ |title=Hemsedal for dummies - Hemsedal kommune |access-date=2011-01-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724180807/http://www.hemsedal.kommune.no/Hemsedal-in-english/Welcome-to-Hemsedal/Seasonalworker-in-Hemsedal/Hemsedal-for-dummiesE/ |archive-date=24 July 2011}}</ref>

==Attractions==
*[[Hemsedal Bygdetun]] is located at ''Øvre Løkji'' in the village of Ulsåk. ''Øvre Løkji'' is a museum farm from which there are several trails up into the [[Hemsedalsfjella|mountains]]. Hemsedal's [[Cross-country skiing|cross-country]] stadium is located at Gravset and is the starting point for a large network of trails to [[Lykkja]] and [[Gol, Norway|Gol]], including {{convert|10|km|2|abbr=on}} of lighted trails.<ref name="kommune1"/> The museum has houses and artifacts from the early 18th century.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hallingdal-museum.no/hemsedal-bygdamuseum/ |title= Hemsedal Bygdatun |publisher= Hallingdal Museum |access-date= 1 October 2017 |archive-date= 16 December 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191216072306/http://www.hallingdal-museum.no/hemsedal-bygdamuseum/ |url-status= dead }}</ref>
*[[Rjukandefossen]] waterfall is located in the vicinity of the village of Tuv<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hemsedal.com/en/A/Hemsedal/Rjukandefossen/|title=Rjukandefossen|publisher=Destination Hemsedal|access-date= 1 October 2017}}</ref>
*[[Hemsedal Top 20]] offers mountain climbing during summer months.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hemsedal.com/en/A/Topp-20/Topp-20/|title=Hemsedal Topp 20 hiking|publisher=Destination Hemsedal|access-date= 1 October 2017}}</ref>

==Notable residents==
* [[Josef Monsrud]] (1922-2009) was a Norwegian forester and resistance member during World War II. At the age of twenty he joined the resistance [[Osvald Group]]. He went through some initial training and was hired as a guard for the strictly illegal [[Communist Party of Norway]] which had a secret base in Hemsedal. <ref>{{cite web|url=  https://snl.no/Osvaldgruppen |title=  Osvaldgruppen|website= Store norske leksikon|access-date=October 1, 2020}}  </ref>
* [[Kjell Venås]] (1927-2018) born in Hemsedal, was a Norwegian [[philologist]]. He spent most of his career at the University of Oslo as a lecturer and as a professor (1971 to 1997), specializing in research about the [[Nynorsk]] language form.<ref>{{cite web|url=  https://snl.no/Kjell_Ven%C3%A5s|title=  Kjell Venås
|website= Store norske leksikon|access-date=October 1, 2020}} </ref>
* [[Ingrid Wigernæs]] (born in Hemsedal 1928) is a retired Norwegian [[cross-country skiing (sport)|cross-country skier]] who won a silver medal in the 3×5&nbsp;km relay at the 1966 World Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=  https://snl.no/Ingrid_Wigern%C3%A6s|title=  Ingrid Wigernæs	|website= Store norske leksikon|access-date=October 1, 2020}}  
</ref>
* [[Sigrun Slapgard]] (born in Hemsedal 1953) is a Norwegian journalist and non-fiction writer.<ref>{{cite web|url=   https://www.litfestbergen.no/en/litfestbergen-2019/authors/sigrun-slapgard/|title=  Sigrun Slapgard |website=  litfestbergen.no|access-date=October 1, 2020}} </ref>
* [[Erik Wøllo]] (born in Hemsedal 1961) is a Norwegian composer and musician, guitarist and synthesist. As a solo recording artist, he is most known for his electronic and ambient musical soundscapes.
* [[Hege Nerland]] (1966–2007) was a Norwegian politician for the [[Socialist Left Party (Norway)|Socialist Left Party]]. In 2003 she helped found the local party chapter in her native Hemsedal.<ref>{{cite web|url=   https://www.stortinget.no/no/Representanter-og-komiteer/Representantene/Representant/?perid=HEN&tab=Biography 
|title=  Nerland, Hege (1966-2007)|website=  stortinget.no |access-date=October 1, 2020}} </ref>
* [[Geir Skeie]] (born 1980) is a Norwegian chef and restaurateur, who worked at the Skarsnuten Hotel in Hemsedal.<ref>{{cite web|url=  https://www.ming.com/geir-skeie|title=  Geir Skeie|website=  ming.com|access-date=  October 1, 2020|archive-date=  19 October 2020|archive-url=  https://web.archive.org/web/20201019020834/https://www.ming.com/geir-skeie|url-status=  dead}}</ref>
* [[Eirik Markegård]] (born in Hemsedal 1984) is a Norwegian footballer who plays as a striker for the Norwegian fifth Division side [[IL Jardar|Jardar]].
* [[Erik Solbakken]] (born in Hemsedal 1984) is a Norwegian television presenter. Solbakken was one of the hosts of the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2010]].<ref>{{cite web|url=   https://snl.no/Erik_Solbakken |title=  Erik Solbakken|website= Store norske leksikon|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>

==Sister cities==
The following cities are [[town twinning|twinned]] with Hemsedal:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hemsedal.kommune.no/hemsedalfiles/Politikk/Formannskap2007/FS190607.doc?epslanguage=nn-NO |format=Microsoft Word |title=Venskapskommunar |publisher=Hemsedal kommune |access-date=2009-01-07 |language=no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724180506/http://www.hemsedal.kommune.no/hemsedalfiles/Politikk/Formannskap2007/FS190607.doc?epslanguage=nn-NO |archive-date=24 July 2011}}</ref>

*{{flagicon|SWE}} - [[Essunga Municipality|Essunga]], [[Västra Götaland County]], [[Sweden]]
* {{flagicon|FIN}} - [[Kalvola]], [[Southern Finland]], [[Finland]]
* {{flagicon|EST}} - [[Tõrva]], [[Valga County]], [[Estonia]]

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Hemsedal kommunehus IMG 1379.JPG|Hemsedal Community Office
File:Hemsedal bibliotek IMG 1387.JPG|Hemsedal Library
File:Skogshorn.jpg|Skogshorn in winter
File:SkogshornBuskerudSummer.jpg|Skogshorn in Summer
File:Tisleifjorden dam.jpg|Tisleifjorden Dam
File:Hydnefossen4.jpg|Hydnefossen
File:Fausko skysstasjon - flyfoto - norway.jpg|Fausko Skysstasjon
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Bjørnbakknosi]]
*[[Hallingmål-Valdris]]
*[[Rauberflaket]]
*[[Såta (Hemsedal)|Såta]]
*[[Svøo]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|Hemsedal}}

==External links==
{{wiktionary|Hemsedal}}
*[http://www.hemsedal.kommune.no/ Hemsedal kommune website]
*[https://www.hemsedal.com/en/Activities/Winteractivities/Hemsedal-Skisenter/ Hemsedal Skisenter website]
 
{{Buskerud}}
{{Wikivoyage-inline|Buskerud}}
{{Wikivoyage-inline|Hemsedal}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hemsedal| ]]
[[Category:Hallingdal]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Buskerud]]
[[Category:Valleys of Buskerud]]
[[Category:Villages in Buskerud]]
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Norway]]