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Several museums and
other attractions are situated in Oppland and tourism is
important to the economy, Valdres and Gudbrandsdal being popular
attractions. The Gudbrandsdal surrounds the river
Gudbrandsdalslågen, and includes the villages Øyer, Dovre and
Dombås. Valdres includes the area extending from Jotunheimen
down to Bagn at Begna river. It is a well known place for skiing
and winter sports. The main population centres in this area are
Beitostølen and Fagernes.
The name
In Norse times the
inner parts of Norway was called Upplönd 'the upper countries'.
The first element is upp 'upper'. The last element is lönd, the
plural form of 'land'.
In 1757 the inner parts of the great Akershus amt was separated,
and given the name Oplandenes Amt. This was divided in 1781 into
Kristians Amt (named after the king Christian VII) and
Hedemarkens Amt. In 1919 the name Kristians Amt was changed
(back) to Opland fylke, and the form Oppland was settled in
1950.
History
In the late Iron Age,
Oppland was a petty kingdom.
Some kings of Oppland:
- Eystein, father of Åsa who married Halfdan Hvitbeinn (see
Ynglinga Saga,
paragraph 49)
- Halfdan "the Aged" Sveidasson (c. 750)
- Ivar Halfdansson (c. 770)
- Eystein "Glumra (the Noisy)" Ivarsson, son-in-law of Ragnvald
the Mountain-High
and father of
Ragnvald Eysteinsson (788) |
