is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Buskerud in Viken (county), Viken Counties of Norway, county, Norway. It is part of the Districts of Norway, traditional region of Hallingdal. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Gol which is also the population center. Gol was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The area of Hemsedal was separated from Gol in 1897 to become a separate municipality. The municipality of Gol is bordered to the north by the municipality of Nord-Aurdal (in Oppland county), to the east by Sør-Aurdal (in Oppland county), to the south by Nes, Buskerud, Nes, and to the west by Ål and Hemsedal.

General information

Name

The Old Norse form of the name was ''Gǫrð''. This is probably an old river name (for the lower part of Hemsil river). The name of the river maybe derived from the word ''garðr'' m 'fence; border' - and the meaning is then 'the border river'.

Coat-of-arms

The Coat of arms, coat-of-arms is from modern times. They were granted on 13 September 1985. The arms are gold with three black key (lock), keys in the center. The keys are derived from the key for Gol stave church.

Transport

The Bergen Line from Bergen to Oslo runs through Gol Station which opened in 1907. Gol is connected to Norwegian National Road 7, 50 and 52 as well as Norwegian county road 51. There are daily bus connections to Gjøvik and Lillehammer. Gol kirke rk 84274 IMG 1479

Gol Church

Gol Church (''Gol kirke'') was constructed during 1882 based upon a design by architect Henrik Nissen. The church is characterized by neo-Gothic style with gables and small towers with crosses. It was built of wood and has 500 seats. The mediaeval Gol stave church (built ca. 1216) was due for demolition after the construction of the larger and new church. Gol stave church was saved from destruction by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments (''Fortidsminneforeningen''), which bought the materials with the intention of re-erecting the church elsewhere. Financial problems were solved when King Oscar II of Sweden, Oscar II decided to pay for its relocation and restoration as the central building of his private open-air museum near Oslo. The restoration was overseen by architect Waldemar Hansteen. It was completed in 1885. In 1907, the royal museum was merged with the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, Norsk Folkemuseum, which now manages the stave church, still nominally belonging to the reigning monarch. Gol replica03020004

Attractions

*Gordarike Familiepark is a Amusement park, theme park located in downtown Gol. The theme and environment are built to reflect the Viking Era and Middle Ages. A modern replica of Gol stave church has been built as a tourist attraction at the park. The replica was built in the 1980s and consecrated in 1994. *Gol Bygdetun is an open-air museum located in the village of Gol. It was built around the old ''Skaga'' farm. It is dedicated to the cultural history of Gol, and contains farm buildings of nearly all types. Barns, lofts and wooden stables are all featured together with a millhouse, a school house and a log cabin. The oldest building dates back to 17th century. Gol Bygdetun is a subsidiary of Hallingdal Museum which operating in association with Buskerudmuseet.

Notable residents

* Bjørn Frøysåk (1634 in Gol – 1709) a Norwegian farmer and merchant * Johan Willoch Erichsen (1842–1916 in Gol) a Norwegian Bishop of Lutheran Diocese of Bjørgvin, Bjørgvin * Lilly Heber (1879 in Gol – 1944) Norwegian literary critic and historian * Hans Johan Jensen (1882–?) a Norwegian politician, farmer and carpenter * Sigrun Eng (born 1951 in Sør-Fron) a Norwegian politician, member of Gol municipal council 1983 to 1991 * Pål Golberg (born 1990 in Gol) is a Norwegian cross-country skiing (sport), cross-country skier

Sister cities

The following cities are twin towns and sister cities, twinned with Gol: * - Årjäng Municipality, Årjäng, Värmland County, Sweden * - Fanø, Region of Southern Denmark, Region Syddanmark, Denmark * - Virrat, Western Finland Province, Länsi-Suomi, Finland

Gallery

File:Tisleifjorden dam.jpg, Tisleifjorden Dam File:Gol stasjon 110812.jpg, Gol Train Station File:Hemsil II kraftverk.JPG, Hemsil II Kraftverk File:Gol Politi lensmannsgaarden IMG 1577.JPG, Gol Police Station

References

External links

Municipal fact sheet
from Statistics Norway * {{authority control Gol, Norway, Hallingdal Municipalities of Buskerud Municipalities of Viken (county) Villages in Buskerud