Pop. 2,925; Area
672 sq. km. (259 sq. mi.)
Seljord is one of the most
beautiful spots in Telemark. The waters of Lake Seljord reflect the
mountains. The monster "Selma" has been sighted in the lake by many
people since first reported several centuries ago, and she is depicted in
gold on a red background on the
kommune's coat of
arms. The village of Brøløs on the northern shore of the lake is the
administrative, business and service center for the township. The rural
towns of Svartdal, Flatdal, Åmotsdal, Mandal, and Langlim,are part of
Seljord. The Seljord Exhibition is arranged every summer in the local high
school. The annual Seljord Festival takes place at the end of June and
beginning of July. A historic drama with a local theme and featuring local
amateurs is presented. Competitions in folk music and folk dancing are also
held. Every year at mid-September the Seljord Fair, "The Dyrsku'n," (cattle
show) takes place. The popular fair is a market for farm animals, farm
equipment, household items of all types, clocks and watches, and spreading tall tales and legends.
Flatdal
is a valley stretching from Seljord to Hjartdal. Farthest north in the
valley is the village "Flatdalsbyen," where farms are arranged side by side
around a country courtyard called the Tunvollen.
Nutheim
lies at the crossroads between E 76 and the road to ømotsdal. Here you will
find a general store and a small inn. The inn is also the home of the
artistic Grøstad family. An excellent collection of works of Norwegian
artists is displayed inside. Next to the inn, artist Erlend Grøstad has
re-erected the old rectory from Hjartdal.
Sights to See
Seljord Church is a stone church in the romanesque style built sometime in the middle of
the 12th century. The face carved into the northwest corner is supposed to
represent St. Olav. The church has an altarpiece from 1588
and a baptism font from 1688. A program of restoration, led by the State
Antiquarian, was finished in 1972.
One legend recalls that the church really was built by a
goblin. Just as he finished, he fell to his death from the tower. Grass will
not grow on the spot where he landed.
The "Strong-Nils" Stone,
a boulder weighing 540 kilos., is supposed to have been lifted by
"Strong-Nils" (Nils Olavson Langedal), the powerful giant from Seljord who
as a baby was reared on mare's milk. The cottage where "Strong-Nils" lived
is behind the church.
The Flatdal Cultural Center contains one
of the old farm buildings where the Margit Lien collection is on display.
Flatdal Church lies in Flatdalsbyen and is a timbered and paneled building
erected in 1654 on the site of an older stave church. The altarpiece,
crucifix, and pulpit canopy from the old stave church are in use in this
church. |
Telelaget Genealogy
Telelaget's Volunteer Genealogists for Seljord
Emigrant
Ancestor Database: Seljord
Submit your
emigrant ancestor information
Bygdebøker for Seljord
What's a Bygdebøk?
-
Bakken, Olav. Langlim. Ei bygd med segn og
soger Flatdal 1973.
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Flatin, Tov. Seljord. Oslo: Seljord kommune, 1942-54.
-
Bd. I-III.
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SELJORD IV ÆTTESOGE FOR HOVUDSOKNET Samla og skipa til
av Odd Karlsberg og Sigrun Dyrland Eidal
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SELJORD IV ÆTTESOGE FOR FLATDAL OG ÅMOTSDAL Samla og
skipa til av Odd Karlsberg og Sigrun Dyrland Eidal
Seljord kommune 2003
Links
Norwegian Language
Official Seljord kommune Website
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If you would like to add a link, submit photos of an historic site, or we've missed an important landmark
you'd like to have listed in "Sights to See," please
email!
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