ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Pronounced as lilhδmr, Lillehammer town (1995 pop. 24,170) the capital of Oppland co. lays in south Norway, at the northern end of Lake Mjøsa.

Many Americans are confused by use of the names Lillehammer and Fåberg (earlier written Faaberg). The use of these names has changed during the history: before 1827 Fåberg was the name of a parish that covered exactly the same area as today's township of Lillehammer. The city of Lillehammer did not exist, and Lillehammer was a farm in Fåberg parish like any other farm. But Lillehammer was also the name of parish of ease inside Fåberg parish with its own church built on the Lillehammer farm. In 1827 it was decided to build a city at the northern end of lake Mjøsa. The city was built on the grounds of the Lillehammer farm and thus named Lillehammer. Ten years later, in 1837, a local authority called kommune (township) was established and these townships covered the same areas as the corresponding parishes, i.e. Fåberg township equals Fåberg parish.

Eventually the city of Lillehammer was split from Fåberg township and formed a township of its own. This new township of Lillehammer covered just a very small area and was completely surrounded by Fåberg and all sides. This was the situation until 1964 when it was decided to reunite the two townships. However this 'new' united township was called Lillehammer and not Fåberg as it had been called at all previous times. Today Fåberg is the name of a small suburb of the city of Lillehammer located a few miles north of the city but still inside the borders of the township. This means that today's township of Lillehammer is identical to the earlier Fåberg parish and township.

The city is a commercial centre for the fertile Gudbrandsdalen valley and is a popular summer and winter resort. Its open-air museum, Maihaugen (founded 1887), features complete farms, peasant cottages, workshops, and handicrafts of the region.

Back to Europe

© Copyright 2000 - 2004  Eurotravelling.net  POWERED BY wORLDTRAVELGATE.NET