Sogndal is an old dwelling place. Archeological excavations indicate that people have been living here as far back as 7-800 BC. The first farms in Sogndal probably date back to the first centuries AD and findings indicate that these were rich farms.
Since ancient time agriculture has been the most important trade in Sogndal – traditional grain cultivation and animal husbandry with an extensive use of all available resources including the outlying fields – but also forestry and fruit growing. Fruit and especially apples have been grown as far back as we have written sources. Already in the History of King Sverre (1100) we find words and names indicating that apples have been grown in this area.
The center of Sogndal was called Sogndalsfjøra – or simply Fjøra – and has a long and remarkable history as a seaside settlement. It has probably served as the center of the parish for centuries, with general stores and bakeries etc. testifying to its early importance as a center of commerce and trade.
This was a community characterized by vigorous activity. There were boat landings for farmers living alongside the fjord, military functions were established here, and later on, house owners would let rooms to the first students of the newly established folk high school. Legal assemblies were held at Hofslund, the vicar lived just nearby, and the church was located within sight – at Stedje.
Fjøra was inhabited as early as the 17th century. By 1701 the number of permanent residents had reached 60-70, mainly people who did not own property but made their living as day laborers. A century later, the population had increased to 222, and by 1900 422 residents were registrated.
Towards the end of the 19th century the industrial base had been widened and strengthened. In 1881 there were housepainters, a goldsmith, saddlers, carpenters, shoemakers, watchmakers, a tinker and a butcher, and ten years later Fjøra had its own insurance agent, a telephone operator, an ”automobile chauffeur”, a photographer and a printer. Sogndalsfjøra was no longer a slum, it was becoming a center of trade, commerce and education. Today Fjøra’s appearance is dramatically different, and a tour will only provide glimpses of days gone by. But traces can still be found.
Sogndal has never been a typical industrial community. Still, here was one old, small scale industrial section of the parish situated by the river, 3-400 meters upstream from the fjord. There was a matchstick factory from the mid 19th century onwards, later on a wool mill and a bottling plant for soft drinks and fruit juices were added. Today the old factory building has been converted into a modern college. In 1911 a hydroelectric power station with a 200 kW generator was built here. This was one of Sogn’s first power stations, in fact one of the very first in rural Norway.
On the other side of the river is the Stedje Mill, a turbine-driven grain mill that has been of great importance to Sogndal and the neighboring parishes throughout the last hundred years. It was established in 1893 and remained in use until the 1960ies, owned and run by the same family through three generations.
Stedje where the main church of the parish is situated, is probably one of the oldest church sites in Sogn. Here was a county church, and these were among the first ones built in the country, probably erected in the first half of the 11th century. The present church was built in 1867, at the same time the old stave church was pulled down. A rune stone stands near the church, and traces of a Viking settlement have been found nearby.
Sogndal has three annex churches – Kaupanger, Norane and Fjærland – these are also old church sites – the first churches in Kaupanger and Norane were probably built as early as the 11th – 12th century and in Fjærland around 1600. The present church in Fjærland was built in 1861 and in Norane in 1863. In Kaupanger we still have the old stave church from the 12th century. Excavations show that this was probably the third church on this site. The church was rebuilt in 1862 and lost most of its original character. But today, as a result of a restoration project you will find the church as it was prior to 1862, with the exceptions of some minor details –or as the church was, when the emigrants left 100-150 years ago!
Fylkesarkivet i Sogn og Fjordane (The County Archives) has an interesting collection of old pictures from Sogndal.
Go to the Sogn and Fjordane heritage website
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