Balestrand

Balestrand is a former municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It was located on the northern shore of the Sognefjorden in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center was the village of Balestrand. Other villages in the municipality included Ese, Kvamme, Låne, Sæle, Tjugum, and Vetlefjorden.

This article is about the municipality in Sogn, Norway. For the village in Balestrand municipality, see Balestrand (village).
Balestrand kommune
Former municipality
View of Balestrand
Coat of arms
Sogn og Fjordane within
Norway
Balestrand within Sogn og Fjordane
Coordinates: 61°10′39″N 06°24′14″E
CountryNorway
CountySogn og Fjordane
DistrictSogn
Established1850
Disestablished1 Jan 2020
Administrative centreBalestrand
Government
 • Mayor (2011-2019)Harald Offerdal (Ap)
Area
 • Total429.67 km2 (165.90 sq mi)
 • Land411.04 km2 (158.70 sq mi)
 • Water18.63 km2 (7.19 sq mi)  4.3%
Area rank231 in Norway
 *Area at municipal dissolution.
Population
 (2019)
 • Total1,279
 • Rank370 in Norway
 • Density3.1/km2 (8/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
-5.1%
Demonym(s)Balestrending[1]
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1418
Official language formNynorsk[2]
Preceded byLeikanger in 1850
Succeeded bySogndal and Høyanger in 2020
Websitebalestrand.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The municipality was situated at the confluence of the Fjærlandsfjorden/Esefjorden and the main Sognefjorden. The major industries in the municipality were tourism and farming. Balestrand became popular early due to the interest of artists, such as Hans Gude, Kjartan Lauritzen, Alfred Heaton Cooper, Hans Dahl, and Johannes Flintoe. Their paintings of the scenery around Balestrand inspired visitors, and Balestrand maintains its connection with art. Other industries include made-to-order kitchen interiors, local apple juice, and Nesseplast which produces industrial plastic. The Norwegian County Road 13 runs through the municipality.

At the time of its dissolution in 2020, the 430-square-kilometre (170 sq mi) municipality is the 231st largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Balestrand is the 370th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,272. The municipality's population density is 3.1 inhabitants per square kilometre (8.0/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 5.1% over the last decade.[3][4]

In 2016, the chief of police for Vestlandet formally suggested a reconfiguration of police districts and stations. He proposed that the police station in Balestrand be closed.[5]

General information
View of Balestrand village (left), the Esefjorden (center), and the Fjærlandsfjorden (right)
A view to Vetlefjorddalen and Bårddalen from a lookout spot at the top of the serpentine County Road 13
Painting: Munken gård i Esefjorden by Adelsteen Normann
Kvamsøy Church on Kvamsøy island

Balestrand was established as a municipality in 1850 when the three sub-parishes (sokn) of Vangsnes, Tjugum, and Mundal in the northwestern part of the large Leikanger municipality were separated to form the new municipality of Balestrand. The initial population of the municipality was 2,122. In 1861, the Mundal sub-parish was renamed Fjærland.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964 the municipalities of Vik, Leikanger, and Balestrand changed their boundaries in a land trade. The sub-parish of Vangsnes (population: 189) was transferred from Balestrand to Vik, Balestrand gained the sub-parish of Kvamsøy (population: 389) from Vik, and Leikanger gained the Hella-Eitorn area (population: 31) from Balestrand. Balestrand had a population of 1,606 after the changes were completed.

The Fjærland area of Balestrand had always been isolated from the rest of the municipality, and only accessible by boat. In 1995, the Frudal Tunnel was completed connecting Fjærland to neighboring Sogndal municipality (not to the rest of Balestrand). This caused discussions about Fjærland's municipal future. On 1 January 2000, the entire sub-parish of Fjærland in northern Balestrand was transferred to Sogndal municipality.[6]

On 1 January 2020, Balestrand Municipality ceased to exist. The far western Nesse area of Balestrand was transferred to the neighboring Høyanger Municipality and the rest of Balestrand was merged with the neighboring municipalities of Leikanger and Sogndal to form a much larger municipality called Sogndal.[7][8]

Name

The compounded name Balestrand was created in 1832 by the Norwegian writer Henrik Wergeland. The first element is the name of the old farm Bale (Old Norse: Bali) and the last element is "strand" (Old Norse: strönd) which means "beach". The name of the farm is identical with the word bali which means "hillside along a beach".[9][10]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 23 October 1989. It shows the silver-colored hilt of a Viking sword on a blue background.[11]

See also: the coat-of-arms of Hægebostad

Churches

The Church of Norway had one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Balestrand. It was part of the Sogn prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

Churches in Balestrand
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
BalestrandKvamsøy ChurchKvamsøy1290
Sæle ChurchSæle1903
Tjugum ChurchTjugum1863

There is also one Anglican church in Balestrand:

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Balestrand, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor.[12] The municipality falls under the Sogn og Fjordane District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Balestrand is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the final municipal council was as follows:

Balestrand Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)2
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)3
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)5
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
Total number of members:17
Balestrand Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [14]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)5
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)2
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)3
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
Total number of members:17
Balestrand Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)3
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)3
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)4
 Liberal Party (Venstre)3
Total number of members:17
Balestrand Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)2
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)3
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)4
Total number of members:17
Balestrand Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)2
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)2
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)6
 Joint list of the Red Electoral Alliance (Raud Valallianse)
and the Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)		1
Total number of members:17
Balestrand Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [15]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)2
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)3
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)7
 Liberal Party (Venstre)4
 Joint list of the Red Electoral Alliance (Raud Valallianse)
and the Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)		1
Total number of members:21
Balestrand Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [16]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)3
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)3
 Red Electoral Alliance (Raud Valallianse)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)7
 Liberal Party (Venstre)3
Total number of members:21
Balestrand Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [17]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)5
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)4
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)6
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
Total number of members:21
Balestrand Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)5
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)4
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)6
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
Total number of members:21
Balestrand Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [19]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)3
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)6
 Liberal Party (Venstre)3
 Local list in Balestrand (Bygdalista i Balestrand)1
Total number of members:21
Balestrand Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [20]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)3
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)4
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)8
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
Total number of members:21
Balestrand Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [21]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)3
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)3
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)8
 Liberal Party (Venstre)3
Total number of members:21
Balestrand Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [22]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)6
 Liberal Party (Venstre)5
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)2
Total number of members:21
Balestrand Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [23]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)7
 Liberal Party (Venstre)6
Total number of members:21
Balestrand Heradsstyre 1960–1963 [24]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)7
 Liberal Party (Venstre)6
Total number of members:21
Balestrand Heradsstyre 1956–1959 [25]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)3
 Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)5
 Liberal Party (Venstre)6
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)3
Total number of members:21
Balestrand Heradsstyre 1952–1955 [26]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)6
 Conservative Party (Høgre)3
 Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)6
 Liberal Party (Venstre)6
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)3
Total number of members:24
Balestrand Heradsstyre 1948–1951 [27]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)6
 Conservative Party (Høgre)3
 Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)6
 Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)3
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)4
Total number of members:24
Balestrand Heradsstyre 1945–1947 [28]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)3
 Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)3
 List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders
(Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste)		3
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)13
Total number of members:24
Balestrand Heradsstyre 1938–1941* [29]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)5
 Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)5
 Liberal Party (Venstre)3
 Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)11
Total number of members:24

Mayor

The mayor (ordførar) of a municipality in Norway is a representative of the majority party of the municipal council who is elected to lead the council. Harald Offerdal of the Labour Party was elected mayor of Balestrand for the 2011–2015 term and re-elected to the 2015-2019 term.

Geography

Balestrand was located between the high snow-covered Gaularfjellet mountains in the center of the beautiful, lush Sognefjorden. Three fjord arms stretch inland, winding through the mountains and dotted with charming hamlets: Lånefjorden, Esefjorden, and Vetlefjorden. The Fjærlandsfjorden runs along the eastern border of the municipality. The Jostefonn glacier sits at the very northernmost part of the municipality.

Balestrand was bordered to the west by the municipalities of Høyanger and Gaular, to the north by Førde, and to the east by Sogndal and Leikanger. Across the Sognefjorden to the south is the municipality of Vik.

Attractions
Kviknes hotel in Balestrand
St. Olaf's Anglican Church

Kvikne's Hotel

Built in the 19th century, the Kvikne's Hotel is one of the most famous buildings in Balestrand. The Kvikne family, who own the place, took it over in 1877. Since then the establishment has undergone constant development which continues to this day. There are many new buildings and remodeling and expansion projects have been carried out.

Today, the hotel is a highly modern facility resounding with tradition and culture. With 200 rooms, it is also one of Norway's largest fine hotels catering to tourists. An impressive collection of art and historical pieces is a central feature of the hotel's interior, and one of the elements of its distinct personality.

Kviknes Hotel was made popular for European visitors in the early part of the 20th century by Kaiser Wilhelm II, who often visited there during his summer vacations prior to World War I. The hotel still possesses the chair he used in their restaurant. The Kaiser is accompanied on the list by a number of emperors, kings, presidents, Prime ministers, film stars, and artists from many countries.[30]

St. Olaf's Church

St. Olaf's Church, also known as the English Church, is an Anglican church built in the style of a Stave church. The church was completed in 1897 as a memorial to Margaret Green. Margaret, an English lady, came to the fjords as a tourist to hike the mountains. She met, fell in love with and married Knut Kvikne who was an avid mountain man. Being a very pious woman, she wished for an Anglican church in Balestrand. She started the church with her husband, but died before its completion. Sunday services are held during the summer months, being conducted by rotating vicars from England.[30][31]

St. Olaf's Church is notable as the inspiration for the chapel in Elsa's coronation scene in the 2013 Disney film Frozen.[32]

Other attractions
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See also

References
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  2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2018). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  4. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  5. Fjelltveit, Ingvild; Raunholm, Per Vidar (2016-12-20). "Foreslår å legge ned 17 lensmannskontor i Vest politidistrikt". NRK Hordaland (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  6. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  7. "Nye Sogndal kommune" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  8. "Vedtak om grensejustering mellom kommunane Balestrand og Høyanger" (in Norwegian). Regjerning.no. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  9. Rygh, Oluf (1919). Norske gaardnavne: Nordre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (12 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 137.
  10. "Om Balestrand" (in Norwegian). Balestrand kommune. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
  11. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
  12. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  13. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  14. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Sogn og Fjordane". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  20. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  21. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  22. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  23. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  30. "Balestrand Kommune". GoNorway.no. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
  31. "Things to do in Balestrand". Balestrand Hotel. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
  32. Solomon, Charles (2013). The Art of Frozen. Chronicle Books. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-45211-716-4.
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