Fyresdal Kommune

Pop. 1,379; Area 1,110 sq. km. (429 sq. mi.)

Fyresdal is the westernmost township and the westernmost valley in Telemark. For many years it was also the most isolated. Nature in this area is Location of Fyresdal in Telemark well represented by large and beautiful Fyresvatn, or "Pine Lake." The lake is 26 km. long, dotted with larger and smaller islands and surrounded by hills and mountains. The kommune has many Viking-age mounds (graves) and the Moland church was in medieval times a destination for people from all over Europe, as the stream that ran behind the church was believed to have healing properties.

The area was called Moland until 1879, when the name was changed to Fyresdal. The emblem for this kommune is a set of broad axes against a green background, acknowledging the importance of forestry in the area. The village of Moland is the municipal center for Fyresdal.

Sights to See

The Fyresdal District Museum is located in Moland on a site marked with prehistoric grave mounds. In the new museum building there are displays of household items, utensils, farm equipment, folk art, etc. Old buildings representing traditional styles from various parts of the township have been set up on the museum grounds. These include cottages, storehouses, a bathhouse, a summer kitchen and a flour mill.

Veum Church was built in 1863. Among the oldest items in the church are an ancient collection of sermons, 2 brass candelabras and an old chalice.

Moland Church was built in 1843 on the site where a stave church, torn down in 1662, had previously stood. The church contains several valuable items from earlier churches, among them 2 brass candlesticks from 1661 and a Bible from 1633. The altarpiece from 1738 comes from the old church at Heggland.

The Skei Stone (Kjeisteinene) is a large stone with runic inscriptions from 1100 located at Moland just north of Fyresdal center. According to legend, people from miles around met here to fight and race. Originally there were four stones; placed at each corner of a square they formed a sort of "ring" for combatants.

Telelaget Genealogy

Telelaget's Volunteer Genealogists for Fyresdal

Emigrant Ancestor Database: Fyresdal

Submit your emigrant ancestor information

Bygdebøker for Fyresdal

What's a Bygdebøk?

Taraldlien, Bendik. Fyresdal, med Bilæte. Oslo: Cammermeyer, 1949.
Veum, Bendik. Fyresdal. Oslo: Fyresdal Kommune, 1943
Bd. I. Ætter og folkeliv.
Marvik, Steinar, 1947- Fyresdal gards- og aettesoge Steinar Marvik. Oslo: Fyresdal kommune, 1992.

Links

Norwegian Language

Official Fyresdal kommune Website

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!