Sogndal, Norway

Archaeological excavations indicate that people have been living here as far back as 700BC, with the first farms in Sogndal dating back to 1AD. Agriculture has always been the most important trade in Sogndal, with grain cultivation, animal husbandry, forestry and fruit. In historic records from the 12th century there is mention of apples being grown here.

Stedje Church is one of the oldest sites in Sogn and the first church was built there in the first half of the 11th century. The current church was built in 1867, at the same time an old stave church was torn down. A runestone is near the church and traces of a Viking settlement have been found in the area. Kaupanger Stave Church, located just south of Sogndal, is one of Norway’s 28 remaining stave churches. Kaupanger is also a historic marketplace with traces back to the Viking Age.

In 1917, a farmer from Sogndal plowed up the Eggja stone, a gravestone with runic inscriptions important for the history of the old Norse language.

The town of Sogndal was inhabited around the 17th century but saw growth thanks to industrialisation. It became the main industrial base for the region with factories along the river and many different types of craftsmen located here.