Dovre

Dovre is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Dovre. Other villages in Dovre include Dombås and Hjerkinn. The municipality is bordered on the north by Oppdal municipality (in Trøndelag county), on the east by Folldal, on the south by Sel and Vågå, and on the northwest by Lesja. The highest peak in the municipality is Snøhetta at a height of 2,286 metres (7,500 ft).

For other uses, see Dovre (disambiguation).
Dovre kommune
Municipality
View of the Dovre area
View of the Dovre area
Flag of Dovre kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Dovre kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Dovre kommune
Innlandet within
Norway
Dovre within Innlandet
Dovre within Innlandet
Coordinates: 62°2′6″N 9°28′3″E
CountryNorway
CountyInnlandet
DistrictGudbrandsdalen
Established1861
 • Preceded byLesja Municipality
Administrative centreDovre
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Astrid Skomakerstuen Ruste (Ind.)
Area
 • Total1,364.37 km2 (526.79 sq mi)
 • Land1,349.19 km2 (520.93 sq mi)
 • Water15.18 km2 (5.86 sq mi)  1.1%
 • Rank#69 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total2,498
 • Rank#252 in Norway
 • Density1.9/km2 (5/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −8.9%
DemonymDovring[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-3431
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 1,364-square-kilometre (527 sq mi) municipality is the 69th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Dovre is the 252nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,498. The municipality's population density is 1.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (4.9/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 8.9% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information
View of the Dovrebanen railroad passing the Dovre Station

The municipality of Dovre was established in 1861 when it was separated from the municipality of Lesja. Initially, the new municipality had 2,537 residents. On 1 January 1970, the three western farms at Bergsengseter (population: 11) were transferred from Dovre to the neighboring Folldal Municipality.[5]

Name
Dovrefjell mountains
Eystein Church (Eysteinskirka) in Dovre
Dovre Church

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Dovre farm (Old Norse: Dofrar) since the first Dovre Church was built there. The name belongs to a group of Scandinavian toponyms that the Swedish linguist Elof Hellquist has derived from a Proto-Norse *đuƀra-, and linguists have further derived them from the old Proto-Indo-European root *dhub-/dhup - (cf. PIE *dhubrós, "deep"[6]), a root that is also attested in German Topel ("forested valley") and Old Slavic dublŭ ("hole"). There are several place names in Denmark, Norway and Sweden that are identified as related to Dovre:[7]

Denmark
  • Døvregaarde in the narrow valley Døvredal, in Bodilsker parish on Bornholm.[7]
  • Dover a place with steep slopes in Lintrup parish in Haderslev amt.[7]
  • Dovergaard located among deeply cut banks of a small stream, in Skipdsted parish near Aalborg.[7]
  • Dover vestergaard, an old farm name, and the bay Doverkil, with hilly terrain, in Ydby parish, near Thisted.[7]
  • Dover sogn a parish in Hjelmslev hundred in Århus amt. It has a hilly terrain with steep slopes.[7]
Norway
  • Dovre herred. ON Dofrar was originally the name of an old farm and it later became the name for the entire hundred.[7]
  • Dofrar was the name of a lost farm in Biri hundred, but it survives in the name of a local meadow Dåvreænga.[7]
  • Døvre, where the name is derived from dofrar and vin ("meadow").[7]
Sweden
  • Dovra sjöar ("lakes of Dovra"), which are three lakes (Northern/Upper, Middle, and Southern) in a fissure valley in Närke.[7]
  • Ödesdovra, a farm located at the southernmost extension of the valley.[7]
  • Dovern, a long and narrow inlet of the lake Glan in Östergötland, and there is a strait named Doversund and a farm named Doverstorp.[7]

The name has also been given to giants in Scandinavian legends. The name has been given to the giant Dofri, at Dovrefjell, who was helped by Harald Fairhair and in return assisted him all his life.[8] In Närke, the Dovra lakes were attributed to the giantess Dovra who wept for her husband.[9]

Coat of arms
Muskox living in Dovre

The coat of arms was granted on 11 July 1986. The official blazon is "Argent, a muskox sable" (Norwegian: I sølv en svart moskus). This means the arms have a field (background) has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The charge is a muskox that is black with yellow horn. It is displayed statant to dexter. The muskox is an animal typical for the northern parts of Canada, Alaska, and Greenland. It is not native to Norway, but in 1932, ten muskoxen were released near Dovre. The number has increased to around 300 (in 2013), and the animal is thus a typical symbol for the municipality. The arms were designed by Einar Skjervold. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[10][11][12]

Churches

The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Dovre. It is part of the Nord-Gudbrandsdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar.

Churches in Dovre
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
DombåsDombås ChurchDombås1939
Eystein ChurchHjerkinn1969
DovreDovre ChurchDovre1736

Dovre Church (Dovre kirke) was built in 1736. The bell tower was added early in the 19th century. It was built based upon designed by Jesper Mikkelson Rusten. It was constructed of wood and has protected status.[13]

Eystein Church (Eysteinskirka) in Dovre was built in 1969 as a church for pilgrims and travelers on the Pilgrim's Route. The church lies near the juncture of the boundaries of Innlandet and Trøndelag counties. Eystein Church is built of concrete using stone and sand brought from the Hjerkinn. The plans for the church were designed by architect Magnus Poulsson (1881-1958).[14]

History
Number of minorities (1st and 2nd generation) in Dovre by country of origin in 2017[15]
AncestryNumber
 Poland60
 Syria30
 Lithuania21
 Somalia20
 Eritrea14

People have lived at Dovre for about 6,000 years. In the Stone Age, they were primarily hunters and fishermen. Approximately 2,000 years ago, the first farms were developed at this location.

Dovre is mentioned in Heimskringla (The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway) by Snorri Sturluson. In 1021, King Olaf laid hold of all the best men, both at Lesja and Dovre, and forced them either to receive Christianity or suffer death, if they were not so lucky as to escape.[16]

The Pilgrim's Route (Old King's Road) between Oslo and Trondheim in the 16th century passed through the Gudbrandsdal valley. After leaving the Lågen river valley (downriver from present day Dombås) the road passed over the Dovrefjell mountains into the present-day municipality of Dovre. The heavy stream of annual pilgrims who visited the shrine of St. Olaf in Trondheim prior to the Protestant Reformation resulted in the construction of mountain stations along the route where the pilgrims could find food and shelter. In speaking of this route, Gjerset quotes Peder Claussøn Friis as writing:

But in the winter people of high estate, as well as members of the court, travel mostly this way, because however high and deep the snow may fall, it blows together on the high mountains and becomes so hard men and horses can walk on it. The bonder run over it on skis and snowshoes. There are three stations: Drivstuen, Herdekinn, and Fogstuen built on this same mountain in order that travelers may find lodging there....at the stations there are implements and dry wood, so that the traveler may build themselves fire, and not suffer from cold, when they have to remain over night, and cannot find the way across the mountain.

— Knut Gjerset, The History of the Norwegian People[17]

The Battle of Kringen (Slaget ved Kringen) took place in August 1612, just downstream of Dovre, where the Scottish force stayed on 24 August 1612.

Government

All municipalities in Norway are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[18] The municipality falls under the Vestre Innlandet District Court and the Eidsivating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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

Dovre kommunestyre 2020–2023 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
 Dovre List (Dovrelista)5
Total number of members:17
Dovre kommunestyre 2016–2019 [20][21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
 Dovre List (Dovrelista)2
Total number of members:17
Dovre kommunestyre 2012–2015 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
Total number of members:17
Dovre kommunestyre 2008–2011 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
Total number of members:17
Dovre kommunestyre 2004–2007 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Dovre kommunestyre 2000–2003 [21][23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Dovre kommunestyre 1996–1999 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
Total number of members:17
Dovre kommunestyre 1992–1995 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
 Free voters Dovre (Frie Velgere Dovre)4
Total number of members:17
Dovre kommunestyre 1988–1991 [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
 Free voters (Frie Velgere)3
Total number of members:17
Dovre kommunestyre 1984–1987 [27]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
Total number of members:17
Dovre kommunestyre 1980–1983 [28]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
Total number of members:17
Dovre kommunestyre 1976–1979 [29]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Free voters (Frie Velgere)1
Total number of members:17
Dovre kommunestyre 1972–1975 [30]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 7
Total number of members:17
Dovre kommunestyre 1968–1971 [31]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 6
Total number of members:17
Dovre kommunestyre 1964–1967 [32]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:17
Dovre herredsstyre 1960–1963 [33]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 1
Total number of members:17
Dovre herredsstyre 1956–1959 [34]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:17
Dovre herredsstyre 1952–1955 [35]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 6
Total number of members:16
Dovre herredsstyre 1948–1951 [36]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 6
Total number of members:16
Dovre herredsstyre 1945–1947 [37]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
Total number of members:16
Dovre herredsstyre 1938–1940* [38]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:16
Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945.

Mayors

The mayors of Dovre (incomplete list):

  • 1946-1947: Albert Guddal (Ap)
  • 1948-1955: Paul P. Enersgård (Ap)
  • 1956-1962: Karl P. Schanke (Ap)
  • 1962-1967: Erland Rykhus (Ap)
  • 1968-1975: Martin Leren (Ap)
  • 1976-1983: Gunder Bentdal (Ap)
  • 1984-1991: Arne Kåre Os (Ap)
  • 1992-1992: Harald Hammerstad (Ap)
  • 1992-1995: Melvin Rykhus (Ap)
  • 1995-2007: Erland Løkken (Sp)
  • 2007-2018: Bengt Fasteraune (Sp)
  • 2018-2019: Oddny Garmo (Sp)
  • 2019–present: Astrid Skomakerstuen Ruste (LL)

Geography

The municipality is a very mountainous area. Most of the residents live in the lower valley areas along the Gudbrandsdalslågen river. The Dovrefjell, Rondane, Smiubelgen, and Sunndalsfjella mountains are all partially located within the municipality.

National Parks
  • Rondane National Park, which lies partially in Dovre, was the first Norwegian National Park, established on 21 December 1962. In 2003, Rondane National Park was enlarged and smaller areas of nature protection were opened or enlarged.
  • Dovre National Park lies primarily in Dovre, although part lies in Folldal municipality. It was established in 2003. Dovre National Park covers an area of 289 square kilometres (112 sq mi) and the altitude varies from the tree line at 1,000 metres (3,281 ft) to the peak of Storhøe. The park is located between Rondane National Park, which lies to its southeast, and Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park on its northwest.
  • Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park was founded in 2002 and encompasses part of the former Dovrefjell National Park area (as founded in 1974). It is 1,693 square kilometres (654 sq mi) and encompasses areas in Dovre as well as in adjacent Lesja municipality plus areas in Trøndelag and Møre og Romsdal. It includes the whole Dovrefjell mountain range.

Climate

The Dovre area is in a valley at fairly high altitude and isolated from the sea by mountain ranges, giving some rain shadow effect for Dovre. Dovre, with the town Dombås, has a subarctic climate (Dfc) with sparse precipitation. The driest season is late winter and spring, and the wettest season is summer. April on average sees just 18 millimetres (0.71 in) precipitaiton, while the wettest months July and August get almost four times as much.

Climate data for Dombås 1991-2020 (Nordigard, 638 m)[39]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.2
(20.8)		 −5.9
(21.4)		 −2.7
(27.1)		 1.9
(35.4)		 6.4
(43.5)		 10.4
(50.7)		 13.2
(55.8)		 11.9
(53.4)		 8
(46)		 2.1
(35.8)		 −2.9
(26.8)		 −6.2
(20.8)		 2.5
(36.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 40
(1.6)		 28
(1.1)		 24
(0.9)		 18
(0.7)		 32
(1.3)		 43
(1.7)		 64
(2.5)		 64
(2.5)		 30
(1.2)		 29
(1.1)		 35
(1.4)		 35
(1.4)		 430
(16.9)
Source: yr.no/Norwegian Meteorological Institute[40]

International relations

Dovre has sister city agreements with the following places:[41]

Notable residents
Bengt Fasteraune, 2017

References
  1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2021). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  4. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2021). "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  5. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  6. Ringe, Don (2006). "Proto-Indo-European to Proto-Germanic". A Linguistic History of English. Vol. I. Oxford. p. 62. ISBN 9780199284139.
  7. Brevner, Erik (1942). "Sydöstra Närkes Sjönamn". Skrifter utgivna av Kungliga Gustav Adolfsakademien för folklivsforskning, 9. Uppsala. pp. 81–86.
  8. Ellis Davidson, H.R. (1969). Scandinavian Mythology. London: The Hamlin Publishing Group. p. 117f. ISBN 9780600342809.
  9. "Tourist information". Örebro County. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  10. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  11. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 11 July 1986. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  12. "Dovre, Oppland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  13. "Dovre kirke". Kunsthistorie. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  14. "Eystein Church". National Pilgrim Center. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  15. "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by immigration category, country background and percentages of the population". ssb.no. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  16. Larson, Karen K. (1948). A History of Norway. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-05127-7.
  17. Gjerset, Knut (1915). The History of the Norwegian People. New York: The MacMillan Company. ISBN 978-1-4326-3238-0.
  18. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  19. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Innlandet". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  20. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Hedmark". Valg Direktoratet.
  21. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  22. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Hedmark". Valg Direktoratet.
  23. "Kommunestyrevalget 1999" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 2000.
  24. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996.
  25. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993.
  26. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988.
  27. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984.
  28. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979.
  29. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977.
  30. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973.
  31. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.
  32. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.
  33. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
  34. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
  35. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
  36. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
  37. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
  38. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.
  39. "yr.no statistics Dombås".
  40. "yr.no/met.no". NRK.
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  42. IMDb Database retrieved 19 September 2020
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