Setesdal (; older spelling: Sætersdal) is a valley and a traditional district in Agder County in southern Norway. It includes the upper parts of the Otra river valley including Bykle Municipality, Valle Municipality, Bygland Municipality, Evje og Hornnes Municipality, and Iveland Municipality.

The Otra river flows through the Setesdal valley into the sea near the city of Kristiansand. It flows southward from the Hardangervidda plateau in Telemark county. The historic Setesdal region starts at Evje and extends as far as the farm Bjåen, at the edge of the traditional region of Telemark. Øvre Setesdal () typically refers to the area of Bykle Municipality and Valle Municipality. Nedre Setesdal () includes the southern municipalities of Bygland Municipality, Evje og Hornnes Municipality, and Iveland Municipality. The Norwegian National Road 9 runs through the whole Setesdal valley.

The Setesdal Line () is a railroad between Kristiansand and Byglandsfjord in southern Norway. It was opened to Hægeland in 1895, and to Byglandsfjord in 1896. This railroad was closed down in 1962 but parts of it exist today as a hobby railroad and it is in regular tourist use during the summer months.

The SS Bjoren is an old steamboat that is in regular tourist use on a lake in the river Otra called Byglandsfjorden.

Etymology

The oldest Old Norse form of the name was just Setr, and this was later replaced by Setrsdalr (). The common word has the meaning "homestead" or "mountain farm" and the name Setr was probably originally the name of an old, large farm in the central part of what is now Valle Municipality. The old farm was then later divided into a lot of smaller parts, but the name survived as the name of the district.

See also

  • Setesdalsbunad
  • Setesdalsgenser ()
  • Setesdølen, the local newspaper

References

Footnotes

Other sources

  • South Norway by Frank Noel Stagg, George Allen & Unwin, Ltd., 1958.
  • Setesdal www.visitnorway.com