Øystre Slidre

Øystre Slidre muncipality has approximately 3.180 inhabitants and covers a area of 963,1 km2. Mountain pasture farming and forestry have always been important for settling and employment in Øystre Slidre.

BEITOSTØLEN

In the course of 80 years, Beitostølen 900 - 1.700 metres has grown to become an internationally recognised travel destination with good help of Beitostølen Health Sports Centre. Culture and tradition continue - this is reflected among other things in the wooden buildings designed and built by local architects and craftsmen. There are a range of accommodations to choose from.

Within walking distance of downtown, there are in all 2.500 beds available in various accommodation categories. Large and small hotels, the most modern apartments, comfortable cabins, pleasant holiday farms or camping sites. Both the tourist office and the hotels have an entire menu of activities to choose from.

Beitostølen lies high above the stress of everyday life. The high mountain peaks and plateaux offer ample opportunities for physical exertion as well as relaxation. Whether winter, spring, summer or autumn, the nature and climate will provide you with a wealth of impressions, memories and energy.

Beitostølen is primarily a perfect resort for the whole family. The slopes are just right to learn the basics as well as the new techniques. The high altitude and the proximity of the great Jotunheimen mountain range ensures early snow to Beitostølen. The skiing season starts on silky natural snow mid November and lasts until the end of April. Come in family, with friends or by yourself: the varied skiing installations at Beitostølen offer you opportunities for snowboard, telemark, alpine and even for our new activity: luge.

Large plateaux with great skies above. High mountains with snowcapped peaks over wild precipices. Glittering mountain lakes, smiling rivers and bubbling waterfalls. Beitostølen has the lot. Hire a boat and try your luck at fishing, try rafting or paddling, experience canyoning or crossing glaciers. Or what about a trip on horseback into the Jotunheimen or a rafting some breathtaking river streams? And be sure to try Beitostølen in the winter! Endless kilometres of prepared trails in terrain to suit eveybody's taste.

Many ski lifts transport you up to the heights to avalanche free skiing areas. Ski play-ground and ski school - ski shop and equipement hire. Close proximity to beautiful mountain landscape and an abundance of winter activities to choose from attract all types of people to Beitostølen, including families, single people, various types of groups, courses, seminars, conferences and congresses. From the smallest and local to the largest and international.

You can eat and drink well. We offer anything from local food traditions of wild game to Chineese food, from the simple to the sophisticated. Bars, restaurants, pubs and discoteques of various types provide a varied nightlife. There are also a variety of shops and products to satisfy your urge to shop.

BITIHORN MOUNTAIN

Beitostølen lies on the foot of Bitihorn mountain. Bitihorn rises 1.607 meters above sea level. On the top you can view towards Bygdin and a row of pinnacles in Jotunheimen, Valdresflya, Vinstervatnet, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Øyangen and Slettefjellet. Sight to Øystre Slidre, Øyangen, Beitostølen, Bygdin and the mountainformation from Kalvehøgdi to Hurrungane.

VALDRESFLYE

The road open from early May and normally well into the month of November. During May and parts of June, the top of Valdresflye (1.389 m.a.s.l.) is an extremely popular starting point for magnificent spring ski trips across the level mountain plateux to the east or up toward the Jotunheimen peaks in the west. The plateux are white, the days are long and you won´t have a care in the world. The road leading across Valdresflye is a journey through a landscape that has evolved over the course of millions of years.

Most of the formations, however, were formed in the last ten thousand years (after the last Ice Age). Along the national road you will be impressed by the contrasts between rounded mountain formations to the east and the high jutting Jotunheimen peaks to the west. The peaks - that make up by far the most 2000-metre peaks in all of Norway - consists in large part of ancient course grained gabbro rock, while deep valleys bear witness to the dramatic geological events take place at the end of the last Ice Age.

The landscape on the east side of the park is characterised by a more undulating coutryside with valleys and open lakes. Old riverbeds, eskers and glacier pits bear witness to formations created by Ice melting after the last Ice Age. From the highest point along the national road across Valdresflye, you get a feeling of beeing in a truly awe-inspiring plateau landscape. Landscape rich in historical buildings in Heidal and Valdres serve as a backdrop to the national road across Valdresflye.

Heidal is a heavyweight in terms of traditional building techniques and heritagelisted farm enviroments. Valdres - the forest valley - offers a distinct and dynamic cultural landscape in a colourful and fertile enviroment. The summerfarm communities at Beitostølen and in Sjodalen have histories reaching far back in time, and in Sjodalen the unique tradition of winter pasture farming was in practice as late as the 1930s; this is one of the reasons that many of the largest mountainfarm structures in Norway can be found in this area.

HEGGE STAVE CHURCH

This church is mentioned for the first time in 1327 AD but was probably built about 1250 AD. It is a basilica with 8 free standing inner columns. The altar-piece was carved by a local artist in 1780.

The Stave Churches are constructions of high quality, richly decorated with carvings. In virtually all of them the door frames are decorated from top to bottom with carvings. This tradition of rich ornamentation appears to go back to the animal carvings of the Viking age. The dragons are lovingly executed and transformed into long-limbed creatures of fantasy, here and there entwined with tendrils of vine, with winding stems and serrated leaves. The elaborate designs are executed with supreme artistic skill. The stave church doorways are, therefore, among the most distinctive works of art to be found in Norway. However, it is difficult to connect them with the Christian gospel.

PICTURES

A lot of pictures taken by domestic and foreigners will show and tell where to go and stay when you visit Norway.

HUNTING

The best access to small-game hunting on private land is normally in areas where the sale of hunting permits has been organised through landowners' associations or local hunting and fishing societies. Hunting rights for small game in a given area can be hired out exclusively for longer or shorter periods, but this is more expensive than the ordinary sale of hunting permits. Only shotguns with up to two cartridges, and rifles, are allowed in small-game hunting.

SKIING

There are 2 large ski areas, a 6-seat express-lift, toboganning, mogul runs, good off-piste conditions, and more than 320 km of cross-country tracks. The skiable area stretches all the way from the village and up to 1.100 metres.

At Raudalen you'll find a slope for off-piste, snowboard and a growing number of Telemark skiers. At wintertime you can iceclimb at the waterfall. From Beitostølen to the Alpine slope at Raudalen there goes a bus several times a day, and your Skipass is certenly valued at both Beitostølen and Raudalen. Whether your cross country or alpine skier, snowboarder or telemark fan, you'll be sure to find your favourite spot in our vast skiing area. The altitude of 900 metres, and the nearby mountain range of Jotunheimen ensure early snowfall, and a skiing season that lasts until May.