Gudbrandsdalen - Definition and Overview

The Gudbrandsdal valley is a valley in the Norwegian fylke of Oppland. The valley is oriented in North-North west direction from Lillehammer at the Lake Mjøsa, extending 230 km toward Romsdal. The large river Gudbrandsdalslågen flows along the valley bottom, starting from Lesjaskogsvatnet and ending in lake Mjøsa.

History

Gudbrandsdal is shaped by the recent ice age and rivers from the present glacial areas in Jotunheimen and Dovre.

Gudbrandsdalen, at Kringen, was the location of the battle where local peasants in 1612 defeated the Scottish mercenary army led by Captain George Sinclair. The legends of this battle lives on to this day, including the story of how the peasant girl Prillar-Guri lured the Scots into an ambush by playing of the traditional ram's horn.

Towns

• Lillehammer
• Ringebu
• Otta

Mountain areas close to the valley

• Jotunheimen
• Rondane
• Dovre

Named for Gudbrandsdal

• Gudbrandsdalsost

External links

• The Battle of Kringen, 1612 (http://sinclair.quarterman.org/history/mid/battleofkringom.html)
• The Scottish Expedition in Norway in 1612 (http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/norway1612.htm)