Lårdal

Lærdal is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn, in the inner part of the Sognefjord. The administrative centre is the village of Lærdal, also known as Lærdalsøyri, where the Lærdalselva river flows into the fjord. The municipality covers a valley landscape with rivers, farms and mountains and has a small, dispersed population.

The economy relies on agriculture (notably sheep farming and dairying), forestry, and tourism. Notable attractions include the historic wooden town of Lærdalsøyri and Borgund Stave Church, a 12th-century church that is among Norway’s best-preserved stave churches, set amid fjord and mountain scenery.

A major infrastructure feature is the Lærdal Tunnel, about 24.5 kilometers long and opened in 2000, which forms part of the E16 road linking Lærdal with Aurland and provides a year-round connection between Bergen and Oslo. The Flåm Line railway operates in the region, offering access to the fjord area from Myrdal and connecting travelers with the scenic valleyward routes.

Administration and history: The municipality was established in 1838 under the formannskapsdistrikt law. In 2020 it became part of Vestland county when the counties Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane merged. Lærdal’s landscape, cultural heritage and compact communities contribute to its identity as a rural municipality in western Norway.