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Byglandsfjord village

Layers of Warmth

Byglandsfjord

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Bygland municipality / Setesdal region / Agder county

Overskrift

Byglandsfjord in the Setesdal Valley is one of the warmest places in Norway during the summer months. Situated right by the crystal-clear freshwater lake Byglandsfjorden, the village is made for aquatic fun in the sun! And not only during the summer.

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Sunny Summers and Snowy Winters

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Overskrift

-It's so beautiful here! And warm too! It's not uncommon for us to hear on the news that “Byglandsfjord is the warmest place in the country”. I wasn't aware of that before I moved here, laughs Hege Kristine Jore Gakkestad.

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Children playing on a beach

A perfect summer dag by Byglandsfjorden! Photo: Hege Kristine Jore Gakkestad

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Hege Kristine sunset. Photo: Hege Kristine Jore Gakkestad

Hege Kristine Jore Gakkestad in the sunset

Hege Kristine moved with her husband and children to Byglandsfjord several years ago and has zero regrets.

 

The village, with just over 300 inhabitants, lies to the south of Byglandsfjorden, a beautiful freshwater lake stretching 34 kilometers through the Setesdal Valley. This lake has long been the heart and lifeblood of the surrounding villages, with its clear waters and many, many beaches of fine-grained sand. On warm summer days, a refreshing swim offers the perfect way to cool down.

 

-It's quite wonderful to be able to take both morning and evening swims right below our home, Hege Kristine says.

Photo: Marion Solheim

Easy Access to Shops and Such

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Overskrift

Rural Byglandsfjord has that unmistakable small-village charm. At the same time, it’s only a quick 10-minute drive to the regional center of Evje, a popular spot for shopping, and about 20 kilometers south of the municipality center, Bygland. Commuting options here are excellent; no risk of getting stuck in traffic jams or rush hour here! (That’s the norm, at least.) Just put on your favorite podcast or sing along to the music and enjoy the stunning landscape along the way.

 

Hege Kristine is one of the village's commuters. She works as a teacher at Bygland School and drives to work each day.

 

-Commuting here really isn’t a problem at all, she says with a smile.

 

It's not just shops, workplaces, cafes, hair salons, and other places that are a short drive away. Evje also offers a ski jump, martial arts classes, and many other recreational activities for those who are interested in that, but still want to live in a rural setting.

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Public and Private Services in Byglandsfjord

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Aerial view of Byglandsfjord to the east

Byglandsfjorden. Photo: Anders Martinsen/Setesdal tett på

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Overskrift

The village may be small, but it offers plenty for its residents: a grocery store, kindergarten, primary school (first until seventh grade), and a large multi-purpose hall that’s popular among locals of all ages who enjoy sports and fitness.

 

There are great facilities for volleyball, beach volleyball, tennis, and multi-sport courts—all just a short walk away.

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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A white wooden house in Byglandsfjord

-Back in the days, Byglandsfjord was actually once a trading centre, Hege shares.

 

-You can still see traces of that history, especially when you walk through the old town center, where beautiful historic houses with intricate craftsmanship stand side by side.

 

Byglandsfjord began to grow in the early 1900s, marking a shift from land to water transport. Byglandsfjord Station served as the endpoint for the Setesdal Railway, anchoring the village’s role as a trading and transportation place.

 

-This was a bustling area, where people typically would arrive by train (more on that later!) and continue north through the region by steamboat (we’ll get to that too!). We see evidence of this history in today’s Byglandsfjord. The streets in the town center are arranged in a grid—a rare feature in rural areas—which also means that many of the kids live close to the center, the school, and so on. Most things are within a short distance, Hege Kristine explains.

Photo: Marion Solheim

Overskrift

For Hege Kristine, the music and theater scene in the municipality was a big draw when she and her family decided to move to Byglandsfjord and take over her grandfather's farm. Music has always been a big part of her life, so joining the choir Kong Hanes eftf and the theater group Bygland Dramatiske Celskab was a no-brainer. Laughter is never in short supply, to say the least.

 

-It’s an amazing community, with people of all ages, Hege Kristine says.

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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The choir Kong Hanes Efterfølgere.

The choir Kong Hanes Efterfølgere hav a lot of fun together! Photo: private

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Overskrift

-This focus on music, theater, and culture… You know, sometimes people hear that ‘everyone knows everyone’ and interpret it negatively. But for me, it feels incredibly safe and reassuring to live in a place where you can truly make a difference. It’s so easy to bring new ideas to life here; it’s easy to become a resource for the community. People are open, and there’s a lot of room to shape things yourself. You can start anything if there’s interest—that’s just part of the culture here.

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Outdoorsy Life

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Overskrift

It’s easy to see how much nature means to the people of Byglandsfjord. The crystal-clear lake invites swimming, boating, fishing, and other fun activities.

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Marina at Byglandfjorden

Could you see your boat here? Photo: Anders Martinsen/Setesdal tett på

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Overskrift

On land, the hiking options are practically endless, and for mountain enthusiasts, there are many great places to discover. The highest peak in the area, Årdalsknaben, stands at 762 meters above sea level and offers a beautiful view from the top.

 

The woodlands surrounding the lake is the home to Europe’s southernmost wild reindeer herd. In late summer, a walk through these woods offers the chance to pick wild mushrooms and berries. According to the locals, the forest is rich with nature’s treasures, and there is awesome foraging possibilities.

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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View from mountain Heståsknapen.

View from mountain Heståsknapen. Photo: Knut Olav Forgard

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Look Up! Bygland's Air Sports Scene

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Video: Bygland Luftsportklubb

Overskrift

Bygland has a thriving air sports community, led by the active Bygland Air Sports Club. This dedicated club hosts hang gliding, paragliding, skydiving, and tandem flying, and even offers a specially designed tandem chair that allows wheelchair users to experience skydiving.

 

Open to everyone, young and old alike, the club’s motto says it all: “We just want to have fun”. And they reach their goal, so to speak!

 

Each year, in week 30, Bygland hosts Gamaveka Extreme, bringing together air sports enthusiasts and their families for unforgettable days in Bygland and Setesdal. From hotel rooms to campervans, tents, and hammocks, people gather to enjoy action-filled days both on the ground and in the air. Bygland comes alive during Gamaveka Extreme, with laughter and adrenaline filling the air.

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That Train Station. That Steamboat.

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The old train station in Byglandfjord. Photo: Marion Solheim

Old red and yellow wooden trainstation in Byglandfjord

A bit secluded, in a peaceful hiking area by Byglandsfjorden, you’ll find some stunning buildings in the classic dragon style. These are the old train station buildings, constructed in 1895 as the terminus for the Setesdal Line. Here, the travellers came by train, before taking the water route further north.

 

Although the railway is no longer in service, the area and its buildings are preserved as a heritage site. They’re still put to good use, housing -among other things- the local library.

Photo: Marion Solheim

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Overskrift

As mentioned, the people who came here by train often stepped onto a steamboat to travel further north. And wouldn’t you know – the very same steamboat is still going strong, to this very day. Bjoren from 1866 is the only wood-fired boat of its kind. It’s sort of a floating technical museum, and at summertime it has a regular route at Byglandsfjorden. It’s a lovely trip of 2,5 hours, perfect for relaxing and taking in the nature. Lean back and feel the pulse lowering.

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Steamboat on Byglandsfjorden.

Bjoren - still going strong. Photo: Anders Martinsen/Setesdal tett på

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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The Ice Age Salmon - The Bleke

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Overskrift

If you’re up for more than a swim, why not bring your fishing rod? Along with trout, you might hook something truly extraordinary – the bleke, a unique type of dwarf salmon found only in this lake. And as locals will tell you, it’s absolutely delicious.

 

The story of the Byglandsbleke, or simply bleka, began around 10,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age. During the Ice Age (80,000 - 10,000 years BC), the weight of massive ice sheets pressed the land down, creating fjords and causing the ocean to rise. When the ice melted, the land rebounded, and some of the salmon became isolated in the lake we know today as Byglandsfjorden.

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The bleke from Byglandfjorden

Yum! Photo: Fyri/Baring Fish

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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Overskrift

This ancient salmon adapted to life in fresh water, evolving over millennia into the unique little fish. Genetic analyses reveal that it’s a remarkably pure, healthy species, and local chefs praise its delicate flavor. So, if you’re lucky enough to catch a few bleke in Byglandsfjorden, you might just have one of the rarest – and tastiest – dinners imaginable.

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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A Rich Cultural Heritage

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Overskrift

Setesdal, including Byglandsfjord, is world famous for its vibrant folk traditions. The region’s heritage is rich with cultural treasures like bunads (traditional attire), intricate wood carvings, rosemaling (decorative painting), and lively folk music and dance, including fiddle music and steving. The latter are recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

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Photo: Marion Solheim

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A boy in bunad laying in the grass looking at the fjord

Young dude just chillin´ in his Setesdal bunad. Photo: Visit Setesdal

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Overskrift

However, this love of tradition doesn’t close the door to fresh, modern ideas. Byglandsfjord warmly welcomes new residents, valuing their perspectives and contributions.

 

One last fun fact – Byglandsfjorden even has its own beer, made by local brewery Bygland Bryggeri. Byglandsfjorden Blonde is quite the hit!

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Bygland Blond

Byglandfjorden Blond. Photo: Bygland Bryggeri

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Explore 

Where is Byglandsfjord?

Mosque

Bus

Kindergarten

Public services in the village

None

Hotel/guesthouse

Pub

Restaurant/cafe

Grocery store

Private services in the village

None

Game hunting

Small boat harbour

Lake/river fishing

Aerial sports

Leisure in the village

None

Vinmonopolet (wine and liquor shop)

Dentist

Library

Church

Doctor's office

High school

Junior high school

Primary school

Public services within 45 min

None

Pharmacy

Fitness center

Movie theater

Ski center

Shopping center

Electric car charging

Gas station

Private services within 45 min

None

Volleyball

Handball

Shooting range

Soccer club

Choir

Leisure within 45 min

None

In and Around the Village

Employers

Housing

Note that not all available houses in the village are listed on