Kyrkjebygd

Looking for a place where southern charm meets breathtaking mountain adventures? Welcome to Kyrkjebygd in Åseral! Here, you can strap on your skis right after work during winter. Or bask in the summer sun by the freshwater lake. Who says you can’t have it all?

This gem of a destination offers even more goodies, making life sweeter for its residents.

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This village strikes a balance, so to speak. The rural lifestyle and loads of untouched nature offer a chance to simply unwind. The municipality's solid economy ensures well-functioning public services. At the same time, it’s easy to head into the city if its allure calls every now and then.

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Despite its modest size, with just around 600 residents, Kyrkjebygd offers plenty to do – especially if you are the outdoorsy type. The village is situated on a flat plain surrounded by majestic mountains, located at the northern end of the freshwater lake Ørevatn. Two rivers, Monn and Logna, flow through the village and end up in the lake. Winters bring abundant snow and endless opportunities for winter sports. The summers, on the other hand, are warm and inviting, as they often are in Southern Norway. In other words, this village is a delightful yin and yang of seasonal activities — perfect for those who crave variety.

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Let’s begin with some cool key words: freshly waxed cross-country skis, alpine slopes, snowboarding adventures, and layers of wool clothes.

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Put simply, Kyrkjebygda offers just about everything you need to enjoy life on skis or a snowboard. Or snowmobile! Here is enough space for everyone and their favored cup of tea.

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First, for those who enjoy long, peaceful outings with the sound of birds chirping and the crunch of snow beneath your boots, breaks with hot cocoa and oranges with the kids… Or simply being alone in nature… We're of course talking about cross-country skiing. And there are endless opportunities for this in the area. In fact, the region boasts over 200 kilometers of well-maintained cross-country trails. That’s a lot!

Many of these trails are linked to the three winter sports destinations in the municipality, meaning they’re just a short drive away. So, both cross-country enthusiasts and those seeking adrenaline, snow in their face, and daring jumps on skis or snowboards will find something to suit them. Here they are:

-Eikerapen Alpinsenter is only a 10-minute drive from Kyrkjebygda. Here, you'll find ski slopes suitable for everyone, from Bratthenget for those who seek a challenge, to O'Nei-dalen for the more cautious. There are five slopes, the longest being 1800 meters. However, what Eikerapen is most famous for is the many off-piste opportunities the resort offers. Eikerapen also has cross-country trails in abdundance.

- Bortelid is one of the largest alpine ski resorts in southern Norway. It offers well-prepared cross-country trails, as well as a floodlit trail and illuminated alpine slopes, a ski cross slope, and an area for beginners. Bortelid is only a 30-minute drive from Kyrkjebygd.

- Ljosland Skisenter has several ski lifts, multiple slopes, a children’s area, as well as big jumps, moguls, and rails scattered around the mountain. The off-piste opportunities are excellent, with cleared forest areas set up for this purpose. Ljosland is also just under a 30-minute drive from Kyrkjebygd.

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Still want more winter action? Well, not to worry. Åseral Snowmobile Club is one of the largest and most active of its kind in Norway. People of all ages join in, and the club hosts races year-round, including special events for kids.

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The club plays an active role in the local community of Kyrkjebygda and is committed to ensuring that the fun is safe and inclusive. One of their signature events is what is likely the world’s largest avalanche safety course.

Winters in Kyrkjebygda and the surrounding area are typically snowy and long. So, by the time spring rolls around, winter sports enthusiasts here will have had ample opportunities to make lasting memories before moving on to the next season. And as mentioned earlier, the warmer months have their own offerings, too.

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Kyrkjebygda is not all winter and snow. After all, we are in the south of Norway. Meaning, it gets warm and sunny (by Norwegian standards, that is!) in the summertime. Grab your sunglasses and go outside!

Here are some of the activites you can enjoy in the summer:

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You can take a brisk, one-hour hike from Kyrkjebygda up to the Day Trip Hut Tippin. Along the way, there are some cute surprises for those who keep an eye out. If it's cold, you can light a fire in the stove (bring your own wood, though), read books in the small library, and enjoy your packed lunch.

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The summit hike to Skoræ is considered the southernmost peak in Norway over 1000 meters, standing at 1041 meters above sea level. The view is breathtaking!

The top of Snøfjell is also fantastic, and there you'll find remnants of a lookout tower from World War II. The round trip is about six kilometers, with an elevation gain of 653 meters above sea level.

One person who knows the mountains around Kyrkjebygda like the back of his hand is the young machine operator and keen hunter, Ånund Stulien. He can’t get enough of exploring the rugged hills, steep valleys, and open highlands.

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-There are so many amazing spots in the mountains. In the summer, all you need is a tent and a fishing rod, and there’s an endless number of places to discover, he says.

-I feel an incredible sense of freedom when I’m in the mountains. That’s when I’m especially grateful to live here. We have so much space here that you can be completely alone in nature, and I really appreciate that. Summer is, of course, fantastic. But fall, when the entire valley turns golden with fall foliage, is stunning. And, if I’m being honest, my favorite season is winter. I love snow, and I can’t get enough of the white blanket that covers the forests, the young outdoorsman shares.

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Thanks to revenues from hydropower production, the municipality can afford to go the extra mile - both for its residents and for those considering a move here.

And they certainly do.

For example, families with children enjoy special benefits. It starts in kindergarten, where all kids receive free meals. Once they begin school, every student in grades 1 through 10 gets a free lunch every school day. And after-school care (SFO), which often puts a strain on family budgets? Not here. It’s entirely free.

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The seniors in the village are well cared for too. The Åseralsheimen nursing home is state-of-the-art, offering a wide range of activities and delicious, homemade meals. Residents also have access to services like a hairdresser and foot care. Not bad at all!

If you’re thinking of building a house in the area, the municipality is equally generous. You can purchase a prime building plot for just NOK 100,000 — a fraction of what you’d normally pay. Read more here.

If you prefer building off the beaten track, where there’s no public water or sewage infrastructure, the municipality offers grants of up to NOK 150,000. (Calling all tiny home enthusiasts!) Read more here.

Oh, and did we mention this? In this municipality you don’t have to pay property tax on your home or vacation property. That’s kind of nice!

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Since Kyrkjebygda serves as the administrative center of the municipality of Åseral, many public services are located here. And private, for that matter.

Åseral Elementary and Middle School, along with Åseral Kindergarten, are centrally situated in Kyrkjebygda. Throughout the year, children and students enjoy pretty awesome facilities, including a swimming pool, a ball court, a large football field, a multipurpose hall, climbing walls, a handball court, an athletics track, and a dedicated outdoor learning area.

This is the school where Tonje works, and she can't imagine a better place to raise her young daughter.

-It’s a small community here, and a very transparent society. In many ways, that’s good – though it has its pros and cons – but for us, it’s definitely good. Everyone is seen here. Practically speaking, I think the school is fantastic. The schoolyard is enormous, with the football field and everything else the children can enjoy. Not to mention the swimming pool. Every week, the students have swimming lessons throughout their entire primary school years. This ensures that the kids here become competent swimmers and feel safe in the water from an early age, Tonje explains.

The nature in the area plays an important role in the school’s activities.

-Absolutely! The school here makes good use of nature. We sometimes have outdoor school sessions, and we’re often out in the forest learning – we even have a new lean-to where we can gather. It’s not the biggest school; we have around 100 students in total. But that makes it easier to keep track of each child, and I definitely feel that the kids in Kyrkjebygda have a very safe and wholesome upbringing. For example, since the kindergarten and the school are so close, and the community is small, there’s a close collaboration between the kindergarten educators and the first-grade teachers. Together, they ensure a smooth transition for the little ones starting school. Those things are truly priceless, I think, she says.

What about the private services in the village? Well, Kyrkjebygda offers a grocery store with postal services, a building supply shop, a snowmobile/ATV store, a gas station, and electric car charging stations.

A particularly cherished landmark in Kyrkjebygda is Minne Cultural Center. This multifunctional venue celebrates Åseral’s cultural heritage and community life. It houses a local museum, a tourist information center, a small movie theatre showing historical documentaries, a café, and do not forget the beautiful apple orchard right outside. Minne hosts a variety of exhibitions and events throughout the year; in short, it is a community hub where people gather weekly for activities. Åseral’s Handicraft Association organizes workshops for children and adults, the arts group from the cultural school meets here, and local organizations frequently use the space. Minne Cultural Center is an important place for many of the people in Kyrkjebygda.

There’s always something happening in the village, explains Tonje.

-The sports club here is very active, especially for the youth. Of course, football is a big part of it, but they also have volleyball, a gym, an alpine group, and a hall group. The youth also have their own youth club, and many are into motorsports like ATV, mopeds, and snowmobiles. I think it’s fantastic that the snowmobile club raises money so that everyone can have a try. It’s an expensive activity, but here we help each other out, she says.

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Tonje herself is involved in many activities in Kyrkjebygda. The village has a vital association life, and Tonje participates in the sports club, the history club, and the handicraft club.

-I’m a bit of a local history nerd, and I’m currently involved in a dialect project. We’re working on digitizing the dialect spoken here in the area, she says with enthusiasm.

-And there’s quite a young crowd in the handicraft group. Every Thursday, we get together to chat, sew, embroider, and knit. It’s just so nice and cozy.

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Åseral is part of Setesdal and boasts a rich cultural heritage, much of which is reflected in its architecture. Here, you can find historic storehouses, stabbur, the oldest dating back to the 1600s — well-preserved cultural landmarks that offer a glimpse into the past.

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Going even further back in time, Åseral is home to one of the best-preserved Iron Age farms in Europe, located just two kilometers outside of Kyrkjebygda. The Sosteli farm was in use almost continuously from around the time of Christ’s birth until the year 1000 AD.

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-It’s the sense of community. There are so many organizations, and people accomplish a lot together – everyone here understands that they’re part of something bigger and need to contribute. Nothing happens if people don’t get involved, so the fact that everyone pitches in leads to such great results. For example, our 17th of May celebrations are always fantastic here, with lots of volunteers and plenty of fun. That’s the side of Kyrkjebygda I love the most, Tonje concludes with a smile.

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Sources:

Kyrkjebygda (Åseral) – Setesdalswiki

Åseral – kommune i Agder – Store norske leksikon

Forside - ÅSERAL KOMMUNE

Flytt til Åseral

Eikerapen Alpinsenter - Visit Sørlandet

Åseral Snøscooterklubb - Åseral Snøscooterklubb

Lislehylen Badeplass, Kyrkjebygd

Badeplassar - ÅSERAL KOMMUNE

Om Minne - ÅSERAL KOMMUNE

Velkommen til Sosteli!

Vest-Agderbunad – kvinne – Store norske leksikon