Luster, Norway

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Infobox kommune

Luster is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located at the end of the Sognefjorden in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative centre is the village of Gaupne. Other villages in Luster include Fortun, Hafslo, Indre Hafslo, Jostedal, Luster, Nes, Ornes, Skjolden, Solvorn, and Veitastrond.

Luster is centered around the inner branch of the Sognefjord, which is called the Lustrafjorden. Its landscape includes fjords, steep mountains, water-abundant waterfalls, blue glaciers, and valleys. Both Jostedalsbreen National Park and Breheimen National Park are partially located in this municipality. The Sognefjellsvegen road goes over a mountain pass in eastern Luster.

The Template:Convert municipality is the 17th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Luster is the 176th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 5,302. The municipality's population density is Template:Convert and its population has increased by 5.2% during the previous 10-year period.<ref name="ssb pop">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ssb area">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2016, the chief of police for Vestlandet formally suggested a reconfiguration of police districts and stations. He proposed that the police station in Luster be closed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

General information

File:Fortun 2010.jpg

View of the Fortun area

File:Norway sheep and landscape.jpg

Norwegian sheep and Luster landscape

File:Gaupne gamle kirke.jpg

Old Gaupne Church

Lyster was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The original municipality was identical to the Lyster parish (prestegjeld) with the sub-parishes (Template:Lang) of Fortun, Dale, Nes, and Gaupne. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1963, the neighboring municipalities of Hafslo and Jostedal were merged with Luster, forming a much larger municipality. After the merger, Luster had 5,854 residents.<ref name="Dag">Template:Cite book</ref>

Since the consolidation of the three municipalities of Hafslo, Jostedal and Luster in 1963, the area has been characterized by scattered rural settlements and large distances between these settlements. Luster was the largest municipality by area in the old Sogn og Fjordane county.<ref name="em">Template:Cite web</ref>

On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly created Vestland county after Sogn og Fjordane and Hordaland counties were merged.

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Lustrafjorden (Template:Langx) and the village of Luster which grew up along the fjord. The name is derived from the word Template:Wikt-lang which means "light" or "bright", referring to the bright color of the water from the glaciers.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Lyster. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Luster.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 20 April 1990. The official blazon is "Azure, a tilia curled argent forming an annulet" (Template:Langx). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a tilia branch curled into a circle. The charge has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The arms are inspired by an old woodcarving found in the Urnes Stave Church which is located in the municipality. The arms were designed by Inge Rotevatn from Nordfjordeid. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Churches

The Church of Norway has eight parishes (Template:Lang) within the municipality of Luster. It is part of the Sogn prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

**Churches in Luster**
Parish (Template:Lang)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Dale	Dale Church	Luster	1250
Fet og Joranger	Fet Church	Fet	1894
Fet og Joranger	Joranger Church	Joranger	1660
Fortun	Fortun Church	Fortun	1879
Gaupne	Gaupne Church	Gaupne	1908
Gaupne	Old Gaupne Church	Gaupne	1647
Hafslo	Hafslo Church	Hafslo	1878
Hafslo	Veitastrond Chapel	Veitastrond	1928
Jostedal	Jostedal Church	Jostedal	1660
Nes	Nes Church	Nes	1909
Solvorn	Solvorn Church	Solvorn	1883
Solvorn	Urnes Stave Church	Ornes	1130

Government

File:Andreas Wollnick Wiese 2024 Luster.jpg

Mayor Andreas Wollnick Wiese, Luster(2024)

Luster Municipality is responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.<ref name="ks">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Sogn og Fjordane District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

Mayors

The mayors of Luster:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Div col

1838-1841: Mons S. Fuhr
1842-1843: Peder Lavold
1844-1845: Hans Hanson Urdahl, Sr.
1846-1853: Sølfest Urdahl
1854-1861: Mons S. Fuhr
1862-1863: Hans Hanson Urdahl, Sr.
1864-1865: John Z. Næs
1866-1866: Sølfest Urdahl
1867-1867: John Z. Næs
1868-1869: Sølfest Urdahl
1870-1875: John Z. Næs
1876-1877: Hans Hanson Urdahl, Jr.
1878-1881: John Z. Næs
1888-1893: Hans Hanson Urdahl, Jr.
1894-1897: Sjur O. Fuhr
1898-1898: Hans J. Næss
1899-1900: Sjur T. Næss
1901-1904: Sjur O. Fuhr
1905-1906: Sjur T. Næss
1907-1910: Per Urdahl
1911-1916: Halvard Drægni
1917-1919: Johannes Fladhammer
1920-1921: Halvard Drægni
1922-1922: Hermann Prestegård
1923-1925: Jens Døsen
1926-1927: Halvard Drægni
1928-1928: Olav Tjønn
1929-1931: Anders Molland
1932-1934: Hermann Prestegård
1935-1941: Anders Molland
1942-1944: Eirik Weka
1946-1947: Hans Prestegård
1948-1959: Olav Listou
1960-1975: Anders Bjørk (Sp)
1976-1977: Kåre Øvregard (Ap)
1978-1979: Knut P. Nes (KrF)
1980-1989: Jan Haugen (Sp)
1990-2003: Ernst Weum (Ap)
2003-2011: Torodd Urnes (KrF)
2011-2023: Ivar Kvalen (Sp)
2023-present: Andreas Wollnick Wiese (Sp)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:Div col end

Geography

File:Nigardsbreen-Norway-close-up.jpg

Note people entering the ice cave in the glacier Nigardsbreen—this gives some perspective on the size of the glacier as the cave shows in the other picture.

File:Nigardsbreen-Norway.jpg

The glacier Nigardsbreen and the lake Nigardsbrevatnet in Luster.

Location

Luster, one of the largest municipalities in southern Norway, is located in the glacial mountains where the Sognefjorden begins its path to the North Sea. The fjord is fed by many large glaciers such as the Harbardsbreen, Holåbreen, Jostedalsbreen, Nigardsbreen, Spørteggbreen, and others.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

It is bordered by four municipalities in Vestland county: Stryn to the north, Sunnfjord to the west, Sogndal to the southwest, and Årdal to the southeast. It is also bordered by three municipalities in Innlandet county: Skjåk to the northeast and by Lom and Vang to the east.

Feigumfoss waterfall

With a vertical drop of Template:Convert, the Feigumfoss Waterfall is one of the highest in Scandinavia.<ref name=go/>

Mountains

The Hurrungane, Breheimen, and Jotunheimen mountains cover parts of the municipality. Store Skagastølstind (or Storen) is the third highest mountain peak in Norway at Template:Convert high, and it is located on the southern border of Luster and Årdal. It is part of the Hurrungane mountain range which contains some of the most alpine peaks in Norway.

Mountains of Luster over Template:Convert<ref name=go/>
Mountain	Height	Mountain	Height
Store Skagastølstind	Template:Convert	Store Dyrhaugstind	Template:Convert
Store Styggedalstinden	Template:Convert	Mjølkedalstind	Template:Convert
Jervvasstind	Template:Convert	Store Ringstind	Template:Convert
Sentraltind	Template:Convert	Tverrådalskyrkja	Template:Convert
Vetle Skagastølstind	Template:Convert	Lodalskåpa	Template:Convert
Midtre Skagastølstind	Template:Convert	Store Soleiebotntind	Template:Convert
Store Austanbotntind	Template:Convert	Søre Dyrhaugstind	Template:Convert
Store Raudalseggi	Template:Convert	Fannaråken	Template:Convert
Store Raudalstind	Template:Convert	Stetind i Jotunheimen	Template:Convert
Uranostind	Template:Convert	Brenibba	Template:Convert

Lakes and Rivers

There are notable lakes such as Veitastrondsvatnet, Austdalsvatnet, Styggevatnet, Tunsbergdalvatnet, Prestesteinsvatnet, and Hafslovatnet. There are also many big waterfalls such as the Feigumfoss waterfall at Template:Convert tall. The river Jostedøla runs through the Jostedal valley and empties into the fjord at Gaupne.

File:Austerdalen LC0364.jpg

Storelvi with Austerdalen (right) and Langedalen (left)

Glaciers

The Jostedalsbreen glacier (including the arm called Nigardsbreen) is the biggest glacier in continental Europe, the highest point on it is Høgste Breakulen. It is located west of Jostedal, north of Gaupne, in Jostedalsbreen National Park, much of which is located in the municipality of Luster.<ref name="go">Template:Cite web</ref> Other glaciers include the Austerdalsbreen, Harbardsbreen and Spørteggbreen.

Economy

The inhabitants of Luster make their living by farming, growing berries and fruit, tourism, and hydroelectricity. Jøstedal and Fortun have large hydroelectric power stations. Summer tourism is quite busy. Tourist activities include mountain climbing, skiing, fishing, hiking, and hunting.<ref name=go/> The Sognefjellsvegen tourist road passes through Luster.

River fishing

Fishing permits (for salmon fishing) are sold for use on specific rivers, including Årøy-elva.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Culture and education

Historic churches

File:Urnes Stave Church 2.jpg

Urnes Stave Church

Urnes Stave Church

Urnes Stave Church was built around 1150 and is Norway's oldest Stave church. The Church lies majestically on the top of Urnes. The Stave church is one of four Norwegian Churches on UNESCO`s list of the most precious cultural monuments in the world.

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.<ref name=go/>

Old Gaupne Church

The Old Gaupne Church is a magnificent church that was built in 1647 on a hill directly opposite Gaupne centre.<ref name=go/>

Dale Church

Dale Church is a stone church that was built in gothic style in the year 1250.<ref name=go/>

Breheim center

The Breheim Center contains a comprehensive exhibition. A journey through 20,000 years - from the Ice age to the present day, an audio/visual show takes visitors inside the glacier. Glacier boat M/S "Jostedalsrypa" crosses the Nigard Glacier Lake. There are internationally approved guides, glacier and climbing courses, and ski-trips.<ref name=go/>

Education

In 2020, 32% of the municipality's applicants for [secondary schooling] videregående skole, sought [non-vocational schooling], studiespesialisering; [67% or] the rest of the applicants sought vocational schooling.<ref>https://klassekampen.no/utgave/2021-08-03/fokus. Klassekampen</ref>

Notable people

File:Johannes Flintoe - Gerhard Munthe.png

Gerhard Munthe, 1817

Gerhard Munthe (1795 in Hafslo - 1876), a military officer, historian, and cartographer
Christian Ellefson (1842 in Luster - 1925?), an American farmer and member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Peter J. Dale (1845 in Luster – 1935), a Norwegian-American member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Henrik Angell (1861 in Luster – 1922), a military officer, sportsman, writer, skiing pioneer, and the first Norwegian delegate to the International Olympic Committee
Sylfest Lomheim (born 1945 in Hafslo), a Norwegian philologist, academic, and politician
Tor Bremer (born 1955 in Luster), a farmer and politician
Kurt Heggestad (born 1982 in Veitastrond), a Norwegian former professional footballer
Stine Pettersen Reinås (born 1994 in Hafslo), a Norwegian football defender with over 150 club caps and eight for the Norway women's national football team