Tynset

Infobox_Kommune
name=Tynset
idnumber=0437
county=Hedmark
landscape=Østerdalen
capital=Tynset
governor=Bersvend Salbu (SV)
governor_as_of=2007
arearank=34
area=1879
arealand=1822
areapercent=0.58
population_as_of=2004
populationrank=180
population=5,463
populationpercent=0.12
populationdensity=3
populationincrease=1.1
language=Neutral
lat_deg=62| lat_min=16| lat_sec=31| lon_deg=10| lon_min=49| lon_sec=57
utm_zone=32V| utm_northing=6906211 |utm_easting=0595105| geo_cat=adm2nd




munwebpage=www.tynset.kommune.no

Tynset is a municipality in the county of Hedmark, Norway.

Geography

Tynset is the municipal centre of the Nord-Østerdalen area of Hedmark county. Well positioned in the central area of mainland Norway, Tynset lies in the upper quadrant of Norway's longest valley - Østerdalen (pronounced Usterdahlen) - at approximately 480 m above sea level. To the northeast lies Tolga; south of Tynset are Rendalen and Alvdal, and to the west, Folldal. In the neighboring county of Sør-Trøndelag Tynset is bordered to the north by Rennebu and Midtre Gauldal, and to the west by Oppdal. Sheltered by mountains, the average annual precipitaiton in Tynset is only 400 mm and the mean annual temperature is 0°C. Winters are cold but stable; January averages -13°C and, on average, temperatures fall below freezing between November mid mid-April. In July, the 24-hr average temperature is c.12°C; it is also generally the wettest month, with an average precipitation of about 70 mm (source:Norges Meteorologiske Institutt). This corresponds to a continental subarctic climate.

Communications

The town can be reached easily by rail, road and air. The trunk road Rv3 - the shortest route between Oslo and Trondheim - runs through Tynset, and the Rondevegen connects Tynset to Lillehammer (south), Røros (north-east) and continues further into Sweden. Rv30, which passes through Rendalen, also continues into Sweden. The Rørosbanen railway line connects Tynset with the major cities of Oslo and Trondheim. Røros Airport, 55 km. away, is part of the national network. Tynset also hosts an aerodrome that is used by smaller aircraft.

History

The parish of "Tønsæt" was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Although Alvdal was originally a part of Tynset, it became a separate municipality 1864. The former municipality of Kvikne was merged with Tynset in 1966.

The name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old farm Tynset (Norse "Tunnusetr"), since the first church was built here. The first element is the genitive case of the river name "Tunna" (now "Tonna"); the last element derrives from "setr" n 'homestead, farm'. (The meaning of the rivername is unknown.)

Until 1918 the name was written "Tønset" (pronounced Teunset, the diphthong equivalent to that in the French bleu).

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms was created fairly recently (1985) and depicts the head of a moose.

Commerce

With a population of 5400, Tynset is the municipal centre of the Nord-Østerdalen region. Although it is a modern business and shopping centre with a wide variety of commercial activities, agriculture and forestry are still the traditional ways of making a living. However, municipal administration and service industries, such as the computer industry, law, finance and construction are beginning to play an increasing role. Tynset has most of the functions of a regional centre because of its schools and hospital, and many of the region's intermunicipal services have naturally been positioned in Tynset: The Family Centre, Centre for School Psychology etc.

Kickers

Tynset produces the traditional Norwegian form of transport - the "kicker" or, in Norwegian, spark. It is made in two versions: Rappen and Tarzan. The world's largest kicker dominates Tynset Square - four times life-size.Tynset also used to produce the latex Troll souvenirs, but production has now moved abroad.

Culture

Tynset has a rich cultural life with a huge range of organisations in sports, music, drama, the arts and youth work.

Kulturhuset

When the Centre for The Arts (kulturhuset) was opened in 1988, Tynset entered a new era in which the centre has become a living, breathing cultural home for the population of Tynset and Nord-Østerdalen. The centre houses concerts, plays, a cinema, library, art exhibitions, rehearsals, reunions, conferences and festivals. The "Kulturhuset" also hosts a café where people meet informally.

Tynsethallene

Tynset's first sports hall (Tynsethallen) was built in 1986. A second sports hall (Holmenhallen) was opened ten years later. A swimming pool and smaller Gymnastic Hall in the building connects them to form a complete set of sports' facilities that few municipalities of Tynset's size can equal.

Outdoor life

Tynset is known for its vast areas of forest and mountain, which are ideal for skiing, walking, cycling, hunting and fishing. In many areas are signposted paths; ski tracks are ploughed in winter.

Savalen

Savalen is known internationally for its speed-skating rink, where many national and international records have been achieved. Now Savalen has also developed a football pitch, an arena for Nordic skiing and biathlon, roller-ski track, an alpine area and 90-km of cross-country skiing tracks. Savalen has become a place that is specially designed for the handicapped, which includes wheelchair paths and a specially equipped fishing pier. Savalen now suits people of different ages who like different outdoor pursuits. With its various types of accommodation Savalen has become renowned as a holiday area.

Wild life and preservation areas

Tynset has many wild life areas, which are regarded as national treasures; the geological formation at Ripan and Gammeldalen are extremely interesting: at Ripan is a lake formed by glaciation during the last Ice Age and at Gammeldalen are found some beautifully formed corries from the same period.

Life on the seters

Tynset can be proud of being one of those municipalities that has many of its mountain farms (seter) still in use, and it is possible to visit such farms when out hiking, which proves to be a valuable experience both for children and adults. Tynset municipality also rents chalets, which used to belong to mountain farms.

Locations and events

(Minutes by car from Tynset)

Kvikne Mines - Odden. The remains of mining operations begun in 1632. (60 min.)

Kvikne Church. A cruciform timber church built in 1652, with a richly decorated interior. The altar is an example of one of Norway's finest Renaissance altar pieces and the church is adorned with staves (planks) on which one can see Viking graffiti, an 11th-century crucifix and other artefacs from the Viking period. (45 min.)

Vollan Farm and Chapel. The farm was originally built in the mining period, the earliest part of which dates from the 17th century. This is one of the few farms in the country with its own private chapel. (45 min.)

Vollandagan: An annual festival connected with the traditional life of Vollan.

Bjørgan rectory, Kvikne. The birthplace of the author Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. (50 min.)

Soapstone quarry, Kvikneskogen, dates from 400-600 BC. (30 min.+ 45 min. on foot).

Røstvangen mines. The remains of a mining community from the beginning of this century. It survived for only 17 years and was ruined by the greatest bankruptcy of the period. (25 min.+ 15 min. on foot).

Tynset Bygdemuseum. Tynset's village museum is 1 km. from the town centre and contains exemplar housing from early times to the present.

Tynset church. An octagonal church that was built in 1795 by the architect of a larger example in Røros. The church displays a fine, guilded pulpit over the altar, which is peculiar to this area of Norway. Interestingly, a smaller copy of this church was built in 1825 at Bardu in the norther country of Troms by the contractor (and native of Tynset) Ola Olsen Lundberg and is accurate many details.

Ramsmoen museumssenter: Exhibitions throughout the year - in the centre of Tynset.

Garborgdagan. An annual festival built around the work of the authors Hulda and Arne Garborg. Held in Tynset kulturhus and at Kolbotn - Garborg's home for many years.

Tynsetutstillinga. An annual exhibition held in Galleri Elgen in Tynset kulturhus, featuring well-known Norwegian artists.

Tylldalen church. Built in 1736, the rich wall painting survived the puritan period by being painted over, thus preserving its original colours. A fine altar dominates the sanctuary and fine ceiling paintings, displaying the Swedish royal arms, make this a fine example of Norwegian late-baroque architecture.

Tylldalen bygdetun. Tylldalen's village museum (20 min.) A biennial play for St. Olav's Day is Norway's second oldest historical outdoor play.

Other attractions easily reached from Tynset:
*The mining town of Røros - 45 min.
*Jutulhogget - the deepest canyon in Northern Europe - 35 min.
*The Aukrust Centre in Alvdal - 25 min.
*Tronden Mt. - by road to the mountain top 1666m above sea level - 45 min.

External links

* [http://www.tynset.kommune.no/ Tynset website]
* [http://www.tynsetkirke.no/english English portion of Tynset church's website, which includes information on the churches and a series of virtual tours]