Filefjell Kongevegen

The Filefjell Kongevegen (The Kings Road) is the name of the old trail over Filefjell (a mountainous area between Lærdal and Valdres in Norway). It is the historical main route linking West Norway and East Norway.

Due to the sometimes wet and marshy land in the valley bottom, the old trail runs farther up in the hill than the modern asphalt-road does today, and the old trail is still used for hiking. It was named after king Sverre I of Norway (1184-1202) who traveled this route with his army. The first post route came over this way in 1647. The road got official status as a main road in the year 1791. [ [http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_sogn_og_fjordane/fylkesleksikon/1567428.html Filefjell Kongevegen as post route. no icon] ] [ [http://www.vegvesen.no/vegenogvi/13_04/skjerm/9.pdf Filefjell Kongevegen receives official status in 1791. no icon] ]

Maristova in Filefjell (built on Queen Margaret's command around 1390) and Nystuen in Vang (first mentioned in 1627 but believed to be much older) are guesthouses that provided for travelers along the road. The hosts of the shelters were compensated by the king to aid travelers and provide shelter for those who used the road. This practice lasted until 1830.

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