Bagn

Bagn offers points of interest for a trip in which church and regional history play a role alongside the Begna. The location details help put the different themes into context: Bagn kyrkje is in the town centre, while Bagn Bygdesamling is five kilometres south of Bagn on the E16. There is also a swimming spot by the Begna, as well as designated fishing spots and fishing paths.

Churches and history in Bagn

Bagn kyrkje is a cruciform church dating from 1736 and is located in the municipality of Sør-Aurdal. It can be reached via a turn-off from the E16 in the town centre of Bagn. Those interested in the history of the area will also find a much older reference: a letter from 1375 mentions the parish of Bagn as “Bagns kirkiu sookn a Waldræs”. The letter and the church from 1736 represent different points in the local church’s history.

Another historic church is known by the names Ule-kyrkja and Bagn stavkyrkje. It was a stave church with a raised central section and stood in Østre Bagn. Today, a memorial stone and a simple wooden cross stand at the Ulekyrkjetomta site. A marked path leads from fylkesveg 219 to Ulekyrkjetomta. This makes the site a separate point of historical interest, distinct from the church in the town centre.

Bagn Bygdesamling and Bagnsbergatn

Bagn Bygdesamling is an open-air museum on the E16, five kilometres south of Bagn in the municipality of Sør-Aurdal. The collection now includes 19 buildings. These include a farm from Islandsmoen, a telthus from Vangen in Bagn, a crofter’s cottage from the vicarage in Bagn, and the school from Dølven. These specific buildings give the collection a range of historical points of interest, rather than focusing on just one type of building or use.

The Bygdesamling includes several permanent indoor exhibitions; films are also shown and there is an audio station. Bagnsbergatn, a national war memorial, is also part of the collection. Those choosing the cultural history focus of their trip can therefore distinguish between the church history in the town centre, the former stave church in Østre Bagn, and the collection south of Bagn. These are different places and topics, not a single sightseeing spot.

The Begna: swimming and fishing

The Begna flows south from Bagn in Valdres towards Nes in Ådal. Both banks are easily accessible via the E16 and Austsidevegen. There is a swimming spot just below Fossen Kro in Bagn. Along the Begna, there are also signposted fishing spots and fishing paths laid out along the riverbank. Swimming and fishing are therefore separate points of interest for a trip focused on the river.

The historic Ulekyrkja is associated with Østre Bagn; the Begna is another local point of interest. If you choose Bagn as your place to stay, you can compare these details with your own interests in churches, regional history or the river.

For the broader travel overview: Sør-Aurdal.