Bø Kommune
Pop 6,630; Area 263 sq. km (102 sq mi) Before 2020 dissolution
Church Parish: Bø
Historic Churches: Bø and Old Bø
Bø's open and inviting countryside, which became a formal municipality in 1838, underwent significant Børder changes until its dissolution in 2020. This dissolution led to its integration into the Midt-Telemark municipality, with the village of Bø serving as the administrative center. The primarily agricultural kommune and parish were named for the old Bø farm, from the old Norse Bœr, which means homestead.
Telemark established a rural secondary school in Bø in 1923, at a time when secondary schools were only common in city areas. In 1947, Telemark Realskole was joined by Telemark Offentlige Landsgymnas, a high school, confirming Bø as a center for education. The Telemark District College, which opened in 1970, is now a prominent campus of the University of Southeast Norway and lends the area the atmosphere of a college town.
Bø has long been known for its cultural traditions and is integral to the national identity. The modern Hardanger fiddle, Norway’s national instrument, was developed in the 1860s by John Eriksen Helland and his two sons, Erik Johnsen Helland and Ellev Johnsen Steintjønndalen. The Helland family fiddle-making dynasty continued into the late 1970s. Telemark District College’s Folk Culture and Arts programs have further cemented that heritage with its cultural conservation. The Bø coat of arms, which featured the blazon of three golden fiddles and was established in 1988, has been carried over to the new municipality, Midt-Telemark's coat of arms.
Bø churches lie side by side on a height overlooking the surrounding countryside. The Old Church is a Romanesque stone church that was completed around 1180. From that time until it was outgrown in 1870, the church's interior underwent several changes, including an altar piece from around 1300, post-reformation benches, altar carvings, a decorated pulpit, and a relocated Renaissance-style altar. However, the Bødy of the church has remained largely the same, providing a rare example of a village church in the Middle Ages. The New Church in Bø was consecrated in 1875. It is a long church built of wood. The altarpiece was painted by Victor Smith and carved in wood by Halvor Slettemeøs in the late 1940s.
Outdoor tourism is common in Bø in summer and winter. The Lifjell mountain range, known for its scenic hiking trails and breathtaking views, and Sommarland, the largest water park in Scandinavia, are particular draws. The Telemark Festival, the largest folk music event in the fylke, is held in Bø each summer.
Notable people from Bø:
Jon Eriksson Helland (1790 in Bø – 1862), a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker
Olav Gunnarsson Helland (1875 in Bø – 1946), a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle maker
Nils Nilsen Ronning (1870 in Bø – 1962), an American author, journalist, editor and Telelaget conservator
Anders Haugen (1888 in Bø – 1984), an American ski jumper bronze medallist at the 1924 Winter Olympics
Hans Kleppen (1907 in Bø – 2009), a ski jumper who participated in the 1928 Winter Olympics
Sauherad Kommune
Pop 4293; Area 321 sq. km (124 sq mi) Before 2020 dissolution
Church Parish: Sauherad og Nes
Historic Churches: Nesodden and Sauherad
Sauherad, historically known as Søfde or Saude, is an agricultural region that was a municipality from 1838 to 2020. It is now part of the Midt-Telemark kommune. The area lies mainly in a valley between forested hills and is known for its orchards and grain fields—the Sauar River winds through the township between Lake Heddal and Norsjø.
This unassuming area is rich in history and culture. Margit Hjukse, the heroine of the folk ballad of the same name, was bewitched in the mountains near Hørte in Sauherad. Nestled in a pastoral landscape, Evju Bygdetun is a living village farm and cultural center. The village features multiple historical buildings, and hiking and biking trails run through the property. It offers classes, hosts school children, and arranges many cultural and entertainment events. Another landmark in Sauherad is Klevar Farm, which features centuries-old buildings, including the storehouse that dates back to around 1500. This farm is the scene of the old legend of the Klevar-treasure, a hoard of silver supposedly taken from the elves.
Both historical churches in the kommune are stone churches from the 12th century, each with unique features. Nes Church, located between Gvarv and Akkerhaugen, stands on a point of land that extends into the Norsjø. The church's portals, cornerstones, and window frames are intricately carved out of marble-like limestone, a rare sight in Norway. The interior is adorned with medieval frescos, home to Norway's most complete medieval room decoration. Tree-ring dating of the timber in the original roof has been done to verify the age of the church. Sauherad Church, likely built in 1150 in the Romanesque style, is known for a carved fresco in the chancel, which was uncovered during restoration. The fresco was described as ecclesiastical folk art and purportedly featured nearly 2,500 devils, but it was discovered in 2021 to have been a forgery.
Notable people from Sauherad:
Johannes Akkerhaugen (born 1939), an archer who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Liv Holtskog (1934 in Gvarv - 2014), a Norwegian fruit farmer and poet
Lars Fykerud (1860–1902), a Norwegian Hardanger fiddler and composer
Targjei Augundsson (1801 – 1872) known as Myllarguten (meaning the Millerboy), a fiddle player
Hans Aimar Mow Grønvold (1846–1926), a Norwegian civil servant and music writer
Telesoga Issues:
1951
1953
1952