Etnedal municipality has approximately 1.400 inhabitants and covers a area of 459,1 km2. A golden stone arch bridge against a blue background is the symbol for Etnedal local authority.

LUNDE BRIDGE

Lunde Bridge, built in 1827-1829, is the largest single arch “dry” (built without mortar) stone bridge in Norway. It took its name from Lunde farm, which lies straight south of the bridge. In 1829 Lunde bridge was part of the busy main road, the “Bergenske Hovedveg”. The Valdres section of this important road had been built in the second half of the preceding century. Between Høljarast and Lunde bridge its route was largely the same as that of the present main road. The old road continued to Bruflat, and from there over the Tonsåsen hill towards Nord-Aurdal.

Travellers crossed the river Etna by a wooden bridge. Flooding of the river necessitated its frequent rebuilding. Consequently it was decided in the late 1820s to build a more durable stone bridge. An entrepreneur from Land, Christoffer Berg, undertook the building of Lunde Bridge. The arched bridge he designed was built using masonry techniques that have been developed by the Romans and that have subsequently come to Norway with Christianity and church building around AD 1000. The bridge consists of three parts; The foundation, the supports, and the arch. To be able to build the arch a wooden frame was erected to support the growing structure from either side.

The last stones to be placed, those in the very middle of the arch, join the two parts and hold them together. From the top stones the pressure of the immense weight is transferred through the arch down to the foundation. It is the weight of the bridge itself and the traffic using it which hold the entire bridge together. The Lunde bridge was badly damaged during the fighting between Norwegian and German forces on 24 April, 1940. The bridge recived official protection in 1985.

MØLLERSTUGFOSSEN WATERFALL

See the Rock Carvings at Møllerstugufossen waterfall close to Rv. 33, 3 km south of Høljerast bridge. The Rock Carvings is from young Stone age, approximately 4.000 year´s old.

ETNA

Etna starts on 1686 metres over sea level in Øystre Slidre, and runs through Nord-Aurdal, Etnedal and meet the river Dokka i Nordre Land 135 metres over sea level.