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Gran, Norway

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Gran kommune
70px
Gran_kommune_kart.png
County Oppland
District Hadeland
Municipality
Administrative centre Jaren
Mayor (2003) Rigmor Aasrud (Ap)
Official language form Bokmål
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Percentage
758 Square kilometre>km²
658 km²
0.23 %
Population
 - Total (as of 2004>2004)
 - Percentage
 - Change (10 years)
 - Density
Ranked 82
13,095
0.29 %
4.2 %
20/km²
Coordinates
[www.gran.kommune.no]
[Data from Statistics Norway]
Coordinates: Gran is a municipality in the county of Oppland, Norway.

View of Gran from Hvalebykampen (Hvaleby mountain)
Enlarge
View of Gran from Hvalebykampen (Hvaleby mountain)


Geography

Gran is part of Hadeland. It is bordered to the north by Søndre Land and Vestre Toten, to the east by Hurdal and Nannestad, to the south by Lunner and Jevnaker, and to the west by Ringerike. Areas of concentrated population include Brandbu, Gran and Jaren.

Economy

The economy of the municipality was in 2002 of NOK 24,098 in free income per inhabitant, and net debt per inhabitant was NOK 41,835 (also municipal economy, not private). Health care spendings represents about 1/3 of the total budget, which is 7.5 per cent higher than the average for Norway.

History

Granavollen is the site of the Sister Churches (Søsterkirkene), two stone churches from the middle ages. They are constructed side by side. The smallest and oldest is the Mariakirke, a single nave church built in the Romanesque style. The neighboring Nikolaikirke is a three-isled basilica, probably inspired by the construction of the Halvardskirke in Oslo. According to local folklore, the churches were built by two sisters. These two detested each other so much they could not share the same church. A more likely explanation however, is that the Mariakirke was built for the local congregation, while the Nikolaikirke was the main church for Hadeland parish.

At Tingelstad there is another medieval stone church from the 12th century, called Tingelstad old church. This church has survived even though it has not been in regular use for some 140 years. This is also the location of Hadeland Folkemuseum with a collection of buildings from the area, farm implements as well as a grave mound from the Viking period and a copy of the 11th century Dynna stone. It also holds an archive of photographs and documents.

What to see

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
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Municipalities of Oppland

Dovre | Etnedal | Gausdal | Gjøvik | Gran | Jevnaker | Lesja | Lillehammer | Lom | Lunner | Nord-Aurdal | Nord-Fron | Nordre Land | Ringebu | Sel | Skjåk | Søndre Land | Sør-Aurdal | Sør-Fron | Vang | Vestre Slidre | Vestre Toten | Vågå | Østre Toten | Øyer | Øystre Slidre

 


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