HISTORIC VALLEY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 124, 24 April 1940, Page 9

HISTORIC VALLEY.

ROUTE OF ALLIED TROOPS. FORMER PLEASURE RESORT. Rich in the ancient lore of the Norseman is the Gudbrandsdal Valley through which the Allied troops are reported to have proceeded ell route from the coast near Andalsnos, Romsdals Fiord, to Central Norway. Noted for its wonderful scenery and stimulating climate, the valley was a winter sports resort before the war. At Ringebu there is a famous old stone church and the farm and grave of the half-legendary hero, Peer Gynt, may be seen in one part, with the birthplace of Knut Hamson in another part of the valley over -which towers Galdhopiggen (7400 feet), the highest peak in northern Europe. From the junction at Pombaas, whore the Germans dropped parachute troops, the railway from Oslo turns west to Andalsnes, where Allied troops are reported to have landed, and then runs north to Trondheim across the lovely high reaches of the Rovrefjell (3075 ft above sea level), another favourite winter sports area. Ltllehammer, another town in the news, is the gateway to the Gudbrands-

dal Valley from tho interior of Norway. It is charmingly situated on the shores of Lake Mjosa, and in this town is the famous Snndvig collection of ancient dwellings, all of which contain their original furniture and fittings. Between Lillehammer and Rena, which has been bombed by the Gormans, there used to he decided the Birkhein ski-running contest, which drew the largest entry in the world for such events. ' Aalesund is a town built on islands, and is famous for the export of fish. Tt is the centre for visitors to the romantic scenery of tho Sunnmore district, whose fiords and mountains ‘are among the loveliest in Norway.