Issue 11, March 17, 2004:

Sokndal – a Town in Slow Motion!

The small town of Sokndal was the first city in Scandinavia to become a member of the Italian network of Slow Cities, known as Cittaslow. Hospitality, home-cooked meals, preservation of old buildings and protection of the environment are key words.

By ELIN STRONG
Sokndal, Norway

In 1986 when McDonald’s tried to open a new restaurant by the Spanish Stairs in Rome, fiery Italians decided to fight the one-sided focus on fast food and develop their own Slow Food movement.

The thought of slowing down, not only in the culinary area, appealed to many people. So, in 2000 the Slow Food organization joined forces with a handful of small cities and created Cittaslow – Slow City. The thought was that sometimes slow is good - after all the turtle did beat the hare to the finish line….

The Good Life in Sokndal
When the financial performance of the cornerstone company, Titania, began to deteriorate in the mid-nineties, the Mayor of Sokndal had his work cut out for him. "Most people here are either employed by the big mining company or other companies that work directly for it, so it goes without saying that the town is highly dependent on Titania", Mayor Gudmund Holmen explains.

"We sat down and thought about why people would want to stay in Sokndal – how can we create more knowledge – and culture based jobs, so people have the means to settle down. And we actually came up with a lot of reasons; cheap property, low crime rate, unique history and outdoors life to name a few, and this was the origin of the catchphrase – ‘The good life in Sokndal’," Holmen says.

The slogan emphasized the essence of Cittaslow, and when it proposed to apply for a membership in the movement, a great foundation was already in place.
In fact, a lot of the 55 criteria that had to be met in order to qualify as a member were fulfilled. The movement seeks to improve the quality of life for its members and promote the use of local traditions within food, architecture, and arts and crafts.

"But how will the Cittaslow status be beneficiary to the locals?" Norway Times wondered.

"We believe that the membership in Cittaslow will help bring more visitors to Sokndal and create new jobs, but most importantly we see a change in people’s attitude. They seem more positive and also a little prouder of their hometown," Holmen gushes.

Sightseeing
But what’s worth visiting in Sokndal, if one gets a bit bored by the slow life?

Gudmund Holmen rattles off a long list of must-see attractions: the Rocking Boulder, where you can test your strength against a rock that weights 70 tons. Then there is Helleren, which is a dwelling site from the Stone Age, and has two houses perfectly preserved from the 1700s situated under a precipice. Helleren is located by Jøssingfjorden, which was the scene of the "Altmark" incident, the first battle during the Second World War in Norwegian territory.

He also talks about the town’s history of being a major mining city, the beautiful church that King Harald just visited, and the unique possibilities to catch salmon in the river.
"But if you really want a memorable stay, come during ‘Strandaspelet’ in August," Holmen recommends.

"Strandaspelet" is a play that sets its stage in an outdoor theater, using the old wooden buildings as stage props and the moon for light effects. The experience is truly special and people keep coming back year after year.

A Different Hotel
"Strandaspelet" takes place just outside the town center of Sokndal, in Sogndalstrand, a picturesque village by the sea, with houses from the 1700-1800 century.

In four of these houses, a diligent woman named Eli Laupstad Omdal runs a small hotel that really captures the spirit of Cittaslow. The houses have been restored, but the original architecture is intact. The restaurant is in the old bakery, the pub is in the prison, and the rooms are in the house of the tailor. There are crooked floors and walls, but the atmosphere and standard is impeccable.

Local products are used in the cooking, like salmon from the river that flows by the hotel and lamb that used to graze in the nearby hills. But even more popular with the guests is the famous homemade fish soup, which has gained high repute all the way to the U.S.

"Americans are the second most represented nationality here at the hotel, next to Norwegians," says May-Britt Omdal, who works at the hotel. "They really seem to enjoy the calm environment and the atmosphere here in Sogndalstrand," she says.

Thriving Business Life
Since Eli Laupstad Omdal took the initiative to open the hotel, several others have joined her and created a flourishing environment in Sogndalstrand. The village now has an antique shop, a couple of art galleries, and an old-fashioned general store – all found a place in the old buildings. In the summertime, at least 25,000 people visit these historical grounds and get a feeling of the "Good life in Sokndal".

Previous Stories:

• Issue 10, March 10, 2004
Friendly Visit in Troubled Times

• Issue 9, March 3, 2004
New Film Explores the
Heroes of the North

• Issue 8, February 25, 2004
Kofi Annan Greets
Norwegian Artists

• Issue 7, February 18, 2004
Bølgen & Moi Open
Restaurant in Hudson

• Issue 6, February 11, 2004
Norwegian Diva With
Broadway Dreams

• Issue 5, February 4, 2004
Norway's New Princess Named

• Issue 4, January 28, 2004
Helga's Historic Walk
Across America

• Issue 3, January 21, 2004
Arne Næss Jr. Dies
Climbing in South Africa

• Issue 2, January 14, 2004
Norway's Kurt Ready
To Conquer the World

• Issue 1, January 7, 2004
Dragsten Honors Sons of
Norway's Founding Fathers

• Main Stories 2003