The municipality of Vestre Slidre was established in 1849 when the old
Slidre Municipality was divided into two municipalities: Vestre Slidre Municipality (population: 3,130) and
Øystre Slidre Municipality (population: 2,406). On 1 January 1899, a small unpopulated part of Øystre Slidre Municipality was transferred to Vestre Slidre Municipality. Historically, the municipality was part of the old
Oppland county. On 1 January 2020, the municipality became a part of the newly-formed
Innlandet county (after
Hedmark and
Oppland counties were merged). On 1 January 2021, the Skjelgrenda area of Vestre Slidre Municipality was transferred to
Øystre Slidre Municipality.
Name The municipality (originally the
parish) is named after the old
Slidre farm () since the old
Slidredomen church was built there. The name is probably derived from the word which means "
sheath" (which is probably referring to a long depression near the church). In 1849, the municipality (and parish) was divided into two separate municipalities. The word (meaning "western") was added to the beginning of the name. Thus, the meaning of the name
Vestre Slidre is "(the) western (part of) Slidre".
Coat of arms The
coat of arms was granted by royal decree on 20 November 1987. The official
blazon is
"Azure, a sea-leaf within a tressure invected on the outer edge and engrailed on the inner edge argent" (). This means the arms have a blue
field (background) and the
charge is a heart-shaped
seeblatt design with a
tressure border around the edge of the
escutcheon. The charge has a
tincture of
argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The design is based on a heraldic decoration found in the local
Slidredomen church that dates back to the year 1170. The design was originally part of a seal that belonged to a
medieval nobleman from the area. The arms were designed by Kari Ruud Flem. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.
Churches The
Church of Norway has three parishes () within Vestre Slidre Municipality. It is part of the
Valdres prosti (
deanery) in the
Diocese of Hamar. • The ruins of Mo church () are located on the west side of the
Slidrefjorden. The medieval church of stone was built around the year 1215 and was probably out of use after the
Reformation. The ruins were excavated and restored from 1972–1977. •
Slidredomen, a medieval stone-built church, was once the main church for all of
Valdres. The church is built around the year 1170. The church is entirely made of stone. Its treasures formerly included a chalice presented by Bishop Salomon of Oslo (1322–1352), the only Bishop in Norway to survive the
Black Death. Slidredomen is also known to have had a local bishop. •
Lomen Stave Church is located in the small village of Lomen. It was built around the year 1170. The exterior of the present
Lomen Church is post-
Reformation, and only the wall and roof timbers remain from the original building. Slidredomen, Vestre Slidre.JPG|
Slidredomen, medieval church Lomen Stavkyrkje, Vestre Slidre.JPG|
Lomen Stave Church in the summer of 2005 Mo-kirkeruin-picture.jpg|Ruins of Mo church == History ==