The country of Norway is historically divided into a number of districts . Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities . The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys , mountain ranges , fjords , plains, or coastlines, or combinations of the above. Many such regions were petty kingdoms up to the early Viking Age .
6-437: Eiker is a traditional district in the county of Buskerud , Norway . Eiker consists of the municipalities of Nedre Eiker and Øvre Eiker . The area is located in the southern part of Buskerud county. Eiker is an agricultural area with a long history. The area was first inhabited around 8000 BC. During the early Viking Age , Eiker was the western extension of the kingdom of Vingulmark . Somewhat later, it became part of
12-452: The 17th century. The Old Norse form of the name was Eikjar . The name is the plural form of eik which means oak. Districts of Norway A high percentage of Norwegians identify themselves more by the district they live in or come from, than the formal administrative unit(s) whose jurisdiction they fall under . A significant reason for this is that the districts, through their strong geographical limits, have historically delineated
18-435: The kingdom of Vestfold . The parish of Eker was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt ). It was divided into Nedre Eiker and Øvre Eiker on 1 July 1885. Fiskum Old Church ( Fiskum gamle kirke ) is located in Øvre Eiker near the village of Darbu . It is a medieval era , Romanesque church dating from approximately 1200 A.D. The church was dedicated to Saint Olav . Fiskum Old Church
24-417: The region(s) within which one could travel without too much trouble or expenditure of time and money (on foot or skis , by horse/ox-drawn cart or sleigh or dog sled , or by one's own small rowing or sail boat). Thus, dialects and regional commonality in folk culture tended to correspond to those same geographical units, despite any division into administrative districts by authorities. In modern times
30-494: The whole country has become more closely connected, based on the following: A concrete display of the Norwegian habit of identifying themselves by district can be seen in the many regional costumes, called bunad , strictly connected to distinct districts across the country. Commonly, even city dwellers proudly mark their rural origins by wearing such a costume, from their ancestral landscape, at weddings, visits with members of
36-515: Was constructed in a rectangular shape and has 150 seats. The church was built of stone fracture in lime mortar and plastered inside. After the Protestant Reformation , Fiskum Church came under Haug Church at Haugsbygd . In 1866 the new Fiskum Church was built and the old church no longer had any official function. Externally, the church has preserved much of its medieval appearance. Inside the church reflects an expansion dating from
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