Sagaløypa - 7 - Lunden with a view to the shielings (sæter)

You have now been through our heritage trail. In Lunden you can get a good view of the cultural landscape of Nordfjordeid. But there are further opportunities to explore cultural spots in Eid. For example, the shielings are well worth a visit.

The farms kept shielings, a group of mountain huts on the mountains, to have their livestock graze common land. Shielings have been an important part of agriculture since before the Viking era, but peaked during the 18th and 19th centuries, when they were needed to supply food to a growing population. Very few shielings are in operation today.

In Eid the shielings are large, open spaces on the hills and mountains, with small mountain huts. The cultural landscape is shaped as a result of the mountain farming. Today the shielings are mainly used for outdoor activities and are popular hiking destinations because of their proximity to the town centre.

A sacred Lund?

The name Lunde or Lunden is several places located close to major farm sites in prehistoric times. Perhaps the name here refers to a sacred Lund close to the old Myklebust farm in prehistoric times. We know that sacred Lunds are referred to throughout European prehistory. Religious cults were based here, and it was a place for ritual practices and the worship of gods, special natural phenomenon and sacred trees.