Stave Church Site
Here the original Stave Church of Ål stood until it was demolished back in 1880. It was built in the latter part of the 12th Century, expanded and decorated on the inside in the late 13th Century and expanded once again around 1700. Copies and parts of the original decoration can be found in the Ål Church and in the Stave Church Museum.
Bridgeruins by the river Lya in Torpo
The first carridge road through Hallingdal opened in 1826, and was already at that time considered one of the nine main roads in this country. The Lya bridge with 3 branches over the river became a masterpiece. But unfortunately was washed away during a large flooding in 1860. On the 15th June that year, large masses of water tore down two of the branches. This happened just after a bridal party had crossed the bridge. Later the road was redirected, and a new bridge over the gorge of Skjerping was made.
Hunting installation in Baklivegen
There has been registered several depressions in this area. Some of them have probably been used as hunting installations. A stonehedge is a hunting installation, in which the hunter was hiding behind with his bow and arrow or spear, waiting for the game to appear.
Iron extraction site north of Helsingset
This might be the oldest known industry area in Ål. Coal examinations form this cindery pile by this site dates back to 1160 - 1280 A.D. The ore was shuffled up from the marsh and roasted over a fire. The extraction of iron happened over an open fire where ore and tree coal was put in layers.
Other cultural monuments in Ål are:
Stampehølen i Votndalen (A stamping mill located in Votndalen)
The old frieze stamping mill by the river of Votna was built between 1860 and 1880. Later it was refurbished in 1992-93 by volunteers. Using power from the water wheel the locals made frieze in the stamping mill. This way they were self-contained with wool clothes. The stamp also functioned as a washing machine. In addition, it operated 4 large grindstones so that the men could sharpen their scythes.
Prisoner-Liv's execution place
Liv Engebretsdotter from Arnegard in Vats was the last person in Hallingdal to be executed. This happened in 1734, she was blamed to have given birth in secrecy and killed her newborn baby. The jugdment was very tough and she was sentenced to loose her neck and have her head put on a stake, because she killed her own bloodline. She refused the misdeed until the day she died.
