The Saga Column

The Saga Column (Sagasøyla) is a monumental sculpted column in the Leirdalen valley, in the municipality of Lom, beside the Sognefjellsvegen road in Bøverdalen. It stands roughly 33 to 34 metres tall and is one of the most unexpected landmarks in the Norwegian mountains. It was designed by the sculptor Wilhelm Rasmussen.

Where does the Saga Column come from?

The column began as a design for a monument to the Constitutional Assembly at Eidsvoll in 1814, when Norway's constitution was adopted. Rasmussen won a 1925 competition for the work, originally titled Eidsvollsøylen. It was meant to stand in Oslo, on Eidsvolls plass in front of the Storting.

Why isn't it in Oslo?

The plan was never carried out in the capital. Rasmussen joined Nasjonal Samling in 1933, and after the war, completing the work was shelved. For years the column was not erected on the site it had been designed for.

How did it end up in Lom?

Åmund Elveseter, owner of the Elveseter hotel, bought the column and put it up beside the hotel in 1992. One of Rasmussen's largest works thus found a home far from its original plans. Sources differ on some details, such as the exact height and how much of the work was finished before it was raised, so treat the figures as approximate.

Material and form

According to the Norwegian encyclopedia SNL, the column is made of larvikite, an igneous rock associated with Norway. Its slender vertical form makes it visible from a distance against the mountains and the valley.

What to know before you visit

• Location: near the Elveseter hotel in Leirdalen, on Sognefjellsvegen in Bøverdalen (Lom).
• Coordinates: about 61.704 N, 8.287 E.
• Best for: fans of public art, Norwegian history and short stops on a drive over Sognefjell.
• Historical context: the work links the 1814 constitution with the controversial biography of its creator, which gives visitors plenty to think about.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Saga Column in Oslo? No. Although it was designed with Oslo in mind, it was only erected in 1992, at the Elveseter hotel in Lom.

Who made it? Wilhelm Rasmussen, a Norwegian sculptor who won the 1925 competition.

How tall is it? Sources give 33 to 34 metres.

What does it commemorate? It was originally meant to commemorate the Constitutional Assembly at Eidsvoll in 1814.

What is it made of? Larvikite, according to the SNL encyclopedia.

The Saga Column makes a good stop for anyone crossing Sognefjell who enjoys history and outdoor art. Its story shows how a monument designed for a capital city can end up, decades later, in an entirely different mountain setting.