Rogne is a village in the southern part of Øystre Slidre, spread along the eastern shore of lake Volbufjorden. It has around 960 inhabitants. Most people just drive through on Road 51, but the village has an industrial history that shaped the whole region.
For over 250 years, slate quarrying was the main industry here. The quarries east of Rogne were once the largest workplace in Øystre Slidre and the biggest industry in all of Valdres. At its peak before the First World War, at least 120 men worked in the mines. Workers came from across Norway, but also from abroad - many from the slate mining districts of Wales, plus some Swedes. In England, the slate was marketed as "Viking Slates" and exported to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Sweden.
The work was dangerous. Nine men lost their lives from falling rocks. Others developed silicosis from breathing slate dust over the years. A sculpture memorial by Gunnar Rørhus was erected in 1983 next to the community hall Solhaug. The inscription reads: "They gave what they had of courage and strength. Lives had to be risked in dangerous work."
Before the Valdres railway reached Fagernes in 1906, slate had to be transported by horse and cart - a journey of two to three days each way to Hallingdal or down through Ådalen. Parts of the old cart road built at a gentle slope from the quarries to Fagernes can still be seen. The company A/S Valdres Skiferbrud was founded in 1899 and finally closed in November 1999.
Today there is a small museum in one of the old buildings where you can see equipment, watch films from the mines, and take guided tours of some old workings.
The village church is an octagonal wooden building from 1857, designed by architect Christian H. Grosch. It seats about 200 and contains an altarpiece from 1783 transferred from an earlier church on the site.
For over 250 years, slate quarrying was the main industry here. The quarries east of Rogne were once the largest workplace in Øystre Slidre and the biggest industry in all of Valdres. At its peak before the First World War, at least 120 men worked in the mines. Workers came from across Norway, but also from abroad - many from the slate mining districts of Wales, plus some Swedes. In England, the slate was marketed as "Viking Slates" and exported to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Sweden.
The work was dangerous. Nine men lost their lives from falling rocks. Others developed silicosis from breathing slate dust over the years. A sculpture memorial by Gunnar Rørhus was erected in 1983 next to the community hall Solhaug. The inscription reads: "They gave what they had of courage and strength. Lives had to be risked in dangerous work."
Before the Valdres railway reached Fagernes in 1906, slate had to be transported by horse and cart - a journey of two to three days each way to Hallingdal or down through Ådalen. Parts of the old cart road built at a gentle slope from the quarries to Fagernes can still be seen. The company A/S Valdres Skiferbrud was founded in 1899 and finally closed in November 1999.
Today there is a small museum in one of the old buildings where you can see equipment, watch films from the mines, and take guided tours of some old workings.
The village church is an octagonal wooden building from 1857, designed by architect Christian H. Grosch. It seats about 200 and contains an altarpiece from 1783 transferred from an earlier church on the site.