Tara’s London Marathon Fund Raiser on behalf of MIND
- Marco
- Oct 6
- 2 min read
Flåm is a small village in western Norway, located at the inner end of the Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the Sognefjord, the longest and deepest fjord in the country. Despite its small size, Flåm has a rich history tied to Norway’s maritime and railway heritage.
I always promised myself that I would paint this one day. Based on the photo I took during a Norwegian Cruise with my wife and two friends, Dianne & Gordon, I finally produced the artwork above. I will be honest I forgot to take a photo before framing so please forgive the poor quality of the photo. My excuse is that I was rushing to finish the work in time for a fund raising exhibition in support of my daughter in law who intends to run the London Marathon next year in support of Mind. I donated 6 works two originals one of Flåm and one of a Peak District Landscape along with 4 giclée prints of Lion and Elephant from my Eyecon series.
So for those interested I have enclosed a link at the bottom of this blog to Tara’s fund raising page and below is a little more information about Flåm itself.
Early History
Viking Era: Archaeological findings suggest that the Flåm area was inhabited during the Viking Age (8th–11th centuries). The fertile valley provided good land for farming, and its fjord access made it an ideal location for trade and travel.
The name Flåm comes from the Old Norse word “Flám”, meaning “a small, flat piece of land between steep mountains,” which describes the valley well.
Middle Ages to 19th Century
For centuries, Flåm was a quiet farming community, sustained by agriculture, fishing, and small-scale trade via the fjord.
The Flåm Church, built around 1667, is one of the village’s oldest landmarks and reflects the area’s traditional wooden architecture.
The Flåm Railway (20th Century)
The biggest turning point came with the construction of the Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana), built between 1923 and 1940.
The railway connects Flåm to Myrdal Station on the Bergen Line, rising over 860 meters in just 20 kilometers—making it one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world.
Originally intended to facilitate transport of people and goods from the fjord inland, it soon became a major tourist attraction due to the dramatic mountain scenery.
Modern Era
From the late 20th century onward, Flåm transformed into a major cruise and tourism destination.
The Flåm Railway Museum, fjord cruises, and nearby attractions like the Nærøyfjord (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Despite tourism, the village has retained much of its traditional rural charm and remains home to only a few hundred residents.
Tara’s Mind Fund Raising Page
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