Ridderspranget

Ridderspranget (The Knight’s leap) is a narrow gorge through Sjodalen in the river Sjoa. Ridderspranget is a dramatic gorge carved out by the Sjoa River in the heart of Norway’s mountain country. It is famous for the legend of a medieval knight who supposedly leapt across the chasm to rescue his beloved, lending the spot its romantic name (“The Knight’s Leap”). Visitors can walk along marked paths to observe the powerful rapids and steep canyon walls, making Ridderspranget a popular stop for those traveling in the Valdres region or exploring nearby Jotunheimen. The site features viewpoints offering striking photo opportunities, and local folklore adds to its allure as a unique natural attraction. Please don´t try to jump across the gorge. It is highly dangerous!

Legend about Ridderspranget

Love is what gave Ridderspranget, meaning the knight’s leap, its name and place in Norwegian literature. It was somewhere in the 14th century that a girl so beautiful lighted up the dark ages. Her beauty won the heart of the knight of Valdres named Sigvat på Kvie. But while the girl’s heart also loved Sigvat, she was destined to marry Iva Gjæsling, knight of Sandbu in Vågå.
One day the lovestruck Sigvat rode all the way from Valdres to Sanbu, robbed the girl, Skårvangs-sole, from Iva’s house, set it on fire and disappeared like a thief in the night. Being pursued by his rival, Sigvat and his love drove on and on till they reached the Sjoa river, flowing through a gorge they could not cross. With Iva’s hate on their heels, it was love that made Sigvat and Skårvangs-sole take the knight’s leap over a gorge we now know as Ridderspranget...