Editing Geilo

{{for|the 9th-century bishop of Langres|Geilo (bishop)}}

'''Geilo''' ({{IPA|no|jæɪ̯luː|-|Geilo.ogg}}) is a centre in the municipality of [[Hol, Norway|Hol]] in [[Buskerud|Buskerud county]], [[Norway]]. Geilo is primarily a [[ski]] resort [[town]], with around 2,500 inhabitants. It is situated in the valley of [[Hallingdal]], 250&nbsp;km from [[Oslo]] and 260&nbsp;km from [[Bergen, Norway|Bergen]]. The [[Bergen Line]] facilitated Geilo's development as the first skiing resort in the country, and it is still one of the largest. It is also known for having some of the most luxurious and expensive holiday cabins in Norway. The center of the town lies at 800 meters above sea level, and its highest point is 1178 meters above sea level.<ref>{{cite web|url=   https://snl.no/Geilo|title= Geilo|publisher=  Store norske leksikon |author= Geir Thorsnæs|access-date= October 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Vibeke|first=Larsen|title=Geilo på pristoppen|url=http://www.dn.no/eiendom/article2233188.ece|access-date=9 December 2011|newspaper=DN|date=29 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Krogsrud|first=Øystein|title=Geilo banker Hafjell|url=http://www.dn.no/privatokonomi/article1190002.ece|access-date=9 December 2011|newspaper=DN|date=28 September 2007}}</ref>
[[File:Geilo Panorama.jpg|400px|thumb|Panorama picture, that shows a spectrum of Geilos nature.]]

==Etymology==
The ski resort is named after the old farm Gjeilo. The name is the [[dative]] [[plural]] of ''geil'' f 'fenced road for cattle'.<ref>{{cite web|url=  http://www.dokpro.uio.no/cgi-bin/stad/matr50|title=  Geilo. Hol herad. Buskerud|publisher = Matrikkelutkastet av 1950|access-date= September 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>[[Einar Haugen|Haugen, Einar]] (1967) Norwegian-English Dictionary A Pronouncing and Translating Dictionary of Modern Norwegian (The University of Wisconsin Press) {{ISBN|978-0-299-03874-8}}</ref>

==Access==
The Bergen Line (''Bergensbanen''), the main rail line between Oslo and Bergen, runs right through the centre of town. Geilo train station (''Geilo stasjon'') with roughly five trains a day connects to either Bergen (to the west) or Oslo (to the east). The closest airport is [[Geilo Airport, Dagali]] (24&nbsp;km away), while the closest airport that accepts international flights is [[Fagernes Airport]].  There are also bus routes from Oslo and Bergen as an alternative and the [[Norwegian National Road 7]] ('' RV7'')  also runs through the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=    https://snl.no/Bergensbanen|title= Bergensbanen|publisher=  Store norske leksikon|author= Tor Wisting|access-date= October 1, 2017}}</ref>

==Skiing==
[[Image:Slaatta.JPG|thumb|right|The ski area behind Geilo, as seen from the Geilolia (Vestlia) side of the valley.]]

The ski season in Geilo is from late October until late April. Geilo has numerous small ski centres that make up one resort, which goes by the name [[Geilo Skiheiser]]. This includes slopes on the town side of the valley, Havsdalen over the back side of the mountain, and across the valley at Geilolia (formerly Vestlia) which also connects to the Kikut area. Geilo Skiheiser has 39 slopes covering 33&nbsp;km accessed by 20 lifts (14 plate, 6 chair). [[Geilolia]] skisenter (formerly [[Vestlia]] skisenter) tends to have the easier green and blue runs and is where the major ski school that operates in Geilo takes place, whereas [[Slaatta]] skisenter has the blue and red runs.

There is also an extensive [[Cross-country skiing|cross country]] system in Geilo, offering 220&nbsp;km of tracks, including 5&nbsp;km under floodlight. Skiing options include [[alpine skiing]], [[cross country skiing|cross country (XC) skiing]], [[Telemark skiing|telemarking]], [[snowboarding]], [[dog sled]]ging, [[toboggan]], [[Orienteering|ski orienteering]], and evening skiing most evenings.  Another activity that has become very popular of late is 'kiting' (skiing or snowboarding whilst attached to a 'kite' or parasail).  Paragliders float down from the top of the slopes with courses run in the area occasionally, mostly in the summer months. Both sides offer a 'big air bag' where all with twin-tip skis or snowboards can jump onto an air bag.

[[File:Geilo Übersichtsschild.jpg|thumb|Infostand for visitors at a parkingspace, in front of old norwegian houses.]]
== Centre of Geilo ==
Geilo is a small town and has few shops and entertainment spots. The ''sentrum'' mainly consists of four large wooden buildings, much like a shopping centre/mall. In one is a [[tourist information]], [[Coop (supermarket)|Co-op]] supermarket, [[café]] Capri restaurant, [[newsagents]], undercover parking, and a [[police station]]. In the other is an [[Intersport]], supermarket, newsagent, and a special Turkish-Balcan restaurant Trakia.

Down the road there is a small [[Movie theater|cinema]], [[library]], and [[school]]. There is also a large sports hall (''Geilohallen''), which is also the local sports club ([[Geilo IL]]). Behind the building is a floodlit prepared cross country track, and a [[biathlon]] shooting range. The tourist Centre is located next to Sport 1 and has information about the various group outings and experiences, especially in regards to experiencing the Hardangervidda National Park area, including the glacier at Finse, which is 1,222 metres above sea level. There are a large choice of hotels, including among others Geilo Hotel, [[Dr Holms Hotel]], Bardøla Høyfjellshotell, Hotel Lodge, and Vestlia Resort.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.geilohotel.no/english.aspx|title= Geilo Hotel|publisher= geilohotel.no|access-date= October 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.drholms.no/en/about/|title= About Dr Holms Hotel|publisher= drholms.no|access-date= October 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bardola.no/|title= Bardøla Høyfjellshotell|publisher= bardola.no|access-date= October 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.highland.no/hotellet/|title= Highland Lodge|publisher= highland.no|access-date= October 1, 2017|archive-date= October 11, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171011232942/http://www.highland.no/hotellet/|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.vestlia.no/en/about-vestlia-resort/|title= Vestlia Resort Geilo|publisher= vestlia.no|access-date= October 1, 2017|archive-date= October 11, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171011233412/http://www.vestlia.no/en/about-vestlia-resort/|url-status= dead}}</ref>

[[File:Geilo Boote.jpg|thumb|Boats at the Ustedalsfjorden.]]
== Out of winter season ==
After the winter season, there are other sporting activities available including [[Kart racing|go carts]], [[paintball]]ing, [[Rafting|white water rafting]], [[rallying]], [[golf]], [[tennis]], [[cycling]]. Two popular activities are [[hiking]] on the mountains or [[mountain biking]] at the local downhill park or trails through the woods. The [[Rallarvegen]] route from Finse to Flåm is extremely popular in the summer months. Geilolia Summer Park offers activities such as downhill biking, canoe hire or a large climbing park with a prepared route up in the trees for people of all ages. Geilo is adjacent to three lakes, Slåttahølen, Vestlefjorden, and Ustedalsfjorden.

== Climate ==
Geilo features a [[Subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] Dfc) with cold, extremely snowy winters and cool summers typical of higher altitudes (768m asl). The mean temperature in January is −8.2&nbsp;°C and the mean for July is 11.2&nbsp;°C.<ref name=EklimaMet>{{cite web|url= http://www.eklima.met.no|title= Norwegian Meteorological Institute|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161119204136/http://eklima.met.no/|archive-date= 2016-11-19}}</ref>

{{Clear}}
{{Weather box
|location = Geilo-Geilostølen (1966–2005), Norway
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = -4.5
|Feb high C = -3.5
|Mar high C = -0.8
|Apr high C = 2.9
|May high C = 9.5
|Jun high C = 15.1
|Jul high C = 16.6
|Aug high C = 15.6
|Sep high C = 10.2
|Oct high C = 5.2
|Nov high C = -0.5
|Dec high C = -2.8
|Jan mean C = -8.2
|Feb mean C = -7.5
|Mar mean C = -5.2
|Apr mean C = -1.1
|May mean C = 4.7
|Jun mean C = 9.8
|Jul mean C = 11.2
|Aug mean C = 10.2
|Sep mean C = 5.8
|Oct mean C = 2.1
|Nov mean C = -3.6
|Dec mean C = -6.5
|Jan low C = -11.4
|Feb low C = -11.3
|Mar low C = -8.8
|Apr low C = -5.1
|May low C = 0.3
|Jun low C = 4.4
|Jul low C = 6.1
|Aug low C = 5.5
|Sep low C = 2.2
|Oct low C = -1.2
|Nov low C = -6.8
|Dec low C = -9.6
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 52
|Feb precipitation mm = 36
|Mar precipitation mm = 47
|Apr precipitation mm = 35
|May precipitation mm = 50
|Jun precipitation mm = 61
|Jul precipitation mm = 72
|Aug precipitation mm = 72
|Sep precipitation mm = 68
|Oct precipitation mm = 78
|Nov precipitation mm = 70
|Dec precipitation mm = 59
|source 1= <ref name=EklimaMet />
}}
== Trivia ==
* Geilo Hotel was founded in 1880
* Øyo Hotell was founded in 1909
* [[Dr. Holms Hotel]] was founded in 1909
* Haugen Hotell was founded 1914
* The [[1980 Winter Paralympics]] were held at Geilo
* [[Queen Sonja of Norway]] gained her ski instructors certificate in Geilo

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Geilo Bahnhofsgebäude.jpg| Geilo Train Station
File:Geilo Kirche.jpg| Geilo Church
File:Geilo Wikingerhaus.jpg|Geilo Vikinghuset
File:Geilo Strasse.jpg|Geilo street scene
</gallery>
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Geilo}}
{{commons category|Geilo}}
* [http://www.geilo.no/ Geilo's official website (in English and Norwegian)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100825141540/http://www.geilo.no/WebKamera-Geilo/ Webcams of Geilo]
* [http://www.geilo-norway.com/ Geilo Norway] - Details and information about Geilo

{{coord|60|31|N|8|12|E|display=title}}

{{Paralympic Winter Games Host Cities}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Norway]]
[[Category:Sport in Buskerud]]
[[Category:Villages in Buskerud]]
[[Category:Hol, Norway]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Buskerud]]