What is the name of the hall where the god Ullr lives?

The story behind the answer

The hall or dwelling associated with the god Ullr is called Ydalir, more accurately written Ýdalir.

The name appears in stanza 5 of Grímnismál, a poem preserved in the Poetic Edda. There, Odin—speaking in disguise as Grímnir—lists the divine homes and says that Ýdalir is the place where Ullr has made his halls. The name is usually translated as “Yew Dales” or “Yew Valleys.”

The reference is brief, and surviving Norse literature gives no extended story about life in Ýdalir. Its connection with yew trees is nevertheless especially suggestive because yew wood was prized for making bows, while Ullr is strongly associated with archery. Later sources and scholarly interpretation also connect him with skiing, hunting, shields, and oaths.

Ydalir is often confused with Valhalla, Odin’s hall for slain warriors; Fólkvangr, Freyja’s field; and Bilskirnir, Thor’s hall. Strictly speaking, the poem names a location containing Ullr’s halls, so “Ullr’s dwelling” is the most precise wording.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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