On 1 January 1970, the three western farms at Bergsengseter (population: 11) were transferred from Dovre to the neighboring Folldal Municipality.

PIE *dhubrós, "deep"[7]), a root that is also attested in German Topel ("forested valley") and Old Slavic dublŭ ("hole").

The name has been given to the giant Dofri, at Dovrefjell, who was helped by Harald Fairhair and in return assisted him all his life.

The official blazon is "Argent, a muskox sable" (Norwegian: I sølv en svart moskus).

In 1021, King Olaf laid hold of all the best men, both at Lesja and Dovre, and forced them either to receive Christianity or suffer death, if they were not so lucky as to escape.

[17] The Pilgrim's Route (Old King's Road) between Oslo and Trondheim in the 16th century passed through the Gudbrandsdal valley.

After leaving the Lågen river valley (downriver from present day Dombås) the road passed over the Dovrefjell mountains into the present-day municipality of Dovre.

The heavy stream of annual pilgrims who visited the shrine of St. Olaf in Trondheim prior to the Protestant Reformation resulted in the construction of mountain stations along the route where the pilgrims could find food and shelter.

There are three stations: Drivstuen, Herdekinn, and Fogstuen built on this same mountain in order that travelers may find lodging there....at the stations there are implements and dry wood, so that the traveler may build themselves fire, and not suffer from cold, when they have to remain over night, and cannot find the way across the mountain.The Battle of Kringen (Slaget ved Kringen) took place in August 1612, just downstream of Dovre, where the Scottish force stayed on 24 August 1612.

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Dovre is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms.

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Dovre (incomplete list): The municipality is a very mountainous area.

April on average sees just 18 millimetres (0.71 in) precipitaiton, while the wettest months July and August get almost four times as much.