Things to do in Central Norway
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Sognefjellet Road
Snaking through the park (and providing access to many of the trailheads) is the stunningly scenic Sognefjellet Road, billed as 'the road over the roof of Norway'. It connects Lustrafjorden with Lom and was constructed in 1939 by unemployed youths to a height of 1434m, making it the highest mountain road in northern Europe and providing those with a vehicle a taste of some of Norway's finest mountain panoramas. So fine is the road that it has been chosen as one of 18 'National Tourist Routes'.
Access from the southwest is via the multiple hairpin bends climbing up beyond the tree line to Turtagrø, with a wonderful vista of the Skagastølstindane mountains on your right. If…
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Femundsmarka National Park
The national park which surrounds Femunden, Norway's second-largest lake, was formed in 1971 to protect the lake and the forests stretching eastwards to Sweden. Indeed, the landscapes here are more Swedish in appearance than recognisably Norwegian. The park has long been a source of falcons for use in the European and Asian sport of falconry and several places in the park are known as Falkfangerhøgda, or 'falcon hunters' height'.
If you're very lucky, you may also see wild reindeer grazing in the heights and, in summer, a herd of around 30 musk oxen roams the area along the Røa and Mugga Rivers (in winter they migrate to the Funäsdalen area). It's thought that this grou…
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Peer Gynt Vegen
Of all the beautiful mountain roads of Central Norway, one stands out for its combination of scenery and storytelling: Peer Gynt Vegen. Running for 60km from Skei to Espedalen, it takes you along the trail followed by that ill-fated, fictional character created by Henrik Ibsen and offers unrivalled views of the Jotunheimen and Rondane massifs en route. Climbing up to 1053m above sea level, it passes the Solbrå Seter farm where Gudbrandsdal cheese was first made in 1863 and an early August concert of Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt finds its spiritual home at Gålåvatn lake. To reach Skei, head north of Lillehammer along the E6 and at Tretten take the turn-off for the Rv254. At Sv…
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Rondane National Park
Henrik Ibsen described the 963-sq-km Rondane National Park as ‘palace piled upon palace’. It was created in 1962 as Norway’s first national park to protect the fabulous Rondane massif, regarded by many as the finest alpine hiking country in Norway. Ancient reindeer-trapping sites and burial mounds suggest that the area has been inhabited for thousands of years and the park is now one of the last refuges for the wild reindeer. Much of the park’s glaciated and lichen-coated landscape lies above 1400m and 10 rough and stony peaks rise to over 2000m, including the highest, Rondslottet (2178m), and Storronden (2138m). Rondane’s range of wildlife includes 28 mammal species and …
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Stave Church
The southernmost small community of Gudbrandsdalen, the narrow river valley that stretches for 200km between lake Mjøsa and Dombås, Ringebu is worth a detour for its lovely stave church, 2km south of town and just off the E6. A church has existed on this site since the arrival of Christianity in the 11th century. The current version, which remains the local parish church, dates from around 1220, but was restored in the 17th century when the distinctive red tower was attached. Inside, there’s a statue of St Laurence dating from around 1250 as well as some crude runic inscriptions. Entrance to the grounds is free and the gate is open year-round.
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Maihaugen Folk Museum
Norway’s finest folk museum is the expansive, open-air Maihaugen Folk Museum. Rebuilt like a small village, the collection of around 180 buildings includes the transplanted Garmo stave church, traditional Gudbrandsdalen homes and shops, and 27 buildings from the farm Bjørnstad. The three main sections encompass rural and town architecture, with a further section on 20th-century architecture. The life’s work of local dentist Anders Sandvig, it also houses temporary exhibitions in the modern exhibition hall and a permanent exhibition ‘We made the road’, a fascinating journey through Norwegian history.
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Johan Falkberget Museum
Røros’ favourite son, author Johan Falkberget (1879–1967), grew up at Trondalen farm in the Rugel valley. His works (translated into 19 languages) cover 300 years of the region’s mining history. His most famous work, An-Magrit, tells the story of a peasant girl who transported copper ore in the Røros mining district. The museum is beside the lake Rugelsjø, 20km north of Røros. Guided tours run at noon Tuesday to Sunday, with an extra one at 1.30pm in July. To get there, take a local train to Rugeldalen station, where a small walking track leads to the museum.
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Vianvang
If eating at the Fossheim Turisthotell has you inspired by the food of Arne Brimi and you want to taste meals cooked by the man himself, Vianvang is the master-chef’s highland restaurant that he opens only by appointment. Here you can watch him work as he cooks up a gourmet meal. If you’re coming from Lom along the Rv15, take the Rv51 towards Randsverk just before you reach Vågåmo (Vågå). Prices depend on the banquet and seasonal produce prices, but having arguably Norway’s finest chef prepare a meal for you doesn’t come cheap. It is, however, always worth it.
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Skibladner
Skibladner, the world’s oldest paddle steamer, is a wonderfully relaxing way to explore lake Mjøsa. First built in Sweden in 1856, the boat was refitted and lengthened to 165ft (50m) in 1888. From late June until mid-August, the Skibladner plies the lake between Hamar, Gjøvik and Lillehammer. Most travellers opt for the route between Hamar and Lillehammer (one way/return Nkr220/320, 3½ hours) on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, which can be done as a return day trip (from Hamar only, Nkr320). Jazz evenings aboard the steamer cost Nkr450, including food (but not drinks).
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Hiking, Blåisen Glacier
Finse is the starting point for some exceptional treks, including the popular four-hour trek to the Blåisen glacier tip of Hardangerjøkulen; some Norwegians-in-the-know claim this to be the most spectacular glacier walk in the country. Adding interest to your hike, remember that the planet Hof in the Empire Strikes Back was filmed around the glacier. It's also possible to walk around the glacier and down to Vøringfoss.
The wonderful three- or four-day Finse-Aurland trek follows Aurlandsdalen down to Aurlandsfjorden and has a series of DNT and private mountain huts a day's walk apart.
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Norwegian Museum of Road History
Some 15km north of Lillehammer, just off the E6, is Hunderfossen, home to the Norwegian Museum of Road History, which tells the story of Norway’s battle to forge roads through its challenging geography. Up the hill and part of the same complex, the Fjellsprengnings-museet (Rock-blasting Museum) is a 240m-long tunnel that gives you a real insight into the difficulties of building a tunnel through the Norwegian mountains. The walk, guided with lighting, models and video commentary, takes around 30 minutes.
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Lom Stavkyrkje
This delightful 12th-century Norman-style stave church, in the centre of town on a rise by the water, is one of Norway’s finest. Still the functioning local church, it was constructed in 1170, extended in 1634 and given its current cruciform shape with the addition of two naves in 1663. Guided tours explain the interior paintings and Jakop Sæterdalen’s chancel arch and pulpit (from 1793). At night, the church is lit to fairy-tale effect. Entry to the grounds is free.
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Hedmark Museum & Glass Cathedral
West of town (1.5km), the extensive open-air county museum includes 18th- and 19th-century buildings, a local folk-history exhibit featuring the creepy Devil’s Finger, the ruins of the castle, and the extraordinary showcase ‘glass cathedral’ (Domkirkeodden). The cathedral, whose ruins stand poignantly beneath the glass-and-steel roof, and castle dominated Hamar until 1567, when they were sacked by the Swedes. Take bus 6 from the town library (Nkr32, hourly).
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Olympic Bobsled Run
In Hunderfossen, you can career down the Olympic Bobsled Run aboard a wheelbob under the guidance of a professional bobsled pilot. Wheel bobs take five passengers and hit a top speed of 100km/h. The real thing, taxibobs, take four passengers, reach an exhilarating 130km/h and you won’t have much time to get nervous – you’re down the mountain in 70 seconds. Bookings are advisable during winter.
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Olavsgruva Mine
The Olavsgruva mine is 13km north of Røros. The moderately interesting exhibition is made worthwhile by mine tours, which pass through the historic Nyberget mine, dating from the 1650s. The modern Olavsgruva mine beyond it was begun in 1936. The ground can get muddy and the temperature in the mine is 5°C; bring a jacket and good footwear. To get to the mine, use your own wheels or take a taxi (Nkr450 return).
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Jotunheimvegen
Branching off the Rv51 at Bygdin, the 45km-long Jotunheimvegen to Skåbu is quiet and picturesque. It's usually open from mid-June until October, depending on the weather, and you pay a toll, which seems expensive, but it is the only way the authorities can make maintenance of the road viable. There's no public transport along the route but there are campsites at Beitostølen and Skåbu. The route also links up with Peer Gynt Vegen.
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Viking Ship Sports Arena
Hamar’s stand-out landmark is this sports arena, a graceful structure with the lines of an upturned Viking ship. The building, which hosted the speed skating during the Winter Olympics, holds 20,000 spectators, encompasses 9600 sq metres of ice and is 94.6m long. Both in scale and aesthetics, it’s an impressive place. From late July to mid-August, the ice is open to the public for ice-skating (Nkr80).
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Norwegian Mountain Museum
Acting as the visitors centre for Jotunheimen National Park, this worthwhile mountain museum contains mountaineering memorabilia, exhibits on natural history (the woolly mammoth is a highlight) and cultural and industrial activity in the Norwegian mountains. There’s also an excellent 10-minute mountain slide show, a discussion of tourism and its impact on wilderness and, upstairs, a scale model of the park.
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Ski Jump Chairlift
The ski jump chairlift ascends to a stunning panoramic view over the town. Alternatively you can walk for free as long as the 952 steps don’t prove too daunting. The chairlift price includes entry to the Lysgårdsbakkene ski jump tower, which costs Nkr15/12 on its own for an adult/child. Here you can stand atop the ramp and imagine the experience with all the pre-jump nerves.
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M/S Fæmund II
The historic ferry M/S Fæmund II is more than a century old and sails daily between mid-June and late August from Synnervika (also spelt Søndervika), on the northern shore of lake Femunden, to Elgå (six hours return). At the height of summer, the boat sometimes continues on to Buvika and even Femundsenden, at the lake's southern tip. A timetable is available from Røros tourist office.
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Norwegian Forestry Museum
The expansive Norwegian Forestry Museum, 1km south of central Elverum, covers the multifarious uses and enjoyments of Norwegian forests. It includes a nature information centre, children’s workshop, geological and meteorological exhibits, wood carvings, an aquarium, nature dioramas with all manner of stuffed native wildlife (including a mammoth) and a 20,000-volume reference library.
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Galdhøpiggen Summer Ski Centre
Juvvashytta hut serves as the gateway to this ski centre, at 1850m on the icy heights of Norway’s highest mountain. From Galdesand on the Rv55, follow the Galdhøpiggen road (Nkr70 toll) to its end at 1841m. The main season runs from June to mid-November. Apart from the skiing opportunities, this road takes you to the highest point reachable by road in Norway.
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Snow Sports, Hovden, Stølen & Vangslia Slopes
The three-part Oppdal Skisenter climbs the slopes from Hovden, Stølen and Vangslia, all within easy reach of town. The smaller Ådalen ski area nearby has two lifts. Vangslia is generally the easiest, with a couple of beginners' runs, while Stølen offers intermediate skiing and Hovden has three challenging advanced runs. The season runs from late November to late April.
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Norwegian Railway Museum
Established in 1896 to honour Norway’s railway history, this open-air railway museum, lies on the Mjøsa shore. In addition to lovely historic stations, engine sheds, rail coaches and steam locomotives, you’ll learn about the extraordinary engineering feats required to carve the railways through Norway’s rugged terrain.
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Norwegian Olympic Museum
The excellent Olympic museum is at the Håkons Hall ice-hockey venue. On the ground floor there is a well-presented display covering the ancient Olympic Games as well as all of the Olympic Games of the modern era, with a focus on the exploits of Norwegian athletes as well as the Lillehamer games. The exhibition is updated every two years.
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