Mesnali: Church, Pitfall Traps and Horseback Riding

Mesnali combines cultural history with activities for riders. If you are looking for hotels for your stay, you can plan your trip around these different focal points: church architecture and historical traces, or shorter and longer rides. The following places and activities offer specific points of reference when choosing your destination.

Church and Cultural History in Mesnali

Mesnali Church in Ringsaker, Innlandet, is a wooden cruciform church built in 1933, with 170 seats, and is listed as a cultural heritage site. Its year of construction and architectural style characterize the church; the writer and Nobel laureate Sigrid Undset (1882–1949) is also buried in the cemetery by the church. Architecture and the memory of an important Norwegian author come together at this site.

Another kind of historical trace can be found at the moose pitfall trap site in the forest. Three traps are visible in a row; farther up the slope, there are more pits marked with simple signs. Today, the preserved traps appear as depressions or holes in the ground. If you are interested in historical sites, you can look out for their visible arrangement in the terrain.

Other Sites in the Surrounding Area

The Bånhuggusteinen stone lies on Sørmessenvegen between Åsmarka and Mesnali. The stone features a pothole formation known as a “Jettegryte”; it is also associated with a legendary motif passed down over many generations. This brings together geological formations and orally transmitted cultural history in the surrounding area.

The “Jernvinne, Mesnali” site is also nearby. It contains a large slag heap; slag remains and several iron-smelting sites have also been recorded in the area. Vegetation may affect visibility. Bear this in mind when planning, especially if you are interested in the visible traces of iron smelting.

Horseback Riding Tours of Different Durations

Mesna offers shorter and longer horseback riding tours year-round. The two-hour rides take you through the area around the farm and are suitable for riders of all experience levels, as well as for individuals and groups. Riders must be at least ten years old and weigh no more than 90 kilograms.

The full-day horseback riding tour offers a different time commitment: the routes pass through varied terrain. A lunch box, a packhorse and a coffee pot are included; the break takes place around a campfire. Rides on Icelandic horses are also available in Mesnali. You can choose between a two-hour tour around the farm and a full-day ride with the features described above. Check the program details with the provider before planning, as they may change.

Ringsaker as a Broader Destination

If you consider Ringsaker as a whole when planning your trip, there are additional cultural and historical destinations to explore. Ringsaker Church is one of Norway’s most authentic and best-preserved medieval churches; its oldest parts date from the first half of the 12th century. On Steinsholmen in Lake Mjøsa are the ruins of Mjøskastellet, the remains of one of Norway’s largest known medieval towers. Sveinhaugen is a 21-metre-high burial mound southeast of Ringsaker Church.

These regional examples complement Mesnali’s local attractions without replacing them. For horseback riding, duration and tour format offer practical points of comparison as you plan.

Discover more destinations: Tingnes, Furnes, Moelv, Sjusjøen, Lismarka, Brumunddal, Nes På Hedmark

View the broader travel overview: Ringsaker.