Harestua: Culture, Trails and Nature

When looking for a hotel in Harestua, you can choose where to stay based on the themes of your trip: trains and cycling routes, outdoor recreation or cultural history. Specific points of reference include the station on the Gjøvikbanen railway, the cycling tour around Store Skillingen and Harestuvannet, the Gråmerrtangen recreation area and the Solobservatoriet. These different highlights can help you find the right place in Harestua for your travel interests.

Trains and Routes in Harestua

Harestua station is a stop on the Gjøvikbanen railway. Trains from there run towards Gjøvik, Jaren and Oslo S. The hiking trail in Harestua runs from Bøhrentangen in the south to the centre of Harestua in the north. Both the railway station and the trail’s two endpoints therefore provide specific reference points for your planning.

The cycling tour “Rundt Skillingen og Harestuvannet” starts at Harestua station and leads to and around the lakes Store Skillingen and Harestuvannet. The difference in elevation between its highest and lowest points is less than 50 metres. This offers a clear comparison with the hiking trail: here, a named cycling tour featuring lakes and elevation changes contrasts with a route between Bøhrentangen and the town centre. You can choose based on the activity you want without treating the two routes as the same.

Gråmerrtangen and Outdoor Recreation

Gråmerrtangen has a sandy beach and benches. The recreation area also includes a sand volleyball court and a fire pit with a permanently installed grill. The different facilities give the place several distinct features: time at the beach, volleyball and the fire pit. If you want to consider an outdoor spot when choosing where to stay, these features can help you assess Gråmerrtangen.

Cultural History and Gathering Places

The buildings of the Solobservatoriet in Harestua are a unique scientific cultural monument. Riksantikvaren placed them under protection in 2016. The site’s history is another notable point of reference: from 1954, the Solobservatoriet was Northern Europe’s largest astronomical facility. The site’s scientific history and protected buildings are therefore its main features.

Another historical point of reference is Harestua gamle skole. It dates from the 1880s and is one of the oldest buildings in Lunner municipality. The school is preserved as a gathering place and cultural monument, with particular emphasis on forest worker culture and Hadeland’s school history. It is made available for cultural and social activities. In contrast to the Solobservatoriet, the focus here is on forest worker culture and school history.

Friluftshub is located in Harestua at Vannebos veg 196. It is intended as a gathering place where activities and events can be held for both outdoor enthusiasts and other people. If you are interested in a specific programme, check the latest information before your trip.

The Wider Destination of Lunner

The wider destination of Lunner covers a large part of the northern Nordmarka area, including the lakes Mylla and Gjerdingen. In Lunner, Mylla is a popular winter excursion destination; snow conditions vary. When there is enough snow, kilometres of ski trails are usually groomed within the municipality of Lunner.

The cultural and landscape points of reference across the wider destination of Lunner also vary. Lunner has nine nature reserves; Tullebrennhaugen and Fjellsjøhøgda were added as two new areas. The Østhagan landscape protection area in Lunner is associated with iron mines and limestone quarries. Hadelandsgruben, also known as Store Gamle Grube, is one of Norway’s oldest iron mines. Iron ore was extracted there from at least the 1530s until 1799.

Lunner offers different time estimates to help you plan walks and hikes. The Pilegrimssti around Lunner kirke takes about 45 minutes and includes seven stations. The nature and cultural trail from Grua station to the Nysetergruvene mines runs on foot through varied terrain and takes about an hour; walking time varies with pace and conditions. The mine safari to Nysetergruvene takes about two hours. You can distinguish between a walk with stations, a hike and a longer activity based on their approximate duration. Check the current dates and availability for the mine safari in advance.

Discover more destinations: Grua

Back to the wider travel overview: Lunner.