Lena: Hoff Church, Pilgrim Path and Lena River

Lena offers several points of interest to help plan your trip: the medieval Hoff Church and Hoff Rectory, a section of the Pilgrim Path to Smørvika in Kapp, and the Lena River with its fish populations. You can plan your time around cultural history, a specific stretch of the route or the river area. When planning, it is worth distinguishing destinations in Lena from other destinations in the wider travel destination of Østre Toten.

Hoff Church and Hoff Rectory

Hoff Church is a medieval church on the Pilgrim Path and was built between 1150 and 1200. Originally, it was a basilica with a main nave and two side aisles made of dressed limestone. After several restorations, including in 1508, 1704, 1895 and 1952, it now takes the form of a long church. The building therefore reveals distinct historical phases: the early church structure, later alterations and its present form.

Further details include the altarpiece, created by Laurits Lauritsen in 1664 and depicting the Last Supper, as well as several medieval figures carved into the outer stone wall. A series of portraits shows priests associated with the church from 1401 to the present day. Alongside its long history, these details provide specific artistic and architectural points of interest.

The protected Hoff Rectory complex includes, among other buildings, a medieval stone cellar, a main building dating from 1730, a sauna from 1789, a storehouse from 1844 and a manager’s house. Northeast of the church is also a complex of historic buildings with a beautiful rectory garden. The church and rectory bring together different aspects of local architectural history, which extends beyond the church building itself.

The Pilgrim Path and the landscape

One specific stretch runs from Hoff Church to Smørvika in Kapp and is about seven kilometres long. It starts at Tømmerholsvegen 313 in Lena. The route passes through the Hoff Rectory grounds and continues across fields and over the ridge near Lie. From there, views extend across the flat landscapes of Toten, Lake Mjøsa, Helgøya, Neslandet and the areas farther north. The approximate distance is a useful planning guide; check local conditions before setting out.

In the wider travel destination of Østre Toten, the Pilgrim Path is for pedestrians only. It mainly follows sunken lanes, farm tracks and gravel roads through cultural and natural landscapes. This describes the Pilgrim Path in Østre Toten; the specific route from Hoff Church to Smørvika is described separately, with its own approximate length and course.

The Lena River and fishing

The Lena River is an important spawning and rearing area for Lake Mjøsa trout and Lake Mjøsa grayling, as well as local populations of trout and grayling. In the Lena River, Lake Mjøsa trout from Sundvika migrate upstream, usually reaching Lena. River ecology and fish migration give the area a distinct connection to nature, different from the historical focus of the church and rectory.

There are good fishing spots around Lena, including at Håjendammen and by Håjenbrua and the sports field. If you plan to fish, check local rules and conditions beforehand. These spots provide specific guidance for planning, without implying that any particular catch is available.

More destinations in the wider travel destination of Østre Toten

Østre Toten lies on the western shore of Lake Mjøsa. In Kapp, Mjøsas Ark tells the story of life on and around the lake from the Viking Age onwards. The Peder Balke Centre also brings together art and architectural history: it is housed in a protected 18th-century building whose ballroom is decorated with twelve murals painted by Peder Balke in 1834. The centre is also a starting point for a walk north along Lake Mjøsa.

The old buildings of the Kapp Milk Factory are now used for various cultural exhibitions and house the Mjøs Museum. If you include these destinations in your plans, note that no opening hours are provided here; check the latest visitor information in advance. This lets you extend your trip beyond Lena, while Hoff Church, the Pilgrim Path and the Lena River remain the main attractions described in Lena itself.

Discover more destinations: Skreia, Kapp, Sletta

Go to the main travel overview: Østre Toten.