Ringebu: Stave Church, Pilgrim Routes and Culture

Ringebu Stave Church is a distinctive starting point for exploring the destination’s cultural history. Alongside it, art and historic cultural sites, the pilgrim route over Høgkleiva, and seasonal activities offer different reasons to visit. You can tailor your stay depending on whether you want to focus on architectural history, exhibitions, hiking or outdoor activities.

Stave Church and Cultural Sites

Ringebu Stave Church was built around 1220 and is one of Norway’s largest surviving stave churches. Its date provides a specific historical reference, while its status as one of the country’s largest surviving stave churches also invites comparison within Norway’s national heritage.

Ringebu Prestegard is a historic cultural site with art exhibitions. Prestegardshagen is part of Ringebu Prestegard and contains around 170 different rose varieties. The collection may change gradually, so this number should be understood as an approximate guide. This cultural site therefore brings together exhibitions and a rose collection whose size is not fixed.

Gildesvollen is also used for a range of events and activities. This adds a venue for different kinds of events to Ringebu’s cultural offerings.

Høgkleiva: Pilgrim Route and History

At Høgkleiva, contemporary art, an Iron Age hillfort, legends and stories come together. Høgkleiva is also on the pilgrim route between Fåvang and Ringebu. There is a resting place there for pilgrims and other hikers. Those interested in culture and outdoor activity will find several aspects in one place: art and storytelling, as well as a route and a place to rest.

The Gudbrandsdalsleden over Høgkleiva is a 643-kilometre, well-marked pilgrim route from Oslo to Trondheim. The Pilegrimsleden over Høgkleiva is a hiking and cultural route through nature and a spiritual landscape. These descriptions offer both an overview of the route’s overall length and insight into its character. The local context is also useful for planning: Høgkleiva is on the pilgrim route between Fåvang and Ringebu.

The Kongevegen over Høgkleiva was the first road built through Ringebu. This historic road adds another perspective on the history of routes in Ringebu alongside the pilgrim route: the early road and the hiking and cultural route are distinct themes.

Summer Cycling and Cross-Country Skiing

Kvitfjell is located in Fåvang, in Ringebu Municipality, and offers cycling opportunities in summer as well as electric bike rentals. As this is a seasonal service, it may change. Check whether rentals are currently available before making plans.

Venabygdsfjellet is a mountain area in Ringebu Municipality, between Gudbrandsdalen and Østerdalen. It has an extensive network of cross-country ski trails stretching in all directions; the famous Troll-løypa trail also starts there. Trail conditions depend on the season. Checking current conditions will help you factor this into your plans.

Comparing the options highlights a seasonal difference: Kvitfjell offers summer cycling, while Venabygdsfjellet is known for its extensive trail network for cross-country skiing. This can help you choose activities according to the season of your stay.

Getting Around the Town

Ringebu town centre has shops, restaurants and services. Landsbyen Ringebu also has a pump track for cyclists of all ages. Along with shops and restaurants, you’ll find a specific cycling amenity in town, as well as the wider range of seasonal activities available in the municipality.

Discover more destinations: Fåvang, Ringebu, Venabygd, Lillehammer, Gjøvik, Lunner, Sør-Aurdal, Dovre.

View the full travel overview: Oppland.