Reinli: Stave Church, Park and Trails

Reinli combines the well-preserved Reinli stave church with leisure activities at Stavedalen Park and the nearby Bjødalsrunden. Each has its own character: the church focuses on building history and architecture, while the park offers indoor play, ski slopes and other recreational facilities. The Bjødalsrunden offers views of a landscape that changes with increasing elevation.

The Reinli stave church: architecture and history

The Reinli stave church is very well preserved and probably dates from the second half of the 13th century. It is considered the only stave church originally built with a nave and chancel of equal width. This single-nave long church has a semicircular chancel behind the altar, the apse; this chancel is also as wide as the nave.

The church is open to visitors in summer. Check the opening dates before your trip so you can take its seasonal visiting hours into account when planning.

Leisure activities in Reinli

Stavedalen Park in Reinli is a family park open year-round. Its facilities include Valdres’ first indoor play park and a children’s area with a simulator room. There is also a Supertube track and ski slopes with runs for beginners and more experienced skiers. Electronic darts, air hockey and a café round out the offerings. Check the current opening hours before visiting, as operating arrangements may change.

Smaller recreational facilities are also part of what Reinli has to offer. An orienteering map is listed as a local recreational facility. Reinli turløype is an existing facility for hiking and cross-country skiing.

Circular route and nearby landscapes

The Bjødalsrunden is a challenging circular route in the area around Reinli. It starts at the car park by Matkroken in Reinli and returns to Reinli. Steep climbs and difficult or wet crossings are part of its character; trail conditions may vary.

As the elevation increases, the landscape along the Bjødalsrunden changes from dense forest to open mountain terrain. The route therefore combines a significant change in elevation with varied landscapes. When planning, take into account the challenging sections and changing crossings, as well as the changes in terrain.

Sør-Aurdal in the wider region

The wider destination of Sør-Aurdal also has distinct destinations for hiking and cultural interests. Ørneflag is the highest peak in the municipality of Sør-Aurdal and also the southernmost peak in Valdres. The hike follows the DNT route from Storekrak and is about eight kilometres each way. The ascent takes two to three hours and covers 350 metres of elevation gain.

Bagn Bygdesamling is also in Sør-Aurdal, an open-air museum on the E16, five kilometres south of Bagn. It comprises 19 buildings. In addition to the historic buildings, there are permanent exhibitions, films shown on site and an audio station.

The Fønhusstigen at Kverrvilljuvet, also called Hølerajuvet, runs through forest in Sør-Aurdal alongside the Hølera River to a viewpoint at the gorge. Information boards cover history and nature, and there are also quotations from Mikkjel Fønhus’s books. The wider region therefore offers both a hike with specific route details and trails with cultural and nature-related themes.

Discover more destinations: Hedalen, Bagn.

Back to the main travel overview: Sør-Aurdal.