Øye: Churches, Kulturstøga and historic trails

Churches, discoveries and a historic trail to Filefjell give Øye a cultural and historical focus, as well as a scenic one. When planning your trip, you can explore several different aspects: architectural history, exhibition items and a trail whose surface and changing landscapes are described in detail.

Churches, exhibits and discoveries in Øye

Øye kyrkje is a wooden long church built in 1747, located at Øyebakka. Øye stavkirke is at the western end of Vangsmjøsa. It is also the starting point for the historic trail between Øye and Tyinkrysset.

Kulturstøga displays a Viking Age sword and weaving sword found in a field in Øye. The exhibition also includes a censer from the old Øye stavkirke. It therefore features both finds from Øye and an object from the history of the stave church. The exhibition contents may change in the future.

Historic trails and the history of technology

The historic trail between Øye and Tyinkrysset begins at the end of Vangsmjøsa, by Øye stavkirke. The section of Kongevegen over Filefjell runs from the same church to Tyinkrysset. The trail mostly follows grass and gravel, changing from wooded inland terrain to the open mountain landscape of the Filefjell plateau. The surface and changing scenery offer specific clues to the character of this trail.

The history of electricity supply is another part of the story of the area: Eidsfoss 1, also known as “Øye kraftverk og mølle,” was established by local landowners in the early 1920s and supplied electricity from 1923 to 1953.

More topics in the wider destination of Vang

The wider destination of Vang offers other distinct topics in church and cultural history. Vang Church has a catechism board dating from 1620, which previously stood in Vang Stave Church. In 2012, the church received a collection of wooden figures back, including apostles and Jesus, which had probably been in the former Vang Stave Church. Høre Stavkirke dates from around 1179 and features rich medieval wood carvings of dragons and lions. The churches differ both in their dates and in the objects described and their origins.

In Vennis in Vang, the six Bekkekvernene mills on the Leineåne form an exceptional historic complex of buildings. They are a very short walk from the parking and rest area with toilets; they can also be seen from the road bridge over the Leineåne. Visitors can therefore reach them by taking the short walk from the rest area or view them from the bridge.

Another landscape attraction is Sputrefossen, also called Givrisfossen on maps, after the Givre farm. The waterfall is one of the larger attractions in Vang municipality: the water sprays upward before falling, unlike at other waterfalls.

Discover more destinations: Vang, Tyinkrysset, Ryfoss

Back to the wider travel guide: Vang.