Discover Ålen: village museum, mining and landscapes

If you’re looking for hotels in Ålen, you can get a sense of the place from its cultural history, river landscapes and recreational opportunities. Highlights include the Ålen Bygdemuseum, the Killingdal mines and trails in the Ålen sentrum–Flya area. These features differ in location and character: landmarks include the museum and a snowmobile starting point in the town centre, the ruins of the Eidet smeltehytte nearby, and landforms in southern Ålen.

Rivers and landforms

The Gaula rises near Gaulhåen, at an elevation of 821 metres, in the Gauldal statsallmenning in Ålen. The Ålen Bygdemuseum lies on its southern side, roughly midway through the settlement, at Egga. In southern Ålen, Ruglråen follows the Rugla River from Nesvolden in the south to Engan in the north. The canyon was formed during the last Ice Age and is an erosion channel. Thus, the Gaula and Ruglråen offer different points of reference: the source of one river and a canyon along another river.

Museum, mining and architectural history

The Ålen Bygdemuseum comprises 12 buildings and preserves around 2,500 objects. These figures describe different aspects: the first indicates the size of the complex, while the second gives an idea of the collection’s scale. The museum can therefore be understood both through its buildings and the objects it preserves.

The Killingdal mines lie in Ålen, southeast of Reitanvegen. Mining took place there for shorter and longer periods from 1674 until 1986. This time span does not represent continuous operation, but rather several operating periods. The mines are not open to visitors because they are filled with water.

The ruins of the Eidet smeltehytte are located near Ålen. They have been secured against falling debris, and a dedicated cultural trail has been created there. In practical terms, this makes the site different from the Killingdal mines, which are not open to visitors. The Ålen kirke offers another glimpse into the area’s history: a wooden long church in the Neo-Gothic style, built in 1881. It is located in Ålen, the railway town and municipal centre.

Trails and activities

With its dense network of trails near the town centre, the Ålen sentrum–Flya area is well suited to walking and cycling. It is also a starting point for appealing hiking trails; Svenuken is one example. Walks and bike rides around town are complemented by hikes with a named destination. Trail conditions and signage may change, so it’s worth checking the current situation before setting out on a hike.

The Gauldalsløypa is a recreational snowmobile route connecting Holtålen and Tydal. In Ålen, there is a starting point at Litj-Rena in the town centre. As route regulations may change, check the current municipal information before making plans. Ålen Skisenter has several downhill runs of varying difficulty; the facilities may change over time.

Travel information for Holtålen

In the wider Holtålen destination area, Ålen railway station is on the Røros Line. Trains from there travel towards Trondheim S, Røros, Hamar and Oslo S. These connections may be useful when planning your trip; check the current timetable for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Renbygda, Haltdalen.

Return to the main travel overview: Holtålen.