YOUR GUIDE TO Lillehammer and Gudbrandsdalen SUMMER 2019 SUMMER Foto: Esben Haakenstad Esben Foto: Create your experience. Hanslien Asmund Foto: Visit Lillehammer and Gudbrandsdalen in sum- Looking for a challenge? Try Birken, Furusjøen mer, and you will find a region bursting with ad- Rundt, or one of the other races. In this brochure, ventures just waiting to be explored – whether you will find a diverse selection of summer you visit with your children, your loved one, or activities in the region. good friends. For families, this is a unique experience. Ad- For further info, please visit venture parks and attractions provide entertain- www.lillehammer.com. ment for both young and old, and you are within Enjoy summer – the way you like it. Welcome! easy reach of a plethora of outdoor activities such as rafting, cycling, horseback riding, and Tourism Manager hiking – to mention but a few. Ove Gjesdal Also highly recommended are the many cul- tural experiences the region has to offer. Visit the museums, indulge in local cuisine, and discover the Family friendly enchanting Peer Gynt and other cultural events. Lillehammer and Gudbrandsdalen offer a range of family-friendly activities and adventures, and also a wide choice of accommodation where children are welcome and well catered for. Eco-friendly travel made easier CONTENT The Green Travel symbol (tussock) makes eco-friendly trav- THE VERY YOUNG THE IN-BETWEEN THE OLDER el easy. Several of our travel-industry service providers have been awarded environmental certification, and are committed Welcome to our region > 04 to sustainable development. These will carry the tussock / Green Travel symbol. Top activities for families with children > 06 Don’t miss... > 08 Out and about > 11 Share your images and holiday memories with us at #visitlillehammer. Maybe the photo we repost is yours? What’s on & when? > 15 Activities > 22 Lillehammer Tourist Office Gausdal Tourist Office Art landscape Gudbrandsdalen > 32 Jernbanetorget 2, 2609 Lillehammer Dikterportalen 21.05-30.09, Aulestadvegen 4, 2656 Follebu Culture > 33 Tel: 61 28 98 00 | [email protected] Tel: 975 62 000 | [email protected] Vinstra Tourist Information Office Servicetorget, Ringebu Tourist Information Office,Servicetorget Shopping > 43 Kommunehuset i Nord-Fron, Nedregate 50, 2640 Vinstra Rådhuset i Ringebu, Hanstadgata 4, 2630 Ringebu Restaurants and nightlife > 46 Tel: 61 21 61 00 | [email protected] Tel: 61 28 30 00 | [email protected] Sjoa Go Rafting Foto: Accommodation > 52 Other services > 60 Our cooperation Municipalities Cover photo: Ian Brodie Magazine design and layout: City map Lillehammer > 64 Charlotte Grønvold Menkerud, www.lole.no Overview map – destinations and attractions > 66 JØMERK IL ET Changes in opening hours and rates may occur. M Lillehammer Gausdal Øyer Ringebu Sør-Fron Nord-Fron Ringsaker Nordre Land 2 4 2 1 5 6 No liability accepted for printing errors. T kommune kommune kommune kommune kommune kommune kommune kommune rykksak 2 GUDBRANDSDALEN AND LILLEHAMMER SUMMER 2019 GUDBRANDSDALEN AND LILLEHAMMER SUMMER 2019 3 *The numbers indicate where the destinations are located. Please see the overview map of Lillehammer and Gudbrandsdalen, page 66. Kvitfjell, Venabygdsfjellet and Ringebu 3 10 12 Kvitfjell is home to Norway’s most spectacular alpine runs – the very same that were used for the 1994 Olympics – and is an annual venue for the World Cup downhill race. On the eastern side of Gudbrandsdalen are the breathtaking Venabygdsfjellet and Rondane – a stunning high-mountain experience by car as well as by foot. Rondane National Tourist Route offers spectacular views as you drive along and from its many vantage points ideal for a break. Ringebu is often referred to as Norway’s smallest town, and its history as a commercial centre dates back to 1899. Here you will find a wide selection of speciality shops in charming surroundings. ExploreWelcome Lillehammer and Gudbrandsdalenour – a destination rto egion Gålå, Kvamsfjellet, Vinstra, Fagerhøy and Rondane Nasjonalpark with spectacular scenery, unique attractions, and great adventures Haakenstad Esben Foto: 6 11 13 Visit the central part of Gudbrandsdalen, and you will discover a spectacular moun- Lillehammer 1 tain hiking terrain as well as a host of cultural experiences in an authentic setting. The Lillehammer is a charming town at the entrance to the Gudbrandsdalen valley. With town of Vinstra is the region’s centre, and the highlight of the summer is the annual its 27,000 inhabitants and picturesque pedestrian street, it has a cosy village feel Peer Gynt Festival held at Gålå – in the World of Peer Gynt. On the eastern side of the rarely found in urban settings Lillehammer is one of Norway’s most important cultural valley is Rondablikk (Kvamsfjellet mountain), which is a gateway to Rondane National centres, and has status as a UNESCO City of Literature. Storgata, lined with idyllic Park. This is home to the Furusjøen Rundt races (mountain biking, running), also wooden town houses, provides the framework for a modern and friendly shopping known as the Adventure of Rondane. Just north of Vinstra, you will find one of the experience and is an experience in its own right. Lillehammer was the host of the best whitewater rafting rivers in Europe. GoRafting offers adventures for visitors 1994 Winter Olympics, and there are several Olympic Arenas well worth a visit. It of all ages. is a popular annual venue for both large and small events, such as the Nordic World Ski Championships, the Birkebeiner Races, and the Norwegian Festival of Literature. Skeikampen, Gausdal, Espedalen and Skåbu 4 8 9 Numerous museums and cultural centres are also available, including Maihaugen, Skeikampen, some 45 minutes by car from Lillehammer, is a destination ideal for the Norwegian Olympic Museum, and Lillehammer Art Museum. These are only a cycling and hiking. It is located in the mountain area known as the World of Peer few of the experiences on offer, and another attraction not to be missed is Skiblad- Gynt, where you also find Kvitfjell, Gålå, and Espedalen. Follow the Peer Gynt route, ner – the world’s oldest paddle steamer still in scheduled service. and you will reach the mountain plateau at approx. 1000 metres above sea level. The mountain destination Espedalen north-west in this area is another fantastic starting Hafjell, Hunderfossen and Øyer 2 point for outdoor pursuits, whatever the season. This is also where you find Helvete Wide range of adventure activities within a small radius: Hunderfossen Adventure Park Nature Park featuring Northern Europe’s largest potholes. At Skåbu, just north of is the country’s very own fairytale adventure park, and with over 60 attractions it caters Espedalen, you can pick up Jotunheimvegen – a route leading directly to Jotunheimen for every age group. Kids Farm Hunderfossen with over 150 small and large animals. National Park. Lilleputthammer Family Park is packed with exciting experiences for children under 9 years old. Hafjell Bike Park offers lift-assisted downhill biking for all skill levels. This is Landsbyen Dokka and Synnfjell 14 15 also the area where you find Lillehammer Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track, the Nor- wegian Road Museum, and Hafjell Golf. Furthermore, the Øyerfjellet mountain offers Synnfjell mountain area is a true gem located 50 km from Lillehammer. With its a spectacular scenery ideal for hiking, fishing, and biking. forests and peaks, it is the ideal spot for both MTB and hiking enthusiasts. Synnfjell offers spectacular outdoor adventures all year round, and borders Langsua National Sjusjøen and Nordseter 5 7 Park. Its highest point is Spåtindtoppen at 1414 m a.s.l. Popular activity is geocaching. Offering the best of both urban and rural living, Dokka was the first in Norway to Sjusjøen and Nordseter are the mountain areas closest to Lillehammer. Both are become an official village (Landsby) when this classification was introduced in 2009. located a mere 20 km from the town centre, and are ideal for anyone interested in hiking and cycling. A network of way-marked trails and bicycle routes are available. Visit Natrudstilen, and you will also find a roller ski track with biathlon facilities. For further information on the various destinations, please visit www.lillehammer.com 4 GUDBRANDSDALEN AND LILLEHAMMER SUMMER 2019 GUDBRANDSDALEN AND LILLEHAMMER SUMMER 2019 5 Foto: Geir Olsen Geir Foto: for families Twith op children at tr act ion s Leisure Pool Foto: Esben Haakenstad Esben Foto: Hunderfossen Adventure Park What could be more fun than a family day out at one of our leisure pools, The Norwegian Adventure Park in Lillehammer is the featuring children’s pools, water slides, counter-current swimming, country’s very own fairytale adventure park, and is one of Haakenstad Esben Foto: jacuzzis, saunas, climbing walls, waterfalls, steam rooms, and spectacular Norway’s most popular tourist attractions. Plenty to do and surroundings. The leisure pools Jorekstad Fritidsbad, Fron Badeland, see with over 60 activities on offer. New this year –test center and Karlsvogna Fjellbad are guaranteed to keep your children entertained. for ”Månelyst I Flåklypa!” Page 24 Page 23 Family white-water adventure Lilleputthammer Miniature Town Fantastic outing for families looking for a fun and exciting adventure! The Lilleputthammer is an adventure park in the Hafjell Hunderfossen area, family rafting experience takes place on the wide river Otta, and features and is an attraction both children and adults will enjoy. In “the tiny some exhilarating rapids towards the end. This is an activity with children town” children can feel like giants, and then move on to the trains, cars, in focus – with lots of fun and action in a safe setting. boats, Ferris wheel, rollercoaster or the stomach-churning Ola’s frog Page 25 leap. Alternatively, they can enjoy the climbing tower, obstacle course, bouncy pillow or trampolines. Hafjell Bike Park Page 23 If you are looking for some excellent downhill biking, Hafjell Bike Park is Foto: Esben Haakenstad Esben Foto: Norway’s leading provider of lift-assisted cycling adventures.