Official guide for the Hamar region English HAMAR REGIONEN 2012 2 Tourist information Hamar region Tourist Løten Nærstasjon & Information Centre Landhandleri Located in the Viking Ship out- Tourist information and side Hamar town centre, and country store, offering local provides free brochures as well produce, handicraft and local as information on accomoda- art. Café. tion, activities and attractions. Free internet access. Open Monday – Saturdary 10 -16 Open Sunday 12 -16 Monday – Friday 8 - 16 Stasjonsvn. 16, N- 2340 Løten. June 15 – august 20: Tel.: + 47 62 59 07 02 Monday-Friday 8.30-18 [email protected] Saturday-Sunday 11 -16 www.loten-nerstasjon.no Vikingskipet N-2304 Hamar Tel.: +47 62 51 75 03 [email protected] www.hamarregionen.no Cover photo: Domkirkeodden. Photo page 2: Skafferiet på Hovinsholm, Hoel gård, DS Skibladner, Vikingskipet, Løten Nærstasjon. Photo page 3: Middelalderfestivalen, Hedmarksmuseet / Domkirkeodden 3 Contents Hamar 4 Løten 5 Ringsaker 6 Stange 7 Exploring the region 8 Attractions and museums 10 Activities 16 Map 24 Biking 26 Fishing 27 Trips/hiking 28 Shopping 29 Eating out 32 Conference 37 Accomodation 41 Entertainment 48 Transport/Useful information 51 About this guide Published by Hamar-regionen Reiseliv in 2012. Copies: 15 000 in Norwegian, 10 000 in English, 5 000 in German. Print: Idetrykk, Hamar. Graphic design: Jørgen Rogne. Facts The Hamar Region contains four Photos: Aljona Shalavalova, Ricardo foto, municipalities; Hamar, Stange, Fotoavdelingen ved Hedmarksmuseet, Ringsaker and Løten. Flemming Støldal, Ingse Kjermnoen, Heidi Kristiansen, Mette Larsen, Total area: Thomas Mølstad, Anette Sletmoen, 2,726 square kilometres Margrete Ruud Skjeseth, M8/Midt i Mjøsa, Population: Atlungstad golf, Hamar kommune, Oplandske 88,000 Damskipsselskap, Sjusjøen Hytteutleie, Length and depth of Lake Mjøsa, Jens Haugen, Øystein Køhn, Kirsti Bigseth, Norway's largest lake: Trond Lilleboe, Atelier Klingwall. 117 kilometres/468 metres 44 Hamar A glimpse into Hamar's past Hamar's settlement history dates almost two thousand years back in time. In the 400s, Åker manor farm in Vang became a centre of power and moot where laws were passed and judgements made for the entire Mjøsa region. Hamar was fi rst mentioned as a market town in the mid-1000s, when Harald Hardråde led his men along Mjøsa in order to defeat the Oppland chieftains. Hamar became an episcopal seat in 1152, THE RAILWAY STATION: Hamar railway station is a and for the next 400 years it was one of the monumental and spectacular building from 1896, country's most important towns. However, with a beautiful park on its doorstep after the Reformation, the church and the town were in ruins. Hamar Cathedral was burned down by the Swedish king's army in 1567, and the cobbled streets and the monks' herb gardens were neglected and left to overgrow. It was not until 1849 that a new town was founded a couple of kilometres south of the original see. The intention was for Hamar to be the administrative centre for the region. In order to stimulate trade, the town's communication links were vastly improved. In 1862, the country's second railway line, Hamar - Grundset, was opened, and the town council arranged for the building of roads and bridges to the south and to the east as well as an excellent communication link across Mjøsa - both summer and winter. Today, Hamar is primarily a centre of trade and administration, with forests and agricultural land on one side and Mjøsa on the other. DOMKIRKEODDEN: Domkirkeodden is Hamar's Millennium Site. Morten Aspeli ordfører www.hamarregionen.no 5 Loten( Løten municipality In 2013, 150 years have passed since Edvard For further information on the 2013 Munch Munch's was born at Ådalsbruk in Løten. celebrations, please see www.munch2013.no This anniversary will marked through both and www.loten.kommune.no/Munch national and international celebrations, and in collaboration with the other municipalities to The Nordic Watercolour Festival will be held in which Edvard Munch had a special connection. late summer 2013 - another event to establish Munch was born at Engelaug Løten as a "centre point with artistic diversity". farm on the 12th of December 1863, and his birthday has As we look forward to, and prepare for, the 2013 traditionally been marked – and celebrations, I hope as many as possible will will be this year. fi nd time to visit one or more of our numerous cultural events. All are close by and easy to In conjunction with Munch2013, access - let us make 2012 a year of culture. Løten municipality has opened a new art workshop at Klevfos Industrial Museum. The workshop is fully equipped for production of graphic art, and the artist Jon Olav Helle will be in charge when the workshop opens the public. A Munch trail has also been designed, and features four displays positioned at locations in Løten to which Edvard Munch had a connection. In addition, a photo point by Engelaug farm will open in June, and at the same time an information centre will open at Klevfos. Bente Elin Lilleøkseth ordfører www.hamarregionen.no 6 Ringsaker Ringsaker municipality Ringsaker municipality stretches from Mjøsa, Norway's largest lake, to the Ringsaker mountains with peaks reaching over 1000 metres high, and can offer peace and quiet as well as a diverse range of activities. In the Ringsaker mountains, there are exciting adventures to be found - all year round. Sjusjøen is probably the best known location, and offers a wide choice of cabins as well as unique skiing and biking conditions. The cultural landscape at Nes and Helgøya is beautiful and ideal for days out. Here you can cycle Helgøya round, visit unique speciality shops, enjoy good food or take a look at some of the area's manor farms open to the public. At Jessnes, an idyllic spot has been carefully adapted for swimming, boating and various activities. For a more urban experience, the places to visit are Moelv and Brumunddal. Both towns can offer an exciting shopping experience somewhat out of the ordinary. In Ringsaker you will fi nd a vibrant cultural scene. The Ringsaker opera is unique. Ringsaker is also Alf Prøysen's municipality, and a visit to the Prøysen Museum and Home and the Prøysen Cottage is highly recommended. A warm welcome to Ringsaker! Anita Ihle Steen ordfører www.hamarregionen.no 7 Stange Stange – a municipality of opportunities! When visiting Stange, do not miss the Pilgrims' Way featuring Stange Church, our Millennium Site, dating back to the 1200s. If you fi nd yourself in Stange Vestbygd in the afternoon, enjoy the sunset from a bench at Lahlumshøgda and you will be treated to a picture postcard view not easily matched. But Stange municipality is far more than just the fertile areas in the west. To the east and north, the manor farms give way to smallholdings. In these areas the soil is not rich, it is barren. The forests are dense with shimmering fi shing lakes - ideal for walks. Furthermore, the area is abound with local culture. During the summer season, you can enjoy plays at Kvennstuguteateret, one of Hedmark's most spectacular open-air stages; plays focusing on the fi ght for survival, political upheavals and the emigration to America and comedies performed in a Hedmark dialect. Welcome to the municipality of opportunities: enjoy a quiet evening on the banks of lake Mjøsa, play a round of golf at one of the Nordic region's most spectacular courses, visit the national museum for emigration or maybe just savour some peace and tranquillity by a forest tarn. Nils Røhne ordfører www.hamarregionen.no 8 Summer adventures Winter adventures The Hamar region offers a With some 200 km of prepared diverse scenery with numerous tracks in and around Hamar, you opportunities. On one side are can ski from Hamar town centre Mjøsa and a beautiful cultural to Hedmarksvidda, and then join landscape, and on the other a way-marked network of trails are deep forests and mountain stretching over 2 500 km and all plateaus. The cultural heritage the way to Rondane. Sjusjøen is sites, cultural landscape and considered one of Europe's best manor farms invite to wonderful cross-country skiing destinations, summer adventures, bicycle and offers over 300 km of tracks rides, swimming, hiking and prepared for both for classic and golf. freestyle skiing. From DS Skibladner’s deck, Among these is the Birkebeiner you can experience the Mjøsa Trail running like a thread through scenery at its very best! As the area. Budor is another you indulge in summer fun like excellent starting point for cross- boating and swimming, the country skiing. Ski equipment is forests and meadows offering available for hire at Budor as well excellent hiking are never as Sjusjøen. far away. Adventures to suit everyone's taste - always. Please see www.skisporet.no for up-to-date info on the trail Sjusjøen network. 9 The children's region Children love the Hamar In the museum park at the region as adventures are Norwegian Railway Museum, many and never far between. you will fi nd station buildings At Koigen recreation ground and locomotive halls. in Hamar town centre, the Experience Tertittoget and very young can enjoy shallow Norway's shortest railway waters, a sandy beach and line, or try Knertitten - the a fun play area with lots of country's only permanent equipment. From Koigen, mini-train service. At it is not far to Ankerskogen Lekeland1 play centre, swimming pool with its diving children can revel in 1500 sq. towers and children's pool m of indoor fun. The Prøysen with slides and bouncy castle. Museum and Home is an enchanting experience for the whole family.