Hikes in Hamar

Hamar, the capital of Hedmark and Norway’s largest inland city, is located on the eastern shore of Lake Mjøsa, which is Norway’s largest inland lake. Numerous swimming and vacation resorts line its shores, which are fringed by meadows, forests, and rolling hills, underscoring its popularity as a family vacation paradise. On this varied hike to Hamar’s highlights, culture and nature are combined in a unique way. In addition to a fascinating route along the lakeshore, the panoramic view from Hedmarktoppen, the cathedral, and the wharf bridges at the harbor, the loop already showcases a diverse array of sights. However, the undisputed and spectacular highlights are the Bishop’s Castle and the glass structures housing the ruins of the old cathedral at the Hedmark Open-Air Museum. With around 70 historic buildings, a recreation park featuring picnic areas, and swimming facilities, it is one of the largest open-air museums in Norway.

The Hamar Cultural Trail connects the ruins of the medieval cathedral with the parks and swimming spots along Lake Mjøsa, runs through the Furuberget Nature Reserve up to the scenic Hedmarktoppen, and offers visitors the chance to relax in the sauna area of Norway’s largest indoor swimming pool at Ankerskogen Sports Park before heading back to the lakeshore via the market square. ​▶ Next to the parking lot at Strandvegen 100 in Hamar, the Domkirkeodden 01 peninsula begins at the Hedmarkmuseet open-air museum. The main attractions are the ruins of the medieval cathedral, enclosed in a glass shell, and the archaeological museum in the Storhamarlåven building, which incorporates the remains of the former bishop’s residence; the Urtehagen herb garden is located on Strandvegen, where another entrance to the open-air museum is situated near the glass-enclosed ruins. The Romeriksleden, the eastern branch of the Gudbrandsdalsleden pilgrimage route, runs through the park grounds, where a milestone indicates that the distance to Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim is 488 km. The headland, with its sweeping view of the lake, was Norway’s only inland bishopric from the Middle Ages until the Reformation; the English Cardinal Nicholas Breakspear, later Pope Adrian IV, elevated Hamar to a bishopric in 1152. This marked the beginning of the city’s golden age, during which the cathedral, the bishop’s residence, a monastery, and schools were built. After the Reformation in 1537, the cathedral and the bishop’s residence were transferred to the assets of the new Lutheran state church authorities and converted into a castle. During the Seven Years’ Nordic War in 1567, the Swedes destroyed the cathedral. In the second half of the 20th century, more and more pilgrims made their way to the picturesque ruin on the shores of Lake Mjøsa, and in 1998, Crown Prince Haakon dedicated the Hamardom, a 2,600 m² glass enclosure designed to protect the ruins from erosion. From the ruins, the pilgrimage trail winds northward through meadows and woodlands along Rosenlundvika Bay, passing swimming spots and offering scenic views, before turning westward along the shoreline toward the Norwegian Railway Museum (Norsk Jernbanemuseum 02), which was founded as early as 1896; During Norway’s Industrial Revolution, Hamar became a “railroad town” at the junction of the Dovre, Røros, and Eidsvoll–Hamar rail lines. Shortly thereafter, the pilgrimage trail leaves the lake, while the signposted Hamar Kultursti continues straight ahead along the lakeshore to the Furubergstranda swimming beach. Shortly after passing the last house, the Kultursti also leaves the shore, passes under the Dovrebanen 03 railroad tracks, and leads up into the species-rich coniferous forests of the Furuberget Nature Reserve, which thrive on fertile limestone soil; the nature reserve is, alongside the Mjøsa beach, Hamar’s second largest recreational area, with several hiking trails to match. At the curve in Furubergvegen, the trail follows the road briefly, then turns left onto a forest path that soon merges with a paved, floodlit cross-country ski trail, which continues upward in curves after crossing the pilgrimage trail. The Kultursti soon switches to a parallel hiking trail, eventually joining another floodlit cross-country ski trail and following it up the slope to the right toward Hedmarktoppen 04, where a sweeping view of Lake Mjøsa opens up. Hedmarktoppen is the headquarters of the Christian Pentecostal movement in Norway; it features a cafeteria, a summer hotel, an adult education center, a boarding school, and a cabin and campground; in the summer, Hedmarktoppen is the venue for the Christian festival Sommerstevnet (Summer Gathering). Take the access road to the main thoroughfare; at the Hedmarktoppen bus stop, turn right down the pedestrian and bike path, at the end, turn right (Aluvegen), and at the Breidablikk Aluvegen bus stop, turn left through the fields; at the roundabout, turn briefly left and then right toward the Hamar lufthavn 05 airport. Here, the Kultursti re-enters the forest, crosses the Klukhagan recreational area, and at the end, continue straight ahead on the road (Norsengs Gate), at the end, turn right (Maths Pedersens gate), cross Ringgata at the traffic light, and continue straight ahead into the green sports and recreation area Ankerskogen 06. The Ankerskogen Svømmehall is Norway’s largest indoor swimming pool; you can kayak on one of the three pools, and on rainy days, the wellness area entices visitors with saunas and whirlpools. After passing the Red Cross Kindergarten, the Kultursti leaves the grounds to the south at the Sagatun folkehøgdskole adult education center and follows Sagatunvegen to the Neo-Romanesque Hamar Cathedral 07. In 1864, the Lutheran Diocese of Hamar was founded for the inland provinces of Hedmark and Oppland; the white cathedral was consecrated in 1866. Passing the Kirsten Flagstad Museum, Kirkegata leads down to the Stortorget market square, where the Kultursti trail runs alongside Strandgateparken to Brygga Street, leading to the Brygga 08 recreational harbor piers, including the Skibladnerbrygga, the landing stage for the paddlewheel steamer Skibladner. Here, the Olav’s Way markers reappear and follow the Mjøsa shoreline past the public restrooms to the right. The flood levels dating back to 1789 are marked on the Flomsteinen (flood stone): In 1789, the water level of Lake Mjøsa rose by eight meters, but this caused little damage, as people at that time settled at a safe distance above the waterline; In 1995, however, the damage was considerable. Passing the skateboard park, the beach volleyball court, and other recreational facilities, the trail leads back to the starting point at Domkirkeodden 01.

Oslo Nidaros 4 Tangen Lillehammer