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Roros: get lost in Norway’s history

Monday, 9th March 2015

Destination Specialist

norway central roros view istk

Norway is famous for its fjords and mountainous scenery, which means that often, people’s focus can be diverted to these areas – but what about further east? Alex, our Assistant Nordic Sales Manager, travels deep into Norway to visit the beautiful town called Roros, rich in fascinating history.

A town steeped in history

Founded in 1646 as a timber town, Roros later developed into a mining and farming community – and in 1980 it became a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can access this area by plane, train or by car – although if you’re driving from Oslo you would need to stop overnight on the way.

Walking around these well preserved wooden buildings makes you feel like you have stepped back in time. Close by are the old copper mines (another UNESCO listed site) which were once vital to the town’s prosperity. On the tour of the mine you can descend 50-metres into the fascinating history of this area. Learn everything from how people used to get into the mines to what the miners used for light. If you have arrived by train into Roros, you can get a taxi to the mines. It’s definitely worth a visit, but you will need to be relatively fit for this, as it’s quite a workout on the legs as you make your way back up to daylight!

In the town of Roros, there is the church, or Betstadens Ziir, a very dominant feature of this town as it stands above the colourful timber buildings. Built during the copper works’ golden age, and completed in 1784, this is a beautiful building with a fascinating interior of colours and paintings.

I stayed at the Erzcheidergarden Hotel which was a slight walk up the hill and rather tucked away. It’s a very comfortable property with less than 20 rooms and the breakfast was my favourite part of my stay – it’s very healthy and features a wide selection of local and natural foods!

During the summer, you feel lost in time as you wander the streets of Roros taking in the scenery – around you the hills are green and tinted with patches of snow, and artists and craftsmen have been attracted to the town, meaning there are many workshops, galleries and boutiques to explore.

Feeling inspired?

For help with planning your Roros holiday, enquire online or speak to Alex direct.

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