St Olav's Way (Gudbrandsdalsleden)

In short: St Olav's Way (Gudbrandsdalsleden): from Oslo to Trondheim. Length: around 640 km, duration: about 4 to 5 weeks. Best time: June to September.

Overview

King Olav Haraldsson fell in the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030 and was canonised shortly afterwards. For centuries his tomb in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim was the most important pilgrimage destination in northern Europe. The Reformation ended the tradition, and the route was waymarked again at the end of the 20th century.

From Oslo the Gudbrandsdalsleden follows Lake Mjøsa and the Gudbrandsdal valley and crosses the Dovrefjell plateau. This stretch is lonely and depends on the weather, so be prepared for long days and rough conditions.

If you walk the last 100 kilometres, you receive the Olavsbrevet in Trondheim, the Norwegian pilgrim certificate. You sleep on farms and in pilgrim hostels. Norway is expensive, and booking ahead is standard here.

Main stops: Oslo, Hamar, Lillehammer, Dovrefjell, Oppdal, Trondheim.

Through the Gudbrandsdal to Trondheim

King Olav Haraldsson fell in the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030 and was soon venerated as a saint. Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, the destination of the route, was built over his tomb. The main route is called the Gudbrandsdalsleden and runs north from Oslo along Lake Mjøsa.

The hardest section is the Dovrefjell. There you walk on an open plateau, and the weather can change quickly even in summer.

Accommodation and pilgrim centres

Along the route there are pilgrim centres, farms and huts, but the distances are much greater than in Spain. Plan your days ahead and carry food for sections with no shop. In Trondheim pilgrims receive a certificate, the Olavsbrevet.

The St Olav Festival takes place in Trondheim around St Olav's Day on 29 July. Many people time their arrival for this period.

Planning your stages

How long you need depends on your daily distance. The table works this out for 640 kilometres, with one rest day a week.

Who is this route for?

This route is a poor choice for a first attempt. You should be sure-footed and have stamina, and several weeks of training will pay off here.

What does the route cost?

With an albergue or simple guesthouse and one hot meal, 90 to 120 euros a day is usually enough. Over about 37 days that comes to roughly 3,350 to 4,450 euros, plus travel and gear. This is a guide figure.

You can find more routes under Pilgrimage routes in Europe, Pilgrimage in Norway, sorted by religion under Christian pilgrimage routes.