Eidsbygda: Church and hikes

Eidsbygda combines church history with hiking destinations whose access routes pass through the village. Eid kyrkje and its older furnishings give the village a special historical connection; nearby options range from an easy hike to a viewpoint to trails with sections along the fjord. When choosing your holiday rental, it may help to first consider whether you want to focus on culture, hiking or both.

Eid kyrkje and its history

Eid kyrkje is a single-nave hall church dating from 1797. It is the oldest church in Rauma still in daily use. Its furnishings point to earlier times: the pulpit dates from 1668 and comes from the original stave church at this site. The baptismal font is believed to be the church’s oldest inventory item; it came from Lesja and bears the year 1519.

The church thus brings together several historical connections: the building from 1797, the pulpit from the original stave church, and the baptismal font with its own origins and date. Anyone interested in architectural history will find specific details here that can be traced from the architecture to individual furnishings.

Hikes and directions

The route to the Hælberget hike passes through Eidsbygda; you can park in the car park by Eid kyrkje. At the summit, there is a viewpoint with an outdoor barbecue and seating area. The drive to Kvitfjellet also goes through Eidsbygda: at the village shop, turn towards Norvika and you will reach a car park after about 900 metres. Before setting off, check the directions, especially the turn-off and car park.

The access routes to Randsetfjellet and Litleoksen also pass through Eidsbygda and continue to Rødven. For Randsetfjellet, it is then about five kilometres to Rødven; for Litleoksen, five kilometres. The access route to Kvarven, as well as the one for the circular hike to Skåla and Litleoksen, also initially passes through Eidsbygda and continues to Rødven. These different directions provide practical guidance when planning your excursions.

Fjord views and nearby culture

The hike to Randsetfjellet follows the outer edge of Romsdalsfjord for a stretch; the path is considered good and dry throughout. Litleoksen is an easy hike to a viewpoint overlooking Romsdalsfjord and the mountains of Romsdalen. It can be combined with a circular hike via Skåla. This means you can choose between different features: a section along the fjord at Randsetfjellet, or the viewpoint at Litleoksen and the option of combining the hike with Skåla.

Another place to discover nearby is Rødven stavkirke. It is one of Norway’s oldest stave churches and is a Møre-type stave church with distinctive external supports. Its history dates back to the 13th century; a crucifix from that period is part of its oldest inventory. It also has a unique surviving south portal, probably dating from the first half of the 12th century.

Rødven stavkirke is described as open daily in summer from mid-June to mid-August, with cultural and historical walks offered during this period. Before your visit, check whether the opening hours and dates apply to your travel period.

In the wider destination of Rauma

The wider destination of Rauma also offers other perspectives. The Geiranger–Trollstigen National Tourist Route, also known as County Road 63, is 104 kilometres long, starts at Sogge bru in Romsdalen and passes through Rauma. At Trollstigen, walkways and steps take visitors to several viewpoints, including a platform 200 metres above Trollstigvegen.

The Romsdalsgondolen offers a different way to get around: it takes visitors from the fjord to the summit of Nesaksla in seven minutes. The Eggen Restaurant is located there, at an elevation of 708 metres; it serves dishes made with high-quality ingredients from the surrounding region. This means you can also choose excursions in the wider destination of Rauma based on whether you want to reach viewpoints on foot or by gondola.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Veblungsnes, Åfarnes, Isfjorden, Måndalen, Mittet, Voll, Åndalsnes, Vågstranda.

Back to the main travel overview: Rauma.