Discover Surna: History and art in Surnadalsøra

Surnadalsøra is a former village centre in the heart of Nordmøre. Houses stand close together along a street reminiscent of a cobbler’s lane; the river lies on one side, the forest on the other. This close combination of townscape, water, and forest gives Surnadalsøra a distinctive character. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can consider whether a historically rooted place with cultural themes matters more to you than a stay focused solely on the landscape.

A protected townscape with several building periods

Under Norway’s Planning and Building Act, Surnadalsøra is formally protected for preservation. The building stock is divided into three areas: buildings from 1850 to 1900, buildings from 1900 to 1938, and the area rebuilt after 1938. This section was built after a fire and is characterised by simple functionalist architecture. The sequence shows that the townscape does not belong to just one building period, but encompasses several clearly distinct historical phases.

A specific example from the more recent area is the garage and workshop building of Surnadal Billag. It is part of the protected building stock rebuilt after the fire. The building brings together the local history and the section’s simple functionalist architecture.

Art and crafts in Surnadalsøra

Surnadal Billag houses an arts centre with studio, workshop, and exhibition activities. During an earlier period of use, the building housed around twenty artists from around the world and served as a venue for workshops, exhibitions, and concerts. The former artist community and the arts-centre use are distinct chapters in the history of the same place: one describes a documented cultural use, the other the building’s current function.

Crafts also form part of the local character. Surna Kunst og Håndverk is located in the old Samvirkelaget in Surnadalsøra. Ceramic artist Marianne Fjærvik runs a workshop there and makes ceramics under the “Amfora Design” brand. Alongside the protected townscape, visual art, workshop practice, and ceramic production are distinct cultural themes to explore. If you take different interests into account when choosing where to spend your holiday, the local history and crafts may help shape your decision.

Hiking and other themes in Surnadal

As a different focus, the hike to Roparen starts in Surnadalsøra, at the road to the east leading to the prayer house. The route description was updated on 16 May 2022; check the route details locally before setting off. This means you can include a specific hike in your holiday plans alongside the cultural themes, without assuming a walking time or difficulty level.

The wider destination of Surnadal offers further nature-related attractions. Svinvik Arboretum lies between steep mountains and the Todalsfjord. Its collection includes 350 rhododendron species and hundreds of conifer species. The arboretum has a summer café; as this is a seasonal offering, check that it is open before travelling. Its botanical focus and setting between mountains and fjord are quite different from Surnadalsøra’s compact historic townscape.

In Surnadal, Vaulen is a state-secured outdoor recreation area. Marked trails lead from the road ends at Krokvatnet or Solåsvatnet to Vaulen, a distance of about four kilometres. These two starting areas and the approximate distance provide specific points of reference for planning a hike. Another regional cultural destination is Åsen bygdemuseum: this traditional open-air museum in Surnadal includes buildings from different periods and local-history collections. Visits are possible by prior booking and during events; the grounds are open at all times, even when the exhibitions are closed. When planning a visit, it is important to distinguish between the grounds, which are always open, and museum visits, which require a booking or take place during events.

Kleiva, above Skei in Surnadal, is also part of the region’s cultural history: it was home to the village poet Hans Hyldbakk. This can help you distinguish between Surnadalsøra’s historic townscape and crafts, and the other cultural and nature-related attractions in the wider destination of Surnadal.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bølandet, Kvanne, Bæverfjorden, Stangvik, Settemsøran, Surnadal, Torvik, Todalen.

Back to the main travel guide: Surnadal.