Vestre Gausdal: Churches, Farm History and Nature

Vestre Gausdal combines impressive church architecture with farming culture and excursions into the countryside. The cruciform Vestre Gausdal Church, the wooden church at Aulstad and the Ulsrud open-air farm museum each tell a different story. Trails, birdwatching and seasonal offerings round out the cultural focus, so you can shape your trip around the subjects that interest you most.

Churches with a history of their own

Vestre Gausdal Church, also known as Nykirken, is built in a cruciform shape from timber logs. The tower rises above the crossing, where the arms of the cross meet. Its furnishings include a carved altarpiece with pulpit by the woodcarver Petter Frederichsen Kastrud from Fåberg. There are also medieval sculptures of the Virgin Mary with the Child and of a bishop. The statue of the Virgin Mary was restored in 2000.

Aulstad Church is a wooden church built in 1864 and listed as a cultural heritage monument from the period after 1850. Its furnishings include an altarpiece from 1768, carved by Eistein Guttormsson Kjørrn, and a pulpit from the early 17th century. The church's timber comes from the old Svatsum Church, built in 1726, demolished in 1860 and replaced by a new church. There is ample parking at Aulstad Church, about 20 metres from the entrance. Check the current parking situation before setting off.

Farming culture at Ulsrud

Ulsrud has been preserved as an open-air farm museum and conveys the farming culture and farm history of the area as they existed up to the mid-20th century. This gives the farm a different focus from the churches: here, the emphasis is on life on a farm and the region's rural cultural history. Groups can arrange a guided tour of Ulsrud through the Ulsrud committee; confirm availability in advance.

Cultural trail and nature watching at Kittilbu

The Kittilbu Utmarksmuseum, which is both a museum and a national park centre, is located in the area around Vestre Gausdal. It is situated in the Kittilbu summer-farm settlement in Gausdal Vestfjell, on County Road 204 between Vestre Gausdal and Valdres. Information is available there about hiking, fishing, accommodation and protected areas. Guided tours in the national park are offered during the season; check the current programme before your trip.

A cultural trail leads from the museum to the Dokkfløy reservoir. Along the way are elk-hunting pits and traces of historic iron smelting. At Kittilbudammen, a birdwatching hide lets you observe birdlife during the breeding season without disturbing nesting birds. The experiences around Kittilbu are distinct: the cultural trail passes through traces of earlier human activity, while the hide offers a view of nature during the breeding season.

For a seasonal stop, Volden-Seter, in the area around Vestre Gausdal, serves coffee, pastries and rømmegrøt on selected Sundays. Check the current dates before planning your visit.

Trails and activities along Bjørnsonvegen

Bjørnsonvegen is Route 255 and makes for a worthwhile detour from the E6. You can explore the surrounding area on foot or by bike. Other possible activities in the district include boat hire, fishing in one of the many lakes and horseback riding. The onward route crosses the mountains on the Jotunheimen Road and over Valdresflya towards the fjord region on Norway's west coast.

When choosing a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: churches and farm history offer a different experience from the cultural trail, birdwatching and outdoor activities. Base your search on the specific places you want to visit, and take the relevant dates into account for seasonal offerings.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Svingvoll, Gausdal, Espedalen, Svatsum, Follebu, Østre Gausdal.

To the main travel overview: Gausdal.