Garmo: Stave Church History and Seterm Culture

Garmo brings together a named landscape area, the history of the stave church, and seterm culture. The Dagsturhytta on Sprekkberget below Høgkollen provides a specific link to the surrounding area; the construction history of Garmo Stave Church dates back to the early 13th century. At Brimi Gard & Sæter, traditional seterm culture is combined with culinary experiences. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Garmo, these different themes can shape the character of your stay: a connection with nature, historical architecture, or the production and tasting of local products each appeal to different interests.

A cabin on Sprekkberget

The Dagsturhytta is located in Garmo on Sprekkberget below Høgkollen. The cabin is designed for public use year-round. If you want to plan your stay primarily around an outdoor destination, this offers a different focus from church history or Brimi Gard & Sæter.

Garmo Stave Church: Construction History and Relocation

Garmo Stave Church was built in the early 13th century and expanded several times. Most recently, in 1730, it acquired its characteristic cruciform shape. Its construction history thus spans from the early building through several extensions to a clearly dated later form.

In 1880, the former Garmo Stave Church was dismantled; its materials were collected, and the church was reconstructed in Maihaugen in 1921. The reconstructed church stands there today. This sequence of dates is part of the building’s history: it connects the original church building with Garmo and the later reconstruction with Maihaugen.

Seterm Culture at Brimi Gard & Sæter

Brimi Gard & Sæter in Garmo combines traditional seterm culture with distinctive culinary experiences. Through large windows, guests can watch the production of Seterrømme, Setersmør, Pultost, and Seterost. The four-course tasting menu “Skråpå tå” adds a meal featuring melted cheese to this experience; it is a local variation of raclette.

This offers two different ways to experience seterm culture: you can watch the production of the products listed above or try the tasting menu. When choosing your accommodation in Garmo, this distinction can help you decide on the culinary focus of your stay without reducing the local food culture to a single dish.

Lom as a Broader Travel Context

In the wider destination of Lom, marked hiking trails lead in several directions from the center. Bergomsrunda is an easy circular trail of about 2.5 kilometers in the center of Lom. On Lomseggen, you can take a circular route from the center via Smith-bue and the Kvilarsteinen viewpoint. The two trail descriptions use different points of reference: for Bergomsrunda, the difficulty and approximate length are given; for the Lomseggen loop, the route is described via named stops up to the viewpoint.

Culture and interpretation are also distinct themes in Lom. Lom Bygdamuseum is an open-air museum in Presthaugen, 300 meters from the center of Fossbergom. Norsk fjellsenter is an authorized visitor center for Jotunheimen National Park. At the Fjellviten Center, visitors can learn about the geology and climate of the high mountains through playful activities.

Lom’s culinary scene also includes Lom bryggeri: in Grjotheim, it produces lager under the Lomb brand and emphasizes making the ingredients, history, or geography as local as possible. A visit combines stories about the brewery’s history with a tour of the brewery and a beer tasting. This allows Garmo’s focus on stave church history and seterm culture to be complemented by further hiking, cultural, and culinary experiences specifically associated with Lom.

Discover more destinations: Bøverdalen, Lom, Bøverkinnhalsen, Galdbygdi.

Back to the broader travel overview: Lom.