Vang: Church History and Cycling Tours

Vang brings together a distinctive church history, a runestone, and two different cycling tours. Families with children can enjoy a short route described as easy, while the Vang Filefjellvegen Gravel Circuit follows forest and mountain-farm tracks to a panorama of the lake and mountains. Visitors interested in culture can also discover tangible traces of the village’s history here.

Church History and the Runestone

The site of Vang Church is centrally located in the settlement of Vang, on the southern shore of Lake Vangsmjøsa. Before it was removed, Vang Stave Church stood directly in front of the entrance to Vang Church, at right angles to it. Its history also includes a collection of wooden figures depicting the apostles and Jesus: according to tradition, they had been in Vang Stave Church before being returned to the church in 2012. The stave church’s former location and the figures’ return are two distinct details that make the church site appealing to visitors interested in cultural history.

The Vang Runestone is another historical testament. The stone bears a runic inscription, dates from the early 11th century, and is decorated in the Ringerike style. A visit to Vang therefore brings into focus not only the history of the church, but also an inscribed stone and its characteristic ornamentation. Visitors interested in early history and runes can make the Vang Runestone a cultural highlight of their trip.

Cycling Tours with Different Character

The Vang Filefjellvegen Gravel Circuit starts in the centre of Vang, heads towards Grindaheim, and returns along quiet forest and mountain-farm tracks. Along the way, it passes the historic Kongevegen over Filefjell. The circuit reaches an altitude of 720 metres and offers a panorama of Lake Vangsmjøsi and the peaks of Jotunheimen. The tour thus combines forest and mountain-farm tracks with expansive views of the lake and mountains; its named landmarks and scenery give it a different focus from the short family route.

The Family Cycling Tour in Vang goes through birch forest at the foot of Mount Grindane, above Grindaheim. It is a short circular route, rated easy, and suitable for families with children. The tour can be started or finished in Grindaheim. Families looking for a cycling idea for an outing together will find a compact route here with a clearly specified starting or finishing point.

When looking for a holiday rental in Vang, it is worth considering what you would like to focus on during your stay. If you want your trip to centre on church history and the Vang Runestone, these cultural attractions take centre stage.

Find more destinations on the pages for Ryfoss, Øye, and Tyinkrysset.

For the overview of the wider area, visit: Vang.