Hol: Local History and Cultural Sites of the Municipality

Hol can be considered on two levels when planning your trip. In Hol centre, the Hol local archives share a building with the Hol library branch. The churches, museum farms and other cultural attractions described below belong to the wider destination of Hol, meaning the municipality as a whole. This helps you distinguish the location of your accommodation from the broader range of destinations for your trip.

Hol centre and the history of the municipality

The building housing the Hol local archives was built in 1988. In Hol centre, it shares the premises with the Hol library branch.

Hol gamle kyrkje is located by Holsfjorden in the municipality of Hol. The wooden church was built in 1200 and has a cruciform floor plan. An original stave-church section dating from around 1200 remains part of the building. Hol gamle kyrkje is considered the oldest church in Hol and was first mentioned in writing in 1328. The building has 180 seats and is automatically protected as a heritage building dating from before 1650.

Tingstugu is near the church; Prestestugu is next to Tingstugu and also close to Hol gamle kyrkje. Tingstugu was built around 1815. People could warm themselves there before and after services, and young people danced there at weddings. Prestestugu dates from 1844. The two buildings add historical context to the church’s history, though their former uses should not be confused with events held there today.

The cemetery at Hol gamle kyrkjegard also offers cultural-historical details: several grave monuments depict Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, known as Nike in Greek mythology. The cemetery also has flat obelisks. The Romans also used this type of obelisk as a symbol of victory, a boundary marker and a gravestone; these historical functions do not automatically describe the meaning of each individual obelisk on site.

Museums and events in the municipality of Hol

Hol Bygdemuseum in Hagafoss is arranged as an old farm from Hol, with a crofter’s holding and a mountain farm. It was founded on 8 November 1914 and comprises 17 buildings. Alongside church architecture, the municipality’s farming history is also in focus.

Every summer, Hol Bygdemuseum hosts Holsdagen. The event shows what an old farm wedding in Øvre Hallingdal might have looked like in the 19th century. The museum also holds an annual Viking Day. If you would like to plan your trip around either event, check the current event dates in advance.

Hol gamle kyrkje is used for services and other events during the summer season. In summer, Hallingdal Museum/Buskerudmuseene is responsible for guided tours of the church. If a guided tour is important to your plans, check the current arrangements before travelling.

The wider destination of Hol: culture and activities

The Fekjo Cultural Heritage Park is located in the wider destination of Hol. It has Viking Age burial mounds dating back to the 9th century; most of the graves investigated were women’s graves. The park also includes seven charcoal kilns and an iron-production site. Landscape art by Gunnveig Nerol and Terje Isungset complements the archaeological traces with contemporary art.

Ustedalsfjorden Rundt is a combined hiking trail and ski trail about twelve kilometres long. This is a guideline for planning activities; the surface and seasonal conditions may vary. Check conditions in advance for your planned activity.

Dagali Museum, in the wider destination of Hol, displays buildings and objects from Dagali, Skurdalen, Tunhovd and Uvdal. It is arranged as an old farm with various buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Every summer, art exhibitions by established artists are held in Kjønås-stabburet. The museum day during Dagali Days in mid-July is a tradition featuring an outdoor service, refreshments, open houses and various activities. You can check the programme and exact dates before your trip.

The most common ways to travel to the wider destination of Hol are by train from Oslo or Bergen, as well as by bus and car. Haugastøl station is a starting point for the Rallarvegen; it sees a great deal of bicycle traffic in summer. The cycle route is 82 kilometres long in total, starting in Haugastøl, following the Bergen Railway via Finse, Hallingskeid and Myrdal, and ending in Flåm. Check seasonal conditions before setting out on a cycling trip.

In Dagali, there are rafting trips for children aged eight and over that are considered family-friendly, as well as more challenging options. If rafting is an option for your trip, check age limits and requirements with the provider before booking.

Discover more destinations: Geilo, Haugastøl, Hovet, Eggjareir, Ustaoset, Dagali.

Go to the wider travel overview: Hol.