Lesjaverk: Cultural Trail, Church and Ironworks

Lesjaverk is known for its church architecture, the history of the ironworks and nearby walking routes. These topics can be considered separately as you plan your trip: explore the church and its design, discover traces of the former ironworks along the Cultural Trail, or use the different routes to orient yourself during your time here.

Church and ironworks history

Lesjaverk Church is a timber long church built using the log construction method and has 120 seats. The present church was consecrated and put into use in 1964. Its interior was made by local craftspeople. The building’s design, date of construction and craftsmanship give it a distinct place alongside the industrial history of the village.

The 1.5-kilometre Lesjaverk Cultural Trail is a loop in the area around Lågen, Lesjaverk gard and Lesjaverk kyrkje. It provides information about the ironworks, which operated from 1659 to 1812, and various traces of its operations. The historic site includes the remains of a blast furnace dating from 1757. It is considered the only blast furnace in Norway from this period. The old main building is also part of the site: it is protected, and its oldest section dates from 1734.

Routes with different points of reference

The Rundtur-Lesjaverk hike starts at Lesjaverk railway station and heads towards Lesjaskogsvatnet. Remains of the old ironworks are located along the route; there are also opportunities to take a loop along a marked path. The route thus links a specific starting point with a direction towards the lake and further traces of the ironworks’ history.

Another option nearby is Gruvlia, five kilometres west of the centre of Lesjaverk along the E 136. The hiking path, marked with a sign for a sight, shows the production basis of the Lesja ironworks. In contrast with the Cultural Trail, whose loop is 1.5 kilometres long, the railway station is the relevant reference point for the Rundtur hike, while Gruvlia is identified by its location west of the centre.

Travel by the Rauma Line

Lesjaverk railway station is on the Rauma Line. Trains run from there towards Åndalsnes, Dombås, Oslo, Trondheim and Hamar. If you are planning to travel by train during your stay, check the timetable for your travel date. This will let you match the directions listed with your own connections without assuming a particular departure time.

More routes in the Lesja destination

In the wider Lesja destination, the Valldalsleden runs from Sylte in Valldal through Reinheimen National Park, across Lesja and on to Dombås. In the Lesja area, it passes through Brøstdalen behind Rånåkollen and continues to Einbu. This route covers a different geographical scale from the paths around Lesjaverk.

The nature and cultural trail at Dalsida is also in the Lesja destination: it is a 10-kilometre loop with 28 information boards about how people and animals have lived alongside their surroundings. Lesja lies between Reinheimen National Park to the west and Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park to the east. These routes and landscape features on a wider regional scale complement the local themes in Lesjaverk without equating them with the paths in the village.

Discover more destinations: Bjorli, Lesjaskog.

Back to the wider travel overview: Lesja.