Degernes: Cultural History and Activities

Degernes combines cultural history with opportunities for outdoor activities. Degernes Church and Sandbekk Mill tell the stories of different historical periods; there are also marked trails, exercise stations, a pump track and a bathing area. If you’re looking for a hotel here, these different attractions can guide your trip planning—from church and industrial history to outdoor activities.

Church and Mill History

Today’s Degernes Church is a brick church dating from 1862. It was built after the original medieval church on this site was demolished. The church’s furnishings also hold traces of earlier history: the altarpiece dates from around 1700. The pulpit, dating from 1554, comes from Degernes Church and is Norway’s oldest surviving pulpit. It is now housed at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History.

Sandbekk Mill showcases another aspect of the cultural heritage. The first mill on this site was a watermill in 1650; today’s Sandbekk Mill was built in 1904 and has been restored. It is the last of its kind in the county and the only one with an overshot waterwheel. Its outer diameter is 430 cm. At this same mill site, the early history of watermills and the technical features of the present mill stand side by side.

For directions to the parking area: it is about 200 metres along Hivannveien from the junction with FV 665. Check the signs on site when planning your approach.

Outdoor Activities and Trails

Helsetrimløypa has a range of exercise and strength-training stations. Signs at each station explain how to use them. The pump track behind Degerneshallen at Idrettsveien 8 features challenging turns. A bench provides a place to rest between laps. The two facilities offer different experiences: you can focus on individual exercise stations or on laps around the pump track.

Høgnipen is a hiking area located mostly in southern Degernes. A marked trail leads to a Stone Age settlement and an observation tower. The tower on Høgnipa is 5.5 metres high. Archaeological sites also form part of the area’s character: Rørmyr I and II and Mellommyr near Høgnipen are considered some of the oldest sites of their kind in Norway.

To reach Høgnipen, travel from Rakkestad along FV 111 towards Sarpsborg, then follow the Historica signs to Bredholt. Check the signs on site before setting off.

Holtetjern is a bathing area in southern Degernes. A signposted turnoff leads from FV 220 along a gravel road to a large parking area. This makes it different from the trails and exercise facilities: Holtetjern is a place for swimming, while Høgnipen is associated with hiking trails and archaeological sites.

For the wider travel overview: Rakkestad.