Varteig – Ingaleden and cultural history

Varteig offers several points of interest to help you plan your trip: Ingaleden along the Glomma and cultural history surrounding the church, museum and Inga. The route and local attractions offer different insights into the area.

Ingaleden: route and terrain

The 33-kilometre Ingaleden is marked with blue-and-white metal plaques. It starts at the Inga monument by the community hall and runs to Folkenborg. In Varteig, the route passes through hilly, partly rugged terrain along the Glomma. The 33 kilometres refer to the total length of Ingaleden, not just the section in Varteig.

The route can also be cycled. However, on three sections in Varteig, with a combined length of about 1.5 kilometres, you will need to push your bicycle. If you are planning to cycle the route, this local feature is important for planning your stages: the sections where you must push your bicycle total about 1.5 kilometres, while the stated overall distance covers the entire Ingaleden.

Church, museum and Inga

The Varteig local history museum is housed in the old main building on the Brunsby farm, built in 1812. The museum’s objects include items related to agriculture and farm work. It also displays equipment used for timber rafting, including objects from the Furuholmen boom. The collection therefore covers both agricultural work and timber rafting.

Varteig Church was consecrated by Provost Bassøe on 25 November 1859. A memorial stone to Inga of Varteig, the mother of Håkon Håkonsson, stands right next to the community hall. Ingaleden also starts by the community hall, at the Inga monument.

More to explore in the wider destination of Sarpsborg

In the wider destination of Sarpsborg, archaeological sites and museums offer a range of historical highlights. Hafslund Park features burial mounds from the Iron Age and rock carvings that are more than 3,000 years old; the Borgleden pilgrimage route passes through the park. The Borgarsyssel Museum is the regional museum of Østfold County and focuses on a broad range of the region’s cultural heritage. Its ruins park contains the remains of King Øystein’s St. Nicholas Church, dating from around 1115.

You can find more archaeological sites in the wider destination of Sarpsborg at Opstadfeltet and by the Bjørnstadskipet. Opstadfeltet includes around 150 burial sites, standing stones and four stone circles; traces of old roads are also visible. Bjørnstadskipet is a 4.4-metre-long rock carving in the shape of a ship, with 48 crew lines. The historical sites differ in the forms that have been preserved, from burial sites and stone circles to a figurative rock carving.

Storedal Cultural Centre is in the wider destination of Sarpsborg, in the Storedal cultural landscape in Skjeberg and in a scenic hiking area. Its features include the sound sculpture “Ode to the Light” by Arnold Haukeland, with music by Arne Nordheim, an outdoor amphitheatre and a sensory garden with more than 200 plants. These different elements give the cultural centre its distinctive focus on sound, gardens and outdoor spaces.

The wider destination of Sarpsborg also has recreational areas. Landeparken by Tunevannet is a popular recreational area all year round, with bathing spots and plenty of play equipment. Tunevannet also has a family-friendly beach with a diving tower, swimming jetty, barbecue facilities, toilets and a kiosk. Municipal facilities may change; check the latest information before visiting.

Kulåsparken is a central recreation area in Sarpsborg, with paths, playgrounds and a large amphitheatre for concerts and other events. The events programme may change. For seasonal activities, Kjerringåsen Alpine Centre has five downhill runs and a vertical drop of 130 metres; snow conditions and daily operations vary by season.

Discover more destinations: Ise, Sarpsborg, Skjeberg.

Back to the wider travel guide: Sarpsborg.