Gloppen: Churches, Parsonage and Trails

In Gloppen, travel themes range from historic churches and parsonage buildings to trails, museums and regional traditions. The sections below distinguish the buildings in Vereide from other destinations in the wider destination of Gloppen. This can help you decide whether to focus your stay more on culture, outdoor activities or the region’s annual events.

Churches and Parsonage in Vereide

Vereide Church is the main church of the Gloppen parish and a stone building dating from 1200. As a building from before 1650, it is automatically protected as a heritage site. Gimmestad gamle kyrkje adds a church of a different construction type in the wider destination of Gloppen: it is made of wood and dates from 1692. For the period from 1650 to 1850, it is automatically classified as worthy of protection. The construction and dates therefore provide a concrete comparison between two churches in Gloppen.

Vereide parsonage also adds to the picture of historic buildings. Its main building dates from 1782 and has a floor area of about 270 square metres. The protected buildings at the parsonage include a brewhouse, an earth cellar and two mill houses. Several of the parsonage buildings still stand and are protected. The details about the main building and the other building types offer different points of reference for understanding the parsonage as part of the historic building stock.

Culture in the Wider Destination of Gloppen

For more historical themes, look beyond Vereide to the wider destination of Gloppen. The Nordfjord Folkemuseum in Sandane, Gloppen, includes an open-air museum with 44 historic buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Another part of the cultural heritage is the Holvikejekta: it is Norway’s only surviving clinker-built jekt ship from the 19th century. The two examples highlight different things—the museum showcases historic buildings, while the Holvikejekta represents a surviving vessel.

Gloppen Sculpture Park, also called Kleppeparken, in Byrkjelo features sculptures by Audun Hugleiksson and Oddvar Torsheim, among others. Along with the churches and the parsonage, the sculpture park broadens the range of cultural themes you can consider when planning your trip.

Trails and Activities

Activities in the wider destination of Gloppen also vary in type and scale. Nordfjord stisenter in Vereide has two kilometres of trails with rollers and steep banked turns, as well as a blue flow trail suitable for all users. There is also a network of cycling trails in the forest between Vereide and Bolberg for beginners and experienced mountain bikers alike. At Trivselsskogen, you’ll find a variety of hiking routes and activities for the whole family.

A longer hike is the Nordfjordryggen route: it is 22.4 kilometres long and takes about seven hours. It passes through Rypeskaret, Bjørndalen and Trivselsskogen, and ends in the centre of Sandane. This gives you a very different point of reference from the two kilometres of trails at Nordfjord stisenter: both a longer distance and an approximate duration are provided for the Nordfjordryggen route. Fosseteateret also offers a close-up view of Holvikfossen. In summer, paddling on the Gloppenfjord around Sandane is one of the activities on offer.

Summer Pasture, Landscape and Autumn in Gloppen

Gloppestadstøylen is a working summer farm in Gloppen. Goats graze freely there, and milking takes place in communal barns. This living agricultural tradition differs from the buildings, museums and trails, and adds another possible focus for a stay.

The time of year can also play a role in planning your trip: Matamål is a food festival held every autumn in Gloppen, with courses, events and a market day. If you want to plan your trip around it, check the specific event dates in advance. For regional context, Gloppen municipality is centrally located in Nordfjord in Vestland and has road connections in all directions.

When choosing a hotel, you can first consider which of these themes matter for your trip: historic buildings, a museum, hiking and cycling, activities on the fjord or regional traditions. The destinations and activities are part of the wider destination of Gloppen; the information about the church and parsonage in Vereide refers to those buildings.

Discover more destinations: Sandane, Byrkjelo, Hyen, Vereide, Breim, Hestenesøyra

Go to the wider travel overview: Gloppen.