Discover Viggja

Viggja combines its location on the Trondheimsfjord with tangible traces of its history. These include historic church sites and a memorial stone; the 2025 edition of Setervegløpet and the ski lodge in Seljan also offer insights into other aspects of the area. You can plan your stay around cultural history, the landscape, or an event.

Viggja’s location and history

Viggja lies on the Trondheimsfjord between Gaulosen and the Orkdalsfjord. This geographical and strategic location was significant to Viggja’s position in the Middle Ages. It provides an important context for the historic sites and monuments that shape Viggja.

The old church site in Viggja is designated as an automatically protected cultural heritage site. The so-called Y-kirka, built in 1667, stood on the site of Viggja’s last church. The site is thought to have been inhabited as early as the 12th century. The dates refer to different claims: 1667 is the year the church was built, while the earlier settlement of the site remains a supposition.

A memorial stone in Viggja commemorates the Battle of Vigg in 1095; it was erected on 17 May 1896. Viggjaøra is also one of the area’s important cultural heritage themes. The ensemble comprises buildings, some of which are cultural heritage sites in their own right. At the same time, the coherent built environment is considered particularly worthy of protection. This means that individual historic buildings and their shared architectural context are both recognised.

Setervegløpet and the ski lodge in Seljan

The 2025 Setervegløpet ran from Seljan in Viggja to Lyngstua in Børsa, following old paths between the mountain farms. The event offered the option of running in the competition class or covering the route between the mountain farms from Seljan to Børsa at your own pace. The two formats differ in whether you choose the competition class or your own pace.

For the 2022 edition, the surface consisted of gravel road, ski trail, and paths of varying quality. These surface details refer to that edition of Setervegløpet. In Seljan, the ski lodge can be rented for small and large events. If you are considering renting the lodge for this purpose, arrange the details directly before you arrive.

More to explore in the wider Skaun destination

In the wider Skaun destination, the Grønneset outdoor recreation area is located by Lake Ånøya. Forests and meadows characterise the natural surroundings described there. Activities include swimming, walking, fishing, ball games, playing, and barbecuing. This offers a different focus from Viggja’s historic sites: at Grønneset, nature and outdoor recreation take centre stage.

Also in Skaun, Buvikfjæra is a relatively intact delta and foreshore area with a high density of birds. It is important for birds that overwinter there and serves as a stopover during the spring and autumn migrations. The annual cycle is a helpful guide here: the area is important to birds both during winter and at both migration times.

The cultural history of the wider Skaun destination includes the medieval stone church at Venn, dating from around 1180. The pilgrimage route through Skaun is 26 kilometres long. The Gudbrandsdalsleden through Skaun is marked with wooden posts, enamel signs, and pilgrim symbols. These route details offer a distinct way to explore Skaun, while Viggja’s church sites, memorial stone, and heritage ensemble provide a local focus.

Discover more destinations: Børsa, Buvika and Skaun.

Go to the wider travel overview: Skaun.