Nestled at the northern end of the Gudbrand Valley, Høvringen is a small village that serves as the main entrance to Norway’s first national park, Rondane. It played a central role in the local legend, Peer Gynt, as recorded by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, with the fairytale later transformed into a famous play by Henrik Ibsen.
Follow one of the designated hiking trails winding through Rondane National Park and take in some of its 10 peaks that soar above 2,000 metres in height. Around 120 kilometres of cross-country skiing trails also traverse the park and the natural setting provides an important habitat for herds of wild reindeer.
A short drive from Høvringen is the Jørundgard Medieval Centre, which was created for the 1994 film “Kransen” based on the novel by Norwegian author Sigrid Undset. You can now wander between its 16 recreated buildings, including a wooden stave church, with props from the film and period furnishings exhibited inside.
Getting there
Høvringen is around 3.5 hours’ drive from both Trondheim and Oslo Airport and Oslo is four hours away. Buses connect the main highway and Høvringen while having your own car gives you greater freedom to explore Rondane National Park.