Located where the Verdalselva River meets the Trondheimsfjord, Verdalsøra is a small administrative hub in the Norwegian county of Trøndelag. It’s home to a 1960s-built chapel and a bustling shipyard while it’s also on the doorstep of one of Norway’s most significant battle sites.
Things to do in Verdalsøra
A short drive east of Verdalsøra is the Stiklestad Kirke, a Romanesque-style stone church that was originally founded in 1180. It was constructed under the direction of Archbishop Øystein Erlendsson and marks the site of the Battle of Stiklestad where Olaf II Haraldsson was killed. The church altar is said to house the stone against which the king leaned during his final moments.
Nearby is the Stiklestad National Cultural Centre, which comprises around 30 buildings that date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Admire the traditional Trønder house before wandering through the food storage building and the recreated general store. During the summer months and the Christmas holiday season, the open-air museum comes to life with artisan demonstrations and folk music performances.
Sprawling north-east of Verdalsøra is Leksdalsvatnet, which is one of the most important bodies of freshwater in Central Norway. It provides a habitat and nesting site for moulting ducks and welcomes hundreds of whooper swans each spring. A scenic cycling route hugs the shores of Leksdalsvatnet and connects to Skeifeltet, one of the largest ancient burial grounds in the Trøndelag region.
Getting around Verdalsøra
Verdalsøra is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Trondheim and one hour from Trondheim Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to the Verdal railway station while the centre of Verdalsøra is small enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the region.