Pilgrim's Route

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The Pilgrim's Route and old Kings' Road between Oslo and Trondheim in Norway passed up through the Gudbrandsdal and, leaving the valley of the Lågen at present day Dombås, went over the Dovre Mountains in the Dovre municipality into Oppdal municipality.

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[edit] The Route

Although the Pilgrim's Route & old Kings' Road over the Dovrefjell (Dovre Mountains) is only one of several old Kings' Roads in Norway, it is arguably the most famous. It connected the historically important cities of Oslo and Nidaros (now Trondheim) in Norway.

[edit] The Oldest Known Route

The oldest known route over the Dovrefjell passed up to the east of the later King's Way, leaving the valley of the Lågen at Tofte Kongsgården (King’s Farm) shortly past the Dovre church in the Dovre municipality (slightly below present day Dombås) in lower and a more easterly route which followed the drainage to the east of Tofte, and then proceeded over the Dovrefjell to join the route in Oppdal municipality.

[edit] The King's Way

The King's Way traveled up through the Gudbrandsdal and, leaving the valley of the Lågen at Tofte Kongsgården (King’s Farm) shortly past the Dovre church in the Dovre municipality (slightly below present day Dombås), went more directly over the Dovrefjell (Dovre Mountains) into Oppdal municipality.

[edit] The Way Today

The route fell from use with the arrival of the railroad, but can still be found as a footpath.

[edit] Shelter Along the Way

The heavy stream of pilgrims which yearly visited the shrine of St. Olaf in Trondheim prior to the Reformation resulted in erection of mountain stations where the pilgrims could find food and shelter. Stations were erected at Kongsvoll, Drivstuen, Fogstuen and later at Herdekinn.

[edit] Ancient Usage

There is clear evidence that this route saw heavy use in the early Norwegian Iron Age. Oppdal on the route was located at a crossroads for traffic from Trondheim, the traffic over the Dovrefjell mountain range, and the west coast. At Oppdal there are over 700 Viking era grave mounds. This indicates that the Viking trade routes passed through these valleys.

[edit] As The King's Road

It is approriately termed The King's Road. Virtually every king of Norway traveled this road. Those for whom we easily find records of their passage range from the first King of Norway through the last King able to pass that way before the road was completely replaced with modern rail and tarmac.

Harald Fairhair or Harold I (Norwegian:Harald Hårfagre), the founder and first king (872 – 930) over Norway, was the first king of all Norway who crossed the Dovrefjell on The King's Road. Harald Harfager's Saga describes an expedition he led up the Gudbrandsdal, and north over Dovrefjeld on his way to success at the battle of Orkadal. According to saga Harold married Svåse the daughter of the Finn at Tofte and they had four sons: Sigurd Rise, Halvtan Hålegg, Gudrød Ljome & Ragnvald Rettilbeins.

“ King Harald went far and wide through Gautland, and many were the battles he fought there on both sides of the river, and in general he was victorious. In one of these battles fell Hrane Gauzke; and then the king took his whole land north of the river and west of the Veneren, and also Vermaland. And after he turned back there-from, he set Duke Guthorm as chief to defend the country, and left a great force with him. King Harald himself went first to the Uplands, where he remained a while, and then proceeded northwards over the Dovrefjeld to Throndhjem, where he dwelt for a long time. Harald began to have children. By Asa he had four sons. The eldest was Guthorm. Halfdan the Black and Halfdan the White were twins. Sigfrod was the fourth. They were all brought up in Throndhjem with all honour. — Heimskringla, Harald Harfager's Saga, Chap. 18, by Snorri Sturluson, translation by Samuel Laing. ”

The Saga of Olaf Haraldson relates that in A.D. 1021 and again in A.D. 1024 King Olaf (1015–1028 ) passed north through the Gudbrandsdal valley to the Dovrefield, where he crossed to Nidaros and remained all winter.

Magnus Barefoot’s Saga describes King Haakon Magnusson’s death in the Dovrefjell in 1094. While crossing them he chased a ptarmigan until he feel sick and died, leaving Magnus King of Norway.

Øysten Magnusson was king of Norway 1103-1123. Øysten became king together with his brothers Sigurd and Olaf when his father Magnus Barefoot died in 1103.

Christian V (King of Denmark & Norway from 1670 to 1699) crossed the Dovrefjell on horseback in 1685.

Frederik IV (King of Denmark & Norway from 1699 to 1730) crossed the Dovrefjell in 1704 by cariole. The Norwegian cariole of the period held only one passenger, and the driver or attendant stood or sat behind on a narrow board above the axle.

Christian VI (King of Denmark & Norway from 1730 to 1746) crossed the Dovrefjell in a 4-horse carriage in 1733.

King Frederik V’s initials remained carved at Tofte from his passage through.

Christian Frederick passed this way, as did Karl Johan.

[edit] The Pilgrimage Period

The heavy stream of pilgrims which yearly visited the shrine of St. Olaf in Trondheim prior to the Reformation resulted in erection of mountain stations where the pilgrims could find food and shelter.

In speaking of this route, Gjerset quotes Peder Claussøn Friis as writing in the late 16th century, "But in the winter people of high estate, as well as members of the court, travel mostly this way, because however high and deep the snow may fall, it blows together on the high mountains and becomes so hard men and horses can walk on it. The bonder run over it on ski and snow-shoes. There are three stations: Drivstuen, Herdekinn and Fogstuen built on this same mountain in order that travelers may find lodging there. …at the stations there are implements and dry wood, so that the traveler may build themselves fire, and not suffer from cold, when they have to remain over night, and cannot find the way across the mountain."

[edit] Superseded by Rail

The Norwegian railway line Rørosbanen was opened October 13, 1877, connecting Hamar and Trondheim via the towns of Elverum and Røros. At this point the difficult route up through the Dovre lost most of its appeal.

The final coupe de grace for the Old King's Road came in September 17, 1921, when the Dovrebanen was completed. Starting at Dombås in Dovre municipality, it passes over the mountainous stretches of the Dovrefjell, before merging with the Rørosbanen again at Støren. It passes close to the Old King's Road's historic route, but is to the west along a route which, although longer, has a lesser grade, as is required for rail.

[edit] References

  • The History of the Norwegian People by Knut Gjerset, MacMillan, 1915
  • Langs den gamle Kongeveien ved Mathis Kværne, A/S Lund & Co.’s Forlag, 1965