{{Short description|Pilgrimage in Norway}} [[File:Nidarosdomen fra øst.jpg|right|thumb|[[Nidaros Cathedral]], the pilgrimage destination]] [[File:Pilgrimsleden Dovre.jpg|thumb|Route marker in [[Dovre Municipality]]]] [[File:Pilgrimsleden illustrerad av Nils Gunnar Svensson.JPG|thumb|Illustrated route of Pilegrimsleden by Nils Gunnar Svensson (2006)]] [[File:Pilgrimsleden milestone Hamar.jpg|right|thumb|Kilometer post for Pilegrimsleden in [[Hamar Municipality]]]]
The '''Pilgrim's Route''', ({{langx|no|Pilegrimsleden}}) also known as '''St. Olav's Way''' or the '''Old Kings' Road''', is a [[Christian pilgrimage|pilgrimage]] route to the [[Nidaros Cathedral]] in [[Trondheim (city)|Trondheim]], [[Norway]]. The cathedral is the site of the medieval tomb of [[St. Olav]], who brought [[Christianity]] to Norway.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trondheim, Norway |url=https://www.greenpilgrimageeurope.net/trondheim.html |publisher=European Green Pilgrimage Network |access-date=20 April 2026 |language=en}}</ref> The main route is approximately {{convert|640|km}} long. It starts in the ancient part of [[Oslo]] and heads north along the lake [[Mjøsa]], up the [[Gudbrandsdalen]] valley, over the [[Dovrefjell]] mountains, and down the through the [[Oppdal Municipality|Oppdal]] and [[Gauldalen]] valleys to end at the [[Nidaros Cathedral]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pilegrimsleden (Miljøstatus i Norge) |url=http://www.miljostatus.no/Tema/Kulturminner/Kulturmiljoer/Pilegrimsleden/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317032509/http://www.miljostatus.no/Tema/Kulturminner/Kulturmiljoer/Pilegrimsleden/ |archive-date=2009-03-17 |language=Norwegian}}</ref>
Nidaros Cathedral is a popular place of [[Lutheranism|Evangelical-Lutheran]] Christian pilgrimage, with several thousand pilgrims visiting it each year.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Vistad |first1=Odd Inge |last2=Øian |first2=Hogne |last3=Williams |first3=Daniel R. |last4=Stokowski |first4=Patricia |title=Long-distance hikers and their inner journeys: On motives and pilgrimage to Nidaros, Norway |journal=Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism |date=September 2020 |volume=31 |article-number=100326 |doi=10.1016/j.jort.2020.100326|hdl=11250/2684749 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] and the [[canonical hours|Divine Office]], according to the Evangelical-Lutheran tradition, are celebrated daily at Nidaros Cathedral, in addition to other [[church services|prayer services]] that are held there throughout the day for pilgrims.<ref name="Nidarosdomen2026">{{cite web |title=Services |url=https://www.nidarosdomen.no/en/menigheten/gudstjenesteliv |publisher=Nidarosdomen |access-date=20 April 2026 |language=en}}</ref> Those who complete the Pilgrim's Route receive a [[pilgrim badge|pilgrim certificate]] that is granted by Nidaros Cathedral.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ethnographic heritage on the ways to Trondheim |url=https://rurallure.eu/pilots/ethnographic-heritage-on-the-ways-to-trondheim/ |publisher=rurAllure |access-date=20 April 2026 |date=2026}}</ref>
==Route== Although the Pilgrim's Route over the [[Dovrefjell]] mountains is only one of several pilgrimage routes in Norway, it is arguably the most famous. It connected the historically important Norwegian cities of [[Oslo]] and Nidaros (now [[Trondheim (city)|Trondheim]]).<ref name="Kværne">{{Cite book |last=Kværne |first=Mathis |title=Langs den gamle kongeveien |publisher=A/S Lunde & co's Forlag |year=1965 |isbn=978-82-520-3066-2 |language=Norwegian}}</ref>
===Oldest known route=== The oldest known route over the Dovrefjell mountains which followed the [[Gudbrandsdalslågen|Lågen]] river valley at the ''Kongsgården'' ({{lit|King's Farm}}) at Tofte, just past [[Dovre Church]] in [[Dovre Municipality]] (slightly south of present-day village of [[Dombås]]). It followed a lower and more easterly route which followed the drainage to the east of Tofte, and then proceeded over the Dovrefjell mountains to join the route in [[Oppdal Municipality]].<ref name="Kværne" />
===King's Way=== The "King's Way" traveled up through the [[Gudbrandsdalen]] valley and left the [[Gudbrandsdalslågen|Lågen]] river valley at Tofte ''Kongsgården'' ({{lit|King's Farm}}) shortly past the [[Dovre Church]] in [[Dovre Municipality]] (just south of present-day village of [[Dombås]]). This route went more directly over the [[Dovrefjell]] mountains into [[Oppdal Municipality]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Gudbrandsdalen path |url=http://pilegrimsleden.no/en/map/gudbrandsdalsleden |access-date=April 1, 2018 |publisher=National Pilgrim Center}}</ref>
==Shelters== The historically heavy stream of [[pilgrim]]s which visited the shrine of St. Olaf in Trondheim annually prior to the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]] resulted in the erection of mountain stations ({{langx|no|fjellstue}}) where the pilgrims could find food and shelter. Stations were erected at [[Kongsvoll]], [[Drivstuen]], [[Fogstuen]], and later at [[Hjerkinn]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morten Olsen Haugen |title=Drivstua |url=https://snl.no/Drivstua |access-date=April 1, 2018 |publisher=Store norske leksikon}}</ref>
In speaking of the route, [[Knut 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'' [farmers] run over it on [[skis]] and [[Snow shoe|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."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gjerset |first=Knut |url=https://archive.org/details/historynorwegia01gjergoog |title=The History of the Norwegian People |publisher=MacMillan |year=1915 |isbn=978-0-217-93246-2 |author-link=Knut Gjerset}}</ref>
==History== There is clear evidence that this route had seen heavy use in the early Norwegian [[Iron Age]]. Oppdal on the route was located at a crossroads for traffic from Trondheim, traffic over the Dovrefjell mountain range, and the [[Sunndal Municipality|Sunndal]] on the west coast. At Oppdal there are over 700 [[Viking Age]] grave mounds indicating that Viking trade routes passed through these valleys.
It is appropriately 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 I of Norway|Harald Fairhair or Harold I]] was the first king of all Norway who crossed the Dovrefjell on The King's Road. ''Harald Hårfagres saga'' describes an expedition he led up the Gudbrandsdal, and north over Dovrefjell on his way to success at the [[Battle of Orkdal|battle of Orkadal]].
{{cquote|''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 honor''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sturluson |first=Snorri |title=[[Heimskringla]] |editor-last=Laing |editor-first=Samuel |editor-link=Samuel Laing (travel writer) |trans-title=Harald Harfager's Saga |chapter=Chapter 18 |author-link=Snorri Sturluson}}</ref>}}
===Kings=== *The [[Separate Saga of St. Olaf|Saga of St. Olaf]] says that in the year 1021 and again in 1024 [[Olaf II of Norway|King Olaf]] (1015–1028) travelled north through the [[Gudbrandsdalen]] valley to [[Dovrefjell]], where he crossed to [[Trondheim (city)|Nidaros]] and remained there all winter. *''Magnus Berrføtts saga'' describes King [[Haakon Toresfostre|Haakon Magnusson]]'s death in the Dovrefjell mountains in 1094. While crossing them he chased a [[rock ptarmigan]] until he got sick and died, leaving Magnus King of Norway. *[[Christian V of Denmark|Christian V]] (King of Denmark & Norway from 1670 to 1699) crossed the Dovrefjell mountains on horseback in 1685. *[[Frederick IV of Denmark|Frederik IV]] (King of Denmark & Norway from 1699 to 1730) crossed the Dovrefjell mountains in 1704 by [[cariole]]. The Norwegian cariole at that time only held one passenger, and the driver or attendant stood or sat behind on a narrow board above the axle. *[[Christian VI of Denmark|Christian VI]] (King of Denmark & Norway from 1730 to 1746) crossed the Dovrefjell mountains in a 4-horse carriage in 1733. An illustrated manuscript of King Christian and [[Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach|Queen Sophie Magdalene]]'s five-month-long journey through Norway is preserved in the [[Amalienborg Palace]] in [[Copenhagen]], of which a facsimile edition was published in 1992.<ref>Cf. the official website of the ''Amalienborgmuseet''.</ref> *[[Frederick V of Denmark|King Frederik V]]'s initials remained carved at [[Tofte, Norway|Tofte]] from his passage through. *[[Christian VIII of Denmark|Christian Frederick]] passed this way, as did [[Charles XIV John of Sweden|Karl Johan]].
===Railway lines=== The [[Norway|Norwegian]] [[railway]] line [[R��rosbanen]] was opened on 13 October 1877, connecting [[Hamar]] and [[Trondheim (city)|Trondheim]] via the towns of [[Elverum (town)|Elverum]] and [[Røros (town)|Røros]]. At this point, the difficult route up through the Dovrefjell mountains lost most of its appeal, compared with the relative ease of taking a train to Trondheim. The final end came on 17 September 1921, when the [[Dovre Line]] 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.
==Present-day route== Although the Pilgrim's Route fell into disuse with the arrival of the [[railroad]], it has recently been revived. Today it is promoted and is used by modern travelers as a long-distance hiking trail. There is a Pilgrim's Office in Oslo which gives advice to travelers and a Pilgrim Centre in [[Trondheim (city)|Trondheim]], under the [[aegis]] of the [[Nidaros Cathedral]], which awards certificates to successful travelers upon the completion of their journey.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pilgrimage on the St. Olav Ways |url=https://www.visitnorway.com/things-to-do/great-outdoors/hiking/st-olav-ways/ |access-date=April 1, 2018 |publisher=Innovation Norway}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Norway's Trondheim is Europe's new 'pilgrim hotspot' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-19049130 |access-date=April 1, 2018 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref>
==See also == *[[St. Olavsleden]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==Other sources== *Raju, Alison (2015) ''The Pilgrim Road to Trondheim: Oslo to Nidaros Cathedral'' (Trondheim: Museumsforlaget) {{ISBN|978-82-83-05004-2}} *Luthen, Eivind (1992) ''I pilegrimenes fotspor til Nidaros'' (Oslo: Cappelen) {{ISBN|978-82-02-13249-1}} *Kollandsrud, Mari (1997) ''Pilgrimsleden til Nidaros'' (Oslo: Gyldendal) {{ISBN|978-82-05-24786-4}} *Hansen, Knut Ingar (1997) ''Pilegrimsgang til Nidaros'' (Oslo: Gyldendal Tiden) {{ISBN|978-82-478-0028-7}} *Söderlund, Staffan; Marie Sjöström (2016) [http://www.vildmarksbiblioteket.se/produkter/pilgrimsvandring ''St Olavsleden: pilgrimsfärd från hav till hav, en guide''] (Växjö: Vildmarksbiblioteket) {{ISBN|978-91-864-3353-6}}
==External links== *[http://pilegrimsleden.no/en/ Pilegrimsleden -- official website] *[https://www.nidarosdomen.no/en/menigheten/gudstjenesteliv Nidaros Evangelical-Lutheran Cathedral] *[http://www.marknienstaedt.blogspot.no/ The Pilgrim Sly Treks Norway] Diary from a trek in 2009 *[http://www.ancientmusic.co.uk/pilgrim/Norway/olavs_way_hints.html Olav's way hints and tips] from Kate and Corwen at Ancient Music UK, with travelogue [http://www.ancientmusic.co.uk/pilgrim/Norway/olavs_way_blog_1.html page 1] [http://www.ancientmusic.co.uk/pilgrim/Norway/olavs_way_blog_2.html page 2] [http://www.ancientmusic.co.uk/pilgrim/Norway/olavs_way_blog_3.html page 3] [http://www.ancientmusic.co.uk/pilgrim/Norway/olavs_way_blog_4.html page 4] [http://www.ancientmusic.co.uk/pilgrim/Norway/olavs_way_blog_5.html page 5]
{{Walking routes}} [[Category:Pilgrimage routes]] [[Category:Christian pilgrimages]] [[Category:Lutheranism]] [[Category:Old roads of Norway]] [[Category:History of Trondheim]] [[Category:Hiking trails in Norway]]