Discover Viking history, hiking trails, ancient rock carvings and one of the world’s most beautiful driving routes in Norway’s Innherred region.
Steinkjer is city situated amid the spectacular scenery of the Nord-Trøndelag county. It sits at the mouth of the Byaelva River and on the shores of Beitstad Fjord, an extension of the larger Trondheim Fjord. Established as a city in 1857, Steinkjer’s roots date back the Viking era and it was the site of the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030. Visit historical sites and relish in outdoor adventures in the unblemished countryside.
Pick up maps and information at Steinkjer Tourist Office. Steinkjer Church has an unconventional design that features cement, glass and wood aspects plus a standalone bell tower. Navigate your way around the Trifolium Labyrinth, which consists of 4,265 feet (1,300 metres) of winding hedges. Steinkjer Marina affords uninterrupted views of the deep-blue water of Beitstad Fjord.
At the Egge Museum you can step back in time to the Iron Age via art displays, agricultural exhibits and recreated farm houses. Traces of prehistoric civilizations lay scattered around the city. Marvel at the 6,000-year-old Bølarein petroglyphs and the rock paintings of Bardal. Go to Byafossen to see the Helgefeltet Stone Age burial mounds.
Get active by hiking to picnic grounds and scenic lookouts at Oftenåsen, Jønnemsklumpenand Persgårdshalla. Bike around Borgen Fjord and to Stiklestad, home of The Medieval Farm. In winter, Steinkjer Skiklubb is the place to be for cross-country and downhill skiing.
Enjoy cultural experiences at annual festivals. Watch local and international musicians at June’s Steinkjerfestivalen. July’s Viking Festival celebrates Viking customs and the events of the Battle of Stiklestad.
Rent a car and cruise along Kystriksveien, a 404-mile (650-kilometre) long road that passes coastal areas from the city to Bødo. National Geographic listed it in its book The World’s Most Scenic Drives: 101 Spectacular Trips.
Reach Steinkjer by taking a train from Oslo and Trondheim or fly to Trondheim Airport and drive from there. Come and see for yourself why the city bills itself as being åpen, lys og glad (welcoming, bright and happy).
