Minnesund

In Minnesund, unusual discoveries meet the history of shipping on Lake Mjøsa. At Byrud Gård, you can search for emeralds; Mjøssamlingene tells the story of ships, log driving and floods. There are also trails with very different profiles, from the easily accessible Vormtråkk to sections of the long Mjøstråkk cycle route. This variety gives you concrete points to consider if you are thinking of Minnesund as a holiday destination while searching for a holiday apartment.

Search for emeralds and discover maritime history

The Smaragdgruvene at Byrud Gård are considered the only emerald mines in Northern Europe. Visitors can search for emeralds themselves and keep any stones they find. It is about a one-kilometre walk from the farm buildings to the Smaragdgruvene. This makes searching for the green stones an activity you can plan in its own right; it offers a different focus from a visit devoted mainly to the region’s maritime history.

Mjøssamlingene in Minnesund is the maritime museum of Lake Mjøsa. The museum includes a warehouse dating from 1801 and a captain’s house dating from 1847. Its exhibitions cover the history of flooding on Lake Mjøsa, log driving and boat traffic. Historic vessels can be seen both in operation and on display. The outdoor area is also suitable for exploring and relaxing. A modern slipway is designed specifically for Skibladner.

The excursion boat Skibladner was built in 1856 on the slipway at Mjøssamlingene in Minnesund. The area thus connects a specific chapter in maritime history with the museum and its historic buildings. If you are particularly interested in Mjøsa, ships and the lake’s earlier traffic, this subject offers a different way to experience Minnesund than searching for emeralds.

Trails for walks and cycling

Vormtråkk is an 8-to-9-kilometre trail through easy, accessible terrain. It is suitable for walkers, joggers and cyclists, as well as families with prams, roller skiers and wheelchair users. The trail crosses the heritage-listed Minnebrua bridge, built in 1880. In Minnesund, Vormtråkk connects with Mjøstråkk. The Minnesund Bridge also links the Vormtråkk and Mjøstråkk trails, making it easier to walk and cycle between Minnesund and Sundet.

Mjøstråkk is a 250-kilometre cycling route around Lake Mjøsa; one section runs between Hurdal and Minnesund. On this section, the route climbs through the forest for four kilometres to Tisjøen and then descends towards Mjøsa. From Byrudsvegen, it is another two flat kilometres to Minnesund on the Hurdal–Minnesund section. These details show that the route passes through varied terrain. By contrast, Vormtråkk runs through easy, accessible terrain and is 8 to 9 kilometres long. Vormtråkk leads to Minnesund, where it meets Mjøstråkk.

Minneåsen, with its varied hiking terrain, is also near Minnesund. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider whether you would rather focus on an accessible trail, a cycle ride with a climb followed by a descent, hiking terrain, or the subjects of emerald searching and maritime history. If you choose Minnesund as the location for your holiday apartment, this range of options provides a concrete framework for deciding what you want your stay to focus on, without implying anything about the features of any particular accommodation.

For more ideas about places to visit, you can also explore Eidsvoll, Råholt and Dal.

Back to the main travel overview: Eidsvoll.