Seim: Royal History and Pilgrim Route

Seim is shaped by Kongshaugen, the history of a medieval church site and stories about early Norwegian kings. A proposed pilgrim route also leads here by bus and then on foot. If you are looking for a historical focus for your holiday, Seim offers several specific points of interest: a burial mound, different church sites and a connection to pilgrimages.

Kongshaugen and the royal story

Kongshaugen in Seim is a historic burial mound, also called Håkonshaugen. It is associated with Håkon the Good. According to the sagas, Håkon was buried in Seim; he ruled from 933 to 960. This connection is therefore rooted in a specific tradition, making the name of the burial mound a distinctive way into early Norwegian history. If you are travelling with children and enjoy bringing historical stories into your holiday, this tradition offers a concrete starting point for talking about the era of the early kings.

Two church sites and their history

The medieval church and cemetery of Seim were located by the older Hoftun farm, on a slope overlooking the Seimsfjord. The medieval church was probably a stave church. The present-day church stands near the so-called Kongshaugen, on the boundary between the Seim and Hopland farms. Its site is about 500 metres north of the older church site. This makes it possible to distinguish between medieval church history and the present-day church building without confusing the two locations.

The present-day church of Seim is a three-nave long church made of log timber, dating from 1878. A baptismal font basin, typologically dated to the 12th century, has also been preserved at the church site in Seim. The church building from 1878 and the basin with its typological dating belong to different periods. Those interested in architectural styles and medieval church history will therefore find more here than a single historical story: the history of the site includes both the probably older stave church and the later church building, as well as the surviving piece of baptismal font.

Finding your way along the pilgrim route

A proposed pilgrim route goes by bus from Knarvik to Vatne and then on foot to Seim. From the key location, the proposed route follows the road into the centre of Seim. A pilgrim stamp is in the mailbox just behind the gate at Kongshaugen. These details provide specific stops along the pilgrim route: a bus leg, the onward walk, directions along the road into the village centre and the location of the stamp. The walking time and distance are not specified; for your own day planning, use the actual stages of your trip as a guide.

Seim as a destination for history enthusiasts

The name Sæheim (Seim) also points to the site’s historical importance: Sæheim is mentioned as one of Harald Hårfagre’s royal estates, and several of the first Norwegian kings stayed here. Together with the tradition about Håkon the Good, the burial mound and the church sites, this creates a historical focus that goes beyond a single attraction. If you are choosing between destinations where culture and history are to take centre stage, these topics may make Seim a good choice. You can use the holiday apartment search to decide whether you would like to combine your stay with this local history and the proposed pilgrim route.

If you would like to consider other places: Myking, Hjelmås, Hundvin, Ostereidet, Eikangervåg, Vikanes, Lindås and Vågseidet.

Back to the main travel overview: Lindås.