Discover Kapp: Art, culture and hiking trails

Kapp brings together art, cultural history and outdoor trails. At the Peder Balke Centre, you can explore a listed building and the art of Peder Balke; Mjøsas Ark takes you far back into the past. There is also the Kapp Melkefabrikk, an approximately 4 km-long hiking trail and a pilgrimage route of around 14 km. You can therefore shape your stay around a range of interests: exhibitions and historical collections, outdoor activities, or a combination of both.

Art and history in distinctive settings

The Peder Balke Centre is housed in a listed 18th-century building. In 1834, Peder Balke created twelve murals in the ballroom. The Centre has an information centre dedicated to the artist. The historic building and Balke’s works give your visit a tangible connection to the area’s art history.

During the summer season, the Peder Balke Centre hosts changing exhibitions of contemporary art. This brings together different artistic references: the murals from 1834 and rotating contemporary art exhibitions during the summer season. If you are interested in art, you can take these highlights into account when planning your trip.

Mjøsas Ark offers a journey through 8,000 years of history. On display are genuine Viking swords and authentic rock carvings. Animal depictions featuring motifs found on the shore at Glemmestad have also been transferred to Mjøsas Ark at Kapp Melkefabrikk. The various objects give your visit a broad historical scope, so you do not need to be interested in art alone to enjoy it.

Mjøsas Ark’s regular opening period follows the primary school summer holidays and runs from mid-June to mid-August. Outside this period, guided tours for small and large groups can be booked in advance. These dates are especially important if you are planning to make a visit to the site a fixed part of your trip.

Kapp Melkefabrikk and its surroundings have a long history, have been restored and are now used as cultural spaces. The ship Skibladner calls at Kapp Melkefabrikk. Another artistic work is the sculpture “Protese og visir”: it uses stones from the shores of Lake Mjøsa and evokes ideas of repair or protection.

Hiking trails, water and activities

Strandvegen Kapp is an approximately 4 km-long hiking trail. Along the way, you will pass several cultural venues, playgrounds, swimming spots and outdoor artworks. From there, you can continue from the Peder Balke Centre to the Dagsturhytta at Billerudstranda. The trail therefore combines different kinds of experiences, from outdoor art to playgrounds and swimming spots.

A longer route option is the pilgrimage trail from Smørvika in Kapp to Steinsjå, which is approximately 14 km long. Friskus IL also offers water activities for children and adults. For planning a trip with children, the playgrounds along Strandvegen are another useful point of reference.

Places to eat and planning the right kind of trip

At the Peder Balke Centre, Café Gromt serves hot or cold lunches, coffee and homemade cake. The café also offers catering. So, alongside art and culture, Kapp’s offerings include a place to eat.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Kapp, you can start by considering what you want your trip to focus on: art and historical collections, hiking trails and water activities, or a combination of these interests. The information about the area gives you specific options without requiring you to limit yourself to just one kind of holiday activity.

More places to discover: Sletta, Skreia and Lena.

For the broader travel overview: Østre Toten.