Reinli: Stave Church and Stavedalen Park

The very well-preserved Reinli stave church, Stavedalen Park and local trails showcase different sides of Reinli: historic architecture, recreational facilities and routes through the landscape. The Reinli turløype is a hiking and cross-country skiing trail network; nearby, the challenging Bjødalsrunden leads from dense forest into open mountain terrain. You can tailor your stay to your interests in culture, park activities or outdoor pursuits.

Reinli stave church: architecture with a distinctive floor plan

Reinli stave church is a single-nave, long church. Behind the altar is the semicircular apse, which is the same width as the nave. It is considered the only stave church originally built with a nave and a chancel of equal width. The church probably dates from the second half of the 13th century.

Reinli stave church is open to visitors in summer. Check the current opening dates before travelling. Its design offers a tangible insight into the history of the village; the unusual equal width of the nave and chancel can be seen directly in the architecture.

Park activities and trails in Reinli

Stavedalen Park is a family park that is open year-round. Its facilities include a children’s area with a simulator room, Valdres’ first indoor play park, a Supertube ride and ski slopes with runs for beginners and advanced skiers. There is also electronic darts, air hockey and a café. Check the current opening hours before planning a visit.

The Reinli turløype is an established network of hiking and cross-country skiing trails. Reinli also has an orienteering map for orienteering, which is considered a smaller local recreational facility. As well as the park’s attractions, there are local facilities for hiking, skiing and orienteering.

The Bjødalsrunden starts at the car park by Matkroken in Reinli and loops back to Reinli. This challenging circular route has steep climbs and difficult or wet crossings. As the route gains elevation, the landscape changes from dense forest to open mountain terrain. Conditions at the crossings can vary.

More highlights from the wider destination of Sør-Aurdal

The wider destination of Sør-Aurdal also has attractions in its own right. Ørneflag is the highest peak in Sør-Aurdal municipality and the southernmost peak in Valdres. The hike starts at Storekrak and follows the DNT route. It is about eight kilometres each way; the ascent takes two to three hours and covers 350 metres of elevation gain.

Bagn Bygdesamling is an open-air museum on the E16, five kilometres south of Bagn in Sør-Aurdal municipality. The museum comprises 19 buildings. In addition to the historic buildings, there are permanent exhibitions, film screenings and an audio station.

In Hedalen in Sør-Aurdal, there are more than 120 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails through high-mountain terrain, with expansive views, large marshes and protected forest landscapes. These regional destinations complement Reinli’s local attractions with further opportunities for culture, hiking and cross-country skiing.

Choose your focus when looking for a holiday home

When looking for a holiday home in Reinli, your planned activities can help guide your choice: would you like to visit the stave church in summer, enjoy the park’s attractions or make time for challenging hikes? If you are also considering destinations elsewhere in Sør-Aurdal, include their locations separately in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Hedalen, Bagn.

Back to the wider travel guide: Sør-Aurdal.