Stålheim: Old Roads and Cultural History

In Stålheim, old roads, impressive views and traces of travel come together. The Stalheimskleiva climbs from inner Nærøydalen to the farms of Brekke and Stalheim. There is also the hike to Nåli and the Stalheim Folkemuseum—different ways to discover the landscape and its history. Which of these interests you most may also influence your choice of a holiday apartment in Stålheim.

A road with history and views

The Stalheimskleiva was built between 1842 and 1846. Its spectacular section is 1.5 kilometres long and offers views of the Stalheimsfossen, the Sivlefossen and Nærøydalen. The Stalheim Hotel is at the top of the road. The road has been protected as a heritage site since 21 December 2009: it is part of Norway’s protection plan for roads, bridges and road-related cultural heritage.

The surrounding area also places this historic route in a broader landscape context. The Stalheimskleiva lies within the Nærøyfjord Landscape Protection Area. This is part of the West Norwegian Fjords, which were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005. Those interested in landscape and cultural history will find both closely connected to the route of an old road here—although the road itself should not be equated with the entire World Heritage area.

Nåli: a hike and traces of earlier settlement

Nåli is considered the classic hike from Stalheim. Along the way, there are views of the Stalheimsfossen and the Stalheimskleiva. The round trip takes a little over two hours; it is considered easy and involves about 250 metres of elevation gain. The trail is well marked. Information boards in Stalheim and Nåli explain the hike and the surrounding area.

Nåli lies halfway between Stalheim and Jordalen. The former settlement has been turned into a small rest area with several benches and tables. A guided hike from Stalheim to Nåli follows old paths and shares stories about traditional mountain farming and cultural heritage sites. For your stay, you can choose between a hike with the details outlined above and a guided introduction to local cultural history.

Folk museum and former travel stops

The Stalheim Folkemuseum is located in the Stalheim Hotel and is one of Norway’s largest private folk museums. The site includes 25 buildings, among them a guesthouse dating from the late 1750s, a villa from 1726, a schoolhouse and an exhibition hall. The museum also includes Stalheim’s first post station, dating from around 1750.

The exhibition hall spans two floors, each measuring 300 square metres. Its exhibits offer insights into various aspects of farm life, including hunting and fishing, baking and clothing. The museum usually has the same opening hours as the Stalheim Hotel, generally from early May to late September. The buildings can only be entered as part of a guided tour. If you are planning your stay around a museum visit, this guided-tour requirement is important to keep in mind.

From the outset, Stalheim was a post station on the postal route established in 1647. As a stopping place, it offered travellers food, drinks and a chance to rest. Around 1750, a coach station was added after traffic increased on the post road, also known as the “Bergen Royal Road”. The Kongeveien, the old post road from Stalheim to Haugsvik, is also part of this history. It crosses the stone arch bridge over the Giljarhuselva, which dates from around 1750. The Wilhelmshøi viewpoint takes its name from a memorial stone commemorating the visit of Kaiser Wilhelm II in the mid-1890s.

Getting here and other places

VY and NOR-WAY Bussekspress stop at the Stalheim junction on the E16. This stop is 800 metres from the Stalheim Hotel.

If you would like to discover other places for planning your trip: Gudvangen, Flåm, Undredal, Finse, Aurlandsvangen and Aurland.

Return to the main travel overview: Aurland.