Meldal: Cultural History and Hiking Trails

Discover Meldal through its architectural history and various hiking trails. The Meldal bygdemuseum shows how people in the region lived and worked; trails such as the Pilegrimsleia lead through old Meldal. You can tailor your stay to focus on historical insights, outdoor activity or a mix of both.

Architecture and Everyday Life at the Meldal bygdemuseum

The Meldal bygdemuseum includes 22 historically significant buildings. The exhibition focuses on local building traditions, living conditions and working practices from the 17th century to the First World War. Rather than focusing on a single building, the museum offers insights into different aspects of everyday life in the past. Anyone interested in regional history will find concrete topics here, from housing to work.

The buildings include a Trønderlån, an Årestue and mountain pasture houses. A Husmannsplass dating from 1920 is also part of the collection. These different types of buildings make up the architectural diversity of the museum. A cultural history trail with app support complements the visit. The museum is open to visitors year-round.

The museum is located in Bergslia, on the hillside above the centre of Meldal. This location helps you place the museum within the townscape: it is on the hillside, not in the town centre. If you are planning your trip around cultural discoveries, the museum is a notable place to visit in Meldal.

Meldal prestegård and its history

Meldal prestegård also tells the story of a defining period in the area’s history. During the tenure of Provost Jacob von der Lippe Parelius, from 1793 to 1818, the prestegård was developed into a representative estate with a summerhouse, Baroque garden and avenues. Meldal prestegård was given protected status in 1991. The dates refer to different events: the tenure marks the period of development, while 1991 is the year it was given protected status.

One vivid historical detail is the Brurasteinen in front of the prestegård’s cellar. A bride who had arrived on horseback would dismount there before preparing for the wedding ceremony in the bridal chamber. The stone thus points to a specific part of the wedding ritual and adds an insight into customs of the time to the story of the buildings.

The prestegård garden is now maintained by volunteers in Meldal. It is open to visitors to walk around and explore. Meldal prestegård is located on the Gudbrandsdalsleden.

Hiking trails in and around Meldal

If you prefer to explore on foot, you can take a hiking trail from Meldal sentrum along the eastern side of the Orkla. Another option is the Pilegrimsleia, which runs through old Meldal and is 25.5 kilometres long. The stated distance refers to the Pilegrimsleia; no distance is given for the trail along the Orkla. These are two different options: the Pilegrimsleia runs through old Meldal, while the hiking trail along the eastern side of the Orkla starts from the town centre.

Meldal Church is also part of the area’s architectural history. It was completed in 1988 and built on the same site as the church dating from 1651. If you would like to accommodate different interests when planning your trip, you can consider cultural history and hiking as separate focuses, or include both in your stay. Choose your holiday rental in Meldal based on the kind of days you have in mind: exploring historic buildings and local history, or spending more time on hiking trails.

Other places you can discover on this page: Løkken Verk, Drogsetmoen, Storås.

Go to the main travel overview: Meldal.