Stadsbygd between coastal culture and ancient history

Stadsbygd invites you to discover Norwegian coastal culture and a long history in one place. The Museet Kystens Arv explores life along the coast of central Norway and traditional boats; elsewhere, rock carvings and burial mounds recall the area’s past. A walking section of the Kystpilegrimsleia is another option to consider when planning your stay.

Coastal culture and traditional boatbuilding

The Museet Kystens Arv features exhibitions on the coastal culture of central Norway and the use of traditional clinker-built boats. Its collection includes clinker-built square-rigged boats and is one of the largest collections of its kind in Norway. Craftspeople work on traditional boatbuilding at the museum, helping to preserve the craft. In Stadsbygd, then, the focus is not only on exhibits, but also on the work of boatbuilding itself.

The museum faces south, right on the waterfront. Stadsbygd Prestegård is immediately next door. For anyone interested in coastal history and boatbuilding, it offers a clear focus for a stay. The museum also offers activities for the whole family. If you’re travelling with children, this is a practical way to plan a cultural activity to enjoy together.

Rock carvings and burial mounds

Another trace of the past can be found at the Helleristningene på Stykket: five elk figures were carved into a rock face about 6,000 years ago. Visitors are welcome to see the rock carvings on site. The images offer insights into the ideas, social structures, rituals and beliefs of people around 6,000 years ago. This visit is especially suited to travellers interested in early visual records and the lives of past societies.

Burial mounds are also part of the area’s history. Two marked burial mounds still remain in the fields of the Rein farm. In 1773, historian Gerhard Schøning counted a total of 78 burial mounds along the fjord in Stadbygda. This historical figure refers to his count along the fjord; the two marked mounds at Rein farm are a separate group that remains today.

Church, manor and walking route

Stadsbygd kirke was consecrated in 1842. It was built beside the previous church, which burned down in 1837. Near the museum stands Stadsbygd Prestegård, a well-preserved, listed manor with buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries at the mouth of the Prestelva. The manor includes an impressive listed building dating from 1769. The church and manor add architectural history and historic buildings to the area’s story.

If you’d also like to explore on foot, you can consider including the walking section of the Kystpilegrimsleia in your plans. It runs from Stadsbygd Prestegård through Berga to the Rørvik ferry terminal. From there, a ferry connects to Flakk, outside Trondheim. These landmarks give the route a defined course; no information on walking time or distance is provided.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Stadsbygd, you can consider which experiences matter most for your trip: coastal culture and boatbuilding, prehistoric traces and historic buildings, or the walking route and ferry connection. This lets you plan your stay around the themes that interest you most, without combining the different sights into a single excursion.

More places

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Back to the main travel overview: Rissa.