Miland on the Måna: Pilgrim Trail and Railway History

Miland lies in Vestfjorddalen on the north bank of the Måna, two kilometres upstream from where the river flows into Lake Tinn. The river, agriculture and transport history are among the different themes through which to discover the village. When choosing a holiday apartment, this offers a clear way to decide based on your interests: would you like to explore the landscape and historic farms, follow a pilgrim stage or learn more about the former Rjukan Railway? Miland connects these local stories with a specific setting by the river.

Bridge and Rjukan Railway

Miland Bridge was built in 1909, is 41.4 metres long and is a riveted steel truss bridge. It crosses the Måna. Anyone interested in structures will find a precise insight into its construction here: the bridge is a steel truss whose components are joined by rivets. Its year of construction and dimensions give the structure its own place in the village’s history, while the river determines its geographical setting.

The Rjukan Railway is also part of Miland’s past. The village had a railway station; passenger services were discontinued in 1970. The railway stop in Miland had a building designed by the architect Thvorld Astrup. The former station building was demolished in 1989. The railway is therefore a historical subject in the village today, not a current way to arrive. Anyone interested in transport history can view the former stop and the bridge as distinct aspects of local architectural history.

Wind and agricultural traces

An incident on the railway line in 1926 illustrates the role played by strong gusts of wind in Miland: they blew railway cars off the tracks. An approximately two-metre-high and around 350-metre-long windbreak wall was built there afterwards. Its dimensions and the circumstances behind its construction make this protective measure a particularly vivid part of the railway’s history. It tells the story of a specific challenge for rail traffic.

Miland can also be viewed through its agricultural past. Finds of cultural layers in Miland show that farming was practised here in the past. Miland søndre farm is said to have been owned by the present-day family since 1591.

Bergshaugsvegen offers a landscape perspective. It is 2.1 kilometres long and runs from Milandvegen through agricultural land and forest to the farm Berge. If you are particularly interested in landscape and agriculture when choosing where to stay, you can use this described route as a point of reference. The sequence of fields or agricultural surroundings and forest distinguishes this theme from the structures by the river and railway.

Miland on a pilgrim stage

On the pilgrim trail stage from Mæl Church to Dal Church, Miland is reached after 2.5 kilometres. From Miland School, the route follows a footpath to the main road and then crosses the Måna. Miland is therefore also of interest to travellers who would like to discover a place as part of a route and a river crossing. The distance of 2.5 kilometres refers to reaching Miland on this stage, not to the length of the entire pilgrim trail.

Whether your travel plans are driven by an interest in architecture, agricultural history or the pilgrim trail, Miland offers different points of interest to consider when choosing your destination. More local pages: Hovin I Telemark, Austbygdi, Rjukan, Tinn.

To the main travel overview: Tinn.