Norway's largest and best-preserved rural culture - a living museum!

As part of its famous character, in Heidal you'll find elements of rose painting, various kinds of handicrafts, woodcarving and old log houses, some dating back to the 16th century! Many with turf on the roof, which makes the cottages and farmhouses blend harmoniously into the landscape (and makes foreign tourists stop and scratch their heads!). The traditional use of the farmhouses in Heidal is almost over. The farmers and animals are sadly gone, but the farmhouses still stand as romantic features in the landscape. Almost like a little piece of Asbjørnsen & Moe!

Heidal has the highest density of listed buildings in Norway. With over 100 listed houses on 17 different farms and a total of nine listed farm complexes, Heidal is a popular destination for those who want to experience Norwegian rural and cultural history up close. The well-kept farms and grazing animals testify to the fact that Heidal is a village characterized by agriculture and old Norwegian traditions.

Many of the large farms are now divided into smaller farms, but you can still get an impression of what this area looked like 100 years ago. Higher up the hill are many of the former crofts that belonged to the large farms. The crofters' families farmed the land themselves in exchange for doing chores on the larger farms. At the top of the village, at Leirflaten, a road turns south towards Murudalen. This is where cattle farming started in the interwar period. In the dense forest in Murudalen, good soil was broken up with pickaxes, diggers and stump breakers. Today, some of the largest farms in the village are located there. The famous big game hunter Jo Gjende lived in Brurusten, which is located at the top of Murudalen. From here, he had a short distance to hunt wild reindeer around Gjende.

The village for real taste experiences!

At the heart of our local kitchen is traditional Norwegian food made from scratch - and of the highest quality. This is part of our distinctive character. Juicy, stuffed lefse rolls, hand-baked flatbread cooked on griddle in a fireplace, locally sourced game meat and cured meats, magic cream and "stomp" with butter and brown cheese... The food culture in Heidal has been shaped and passed down through many generations and still stands firmly as an important part of our identity. The menus of our restaurants are also often characterized by modern taste and variety. In Heidal, we value the art of combining the old with the new, and the same goes for the food!

Many of the farms in the village offer both accommodation and dining. The historic farm hotel Nordre Ekre has its own gourmet restaurant and roots dating back to the early Iron Age! In the summer of 2019, Banken Bryggeri & Spiseri opened as a breath of fresh air and a meeting point in the center of Heidal. It also hosts social events such as concerts, quizzes and parties!

Since time immemorial, butter has been churned and cheese has been made in Heidal. If you have the opportunity, you should also visit Ysteriet and take a tour of how they make the well-known Heidalsosten the old-fashioned way, as it was first made on one of the local farms. Ysteriet also serves good, old-fashioned rømmegrøt that few people can resist (and with a kind of natural satiety guarantee)!

Adventurous taste experiences from Heidal are made possible by extensive use of locally sourced genuine products and few compromises, prepared by dedicated food people - with great taste!

For the community in Heidal, it is important to work to keep the village alive in the face of modern times while preserving and strengthening the village soul. We greatly appreciate everyone who wants to visit us and take part in the cultural heritage through exciting activities and experiences in Heidal's adventurous surroundings.

Heidal welcomes you and yours - spring, summer, autumn and winter!