Røros - a world heritage in the heart of Norway

 

There is this saying: Norwegians are born with skis on their feet.

Let’s just say that I’m working on it! In the meantime, let me introduce you to the ultimate form of winter transportation: the kick sledge. Do you want to have a seat?

Name: Margit Wintervold
Age: 29, going on to the big 30
Occupation: Digital marketing

I live close to the center of Røros, so to get around during winter, I use my kick sledge. It’s practical, fun and even good for the environment. Please follow me on a tour around Røros, a mining town established more than 370 years ago. These days, you’ll find the same streets with old timber houses, but the town is livelier and more vibrant than ever. The mines were closed in the nineteen seventies, and today Røros is a modern small town in the mountains full of history and culture.

I prefer to start my day with a cup of coffee – and I just love to get a local speciality, pjalt with brown cheese at the bakery Trygstad.

The bakery has been passed on through the generations and is a popular place to grab coffee or lunch. Here you’ll meet the locals, chatting about what is going on in this little town.  

One of the best things about Røros is that the place is so small, that everything I need is nearby. Friends, family, work, shops and cafés. And if I want to sled, ski or just go for a walk in the frozen nature, I have everything available without even having to drive or take a bus. 

 

Speaking of cold days and frost, have you ever tried to throw boiling hot water into the air on a really cold winter day? What do you think happens? When the warm water hits the icy air, it evaporates and becomes a frosty mist. Very fascinating and incredibly beautiful on a clear and sunny winter day.

Røros is known for being the local food capital of Norway. In the summer we have hot days and cold nights, and animals and people thrive. This means that the farmers make good produce, which local producers process and turn into tasty products. When I have a day off, I like to visit one of the local restaurants which also takes pride in making delicious dishes from the local food.

I never get bored when I have a day off in Røros. I can enjoy good food, cultural experiences and get inspired in galleries or by the many local artisans. I can just stroll around and take in the impressions, and of course, go skiing in untouched and quiet nature or sled in the city’s toboggan run – not as quiet but so incredibly fun! Join me for a day in the UNESCO World Heritage Town of Røros! 

A DAY IN RØROS 

FOOD  

Koia – traditional Sami hut
When I visit the restaurant Koia, I get a completely unique dining experience. The restaurant is run by a Sami family that serves traditional food made from local ingredients. The building is made in the traditional Sami way, and I love eating by the fire in the middle of the room. 

Pjalt
What is pjalt? Pjalt is a sweet pastry and looks a bit like a thick pancake, but only pjalt is pjalt. And you only get it in Røros. When I start the day with a cup of coffee and a pjalt, then I know that nothing can possibly go wrong. 

Kaffestuggu
Amazing hot chocolate and you should try the local speciality surpøsje. Kaffestuggu is one of the oldest restaurants in Røros, where they have served food for over 120 years. Therefore, the atmosphere here is very special, and the stories live in the walls. I like to go here to relax with a coffee or have a good dinner. 

Rakfisk
If you want to taste one of the most special Norwegian dishes, you should try rakfisk. Rakfisk is trout that has been fermented for at least three months. Do not be alarmed by the aroma, the taste is better than you think. The Swedes have their surstrømming and the Icelanders have fermented sharks, but nothing can compare to rakfisk! 

Local food at the supermarket 
The largest supermarket in town has set aside a small department only for food from the region and other delicacies. Here I buy what I need for fantastic dishes or just for simple and tasty tapas. The Røros region is known for its tasty food, and here I find everything I need from local producers. 

Frøyas hus
Røros is full of hidden gems, namely the backyards. Frøya’s house is one of the tiny town farms that open the gates, and here you are welcome to the most Norwegian thing of all, fresh waffles. Sometimes I eat outside by a fire, other times inside the barn which is full of old and exciting things. 

CULTURE 

Thomasgaarden
Thomasgaarden is an old and quirky place you hardly notice before you walk in the door. Not many visitors find their way here, so I would almost call it a little hidden gem in the middle of the town. I go here when I want hygge and to relax in a homely environment. 

The local youth club
Growing up, I spent a lot of time here, and they still arrange really cool concerts. I wish I had time to go to them all. 

ACTIVITIES

Slegghaugan
There is no better view of Røros. You can’t avoid seeing them, the large piles of remains after the copper refining process. From the top, I see the whole of Røros and the surrounding mountains. By the way, do you know Pippi Longstocking? Her Christmas celebration was filmed right here, in the narrow little street that goes down from Slegghaugan.

Get around with a kick sledge
A kick sledge is the ultimate winter transport. With it, I get around the town quickly and silently. Don’t have one? You can rent one at the local tourist office. But beware, a kick sledge can go really fast on our pure white snow!

Surrounded by ski tracks
Røros is surrounded by ski tracks, to the delight of us who live here and everyone who visits us. You can start right in the town centre and go as far or near as you like. The terrain is smooth and welcomes you. Don’t have skis? You can also walk on your feet, bring a kick sledge or a regular sledge. 

The Blue Hours
As Christmas approaches and December comes, the light is very special here in the afternoon. When the first snow has settled, the weather is cold and darkness falls, the light turns blue. We call it the Blue Hour, and it has inspired both artists and filmmakers.

Skating at Doktortjønna
Almost right in the center and just a stone’s throw away from my house, there’s a nice little pond where the ice settles early in winter. I go here when I want to speed off on skates and feel the winter cold nip in my cheeks.

Storwartz
From here, the sunset is absolutely wonderful, no matter what time of year. On a clear winter afternoon, you can see really far. And the horizon alternates between blue, pink and yellow. Storwartz is an old mine, and when I’m here I feel like I get air under my wings between the old buildings and the remains of the mining.

Aasgjerdet
What is more adventurous than a toboggan run in the town center? It’s pretty steep, so you get really high speed. It is best during the evening when it’s almost completely dark, and I only see the lights from the houses and the white snow.