Gjøvik muncipality is the biggest municipality in Oppland with approximately 29.500 inhabitants and covers a area of 672,2 km2. Farming and forestry have always been important for settling and employment in Gjøvik. Casper Kauffeldt founder of the town Gjøvik by National conscription officer Alf Mjøen. The city is sited in east Norway by Mjøsa. Mjøsa is Norways biggest lake. Approximately 100 km long and almost 500 metres deep. The lake starts at Lillehammer in north, and ends with Minnesund in the south. Gjøvik Olympic Mountain Hall is the world’s largest underground auditorium. Top-class hockey arena. Hosts arrangements and activities as cultural events, trade fairs, exhibitions and sport events.

Gjøvik Gård is and old estate in the middle of the city center. On the estate you find buildings from the last three hundred years. “Drengestua” (servants´quarters) is a gallery with sals exhibitions and a small cafeteria with outdoor serving in the summer. The Gjøvik Hall (Former henhous) has been rebuilt and is functioning as the town´s consert an exhibition hall. Did you know that the promenade along Lake Mjøsa is a foot- and bicycle path that can take you both to the south and the north of Skibladners pier in Gjøvik? The path is build solely on rocks from the Gjøvik Olympic Cavern Hall. It it therefore an eldorado for collectors of rocks and hobby geologists. If you are lucky you will find a gemstone in the rough. The promenade takes you though 5-6 km of green spaces, playing fields, piers, places where you can go for a swim and you will find picknick tables along the path.

In Gjøvik you can experience the excitement on the trotting track, go for a bicycle ride on secluded roads, take a hike in a maze of marked trails, a skiing trip in the longest flood-lit trails for cross-country skiing in the winter, or just spend the day swimming and relaxing by one of the area´s many lakes and recreational areas in the summer. Visit Gjøvik Glassverk and experience a traditional craft, performed by the most skillful glass blowers in Norway. Here you have the possibility to buy quality glasses at factory prices.

GJØVIK OLYMPIC MOUNTAIN HALL

Gjøvik Olympic Mountain Hall, built for accommodating ice-hockey matches of the 17th Olympic Winter Games in 1994. There was a choice between an underground arena and a ordinary outdoor arena. Gjøvik chose to build an underground cavern, in the center of town, at the end of our High street.

THE BRIDGE

On the middle of the bridge there is a partition between Oppland and Hedmark. Ringsaker is on one site and Gjøvik is on another. The Bridge is built over Mjøsa, Norways biggest lake.

LAKE MJØSA

Mjøsa is Norway´s largest lake, as well as the one of the deepest lakes in Europe, after Hornindalsvatnet. From its southernmost point at Minnesund to its northernmost point in Lillehammer it is 117 km long. At its widest, near Hamar, it is 15 km wide.

The cities of Hamar, Gjøvik, and Lillehammer were founded along the shores of the lake. Before the construction of railways past the lake, it was an important transport route. Today, aside from minor leisure boating and the steamship Skibladner, there is no water traffic on the lake. Most of its shores are dominated by rolling agricultural areas, among them some of the most fertile grainlands in Norway. From the south European route E6 runs along the eastern shore of the lake until the Mjøsa Bridge connects Moelv on the east with Biri on the west.

SKIBLADNER

Just north of Eidsvoll lies Mjøsa, the largest lake in Norway. “The white swan of Mjøsa” was built in 1856. Skibladner is the world´s oldest paddle steamer still in regular service. Originally intended as an extension of the railway which ended at Eidsvoll, it has plied the blue waters of the lake on its route to Hamar, Gjøvik and Lillehammer during all of the ensuing 140 years. Even the old steam engine from 1880 is still working! With expert help Skibladner has been painstakingly restored to its original splendor and is now a floating museum. It offers its passengers an unforgettable voyage along Norway´s largest lake with views of the rolling hills and well-kept farms on the shores.

The food on board is excellent: the standard menu consists of fresh salmon and a strawberry dessert. The boat calls in at a number of landing-stages with good rail connections, so that passengers can choose the route that suits them. In regular service to and from Gjøvik, Hamar, Moelv and Lillehammer. Sailing season are mid May to mid September.

Skibladner´s name come from the god Frøy´s magical ship in ancient Norse mythology. The ship was built by Swedish Motala Shipyard and assembled at Minnesund in 1856. In 1888 she was refitted, lengthened by 20 feet and received a new triple-expansjion steam engine, which she has to the present day. Skiblander is 165 feet long, her beam 16.7 feet and her draft is 5.6 feet. Her operating speed is 12 knots at 42 rpm, max. number of passengers is 230.

BIRI

Biri is a village in the municipality of Gjøvik. Biri was the center of several small villages including Biri Øverbygd, Udahlsroa and Klomsteinroa. This has traditionally been an agricultural and forestry community. It is located at Mjøsa Bridge on the west side of Mjøsa lake. The Vismunda river, which drains into lake Mjøs, has been an important lifeline. Biri church (Biri is a cruciform church dating from 1777. Built of timber, it has 450 seats. The church was erected after the original church burned down. During 1890 there was another major fire, this time in Biri parsonage. The fire also destroyed church records for 1789-1814 and 1854-1877. In April 2007, major damage in the church led to an extensive rehabilitation.

FISHING

Lake Mjøsa has 20 species of fish. Among the most common are pike, European perch, common roach, greyling and the Hundertrout, a Brown Trout which can reach a weight of more than 20kg. Another common species is the European smelt, which is the most important bait fish for the predators. Historically, the most economically significant species is the Lågsild (European cisco).

GOLF

Randsfjorden Golfclub is a golf course with 18 holes and a variation of difficulties. The course lies at Randsfjorden Guesthouse, approximately 36 km from Gjøvik City Center.