Rauma municipality has approximately 7.500 inhabitants and covers a area of 1.502,1 km2. Åndalsnes is the main centre of industry, commerce and service, an important communication link, the end station for the Rauma Railway and has been a cruise port since 1883. Norway´s first golfcourse lies in Åndalsnes, it was the English “salmonlords” who arranged golf tournaments at the start of the last century. Only 6 hole´s so far, but it will probably be expanded soon?
If only everywhere could be like this! These words were written here in 1861. Since those days, more and more people have come here to experience for themselves this unique landscape. Now it´s your turn to meet the fantastic Romsdal Alps and one of Norway´s most beautiful fjords – the Romsdal Fjord.
Our district contains several of Norway´s best known attractions, not least The Troll Road (Trollstigen) and Europe´s highest vertical mountain face Trollveggen. Idyllic hamlets and villages, mountain-tops reaching up to 6.000 feet, fjord-side beauty spots and wonderful viewpoints. These are some of the reasons for our 150-year-long tradition as a place to visit. A plentiful selection of accommodation restaurants, shops and other services will make your stay here most enjoyable. We like visitors, and we´re worth visiting!
The Sinclair Play will have performances at the new outdoor theatre at Klungnes. The play is about the Scottish soldiers who came onshore from their ships at Klungnes. This happened the 20th of august 1612. The Scotsmen was on their way helping the Swedes against Norway and Denmark in the Kalmar war. Six days after they came on land at Klungnes, they went into an ambush in Gudbrandsdalen. The first to be killed was Captain George Sinclair. The Sinclair Play has performances in august.
ÅNDALSNES
Åndalsnes is the center of Rauma Municipality, both geographically and as a small city. The city is an important junction in the County of Møre & Romsdal, and is also the terminal for the Rauma Railway. Åndalsnes got the city status in 1996 and has a active and pleasant trading centre with a large range of speciality stores. Swimming pool and sports centres, medical center, a variety of health institutions and also a liquor store is centrally situated. A impressive nature scenery surrounds the city. If you walk up to the top of the “city mountain” Nesaksla (715 meters), you have a breathtaking gradient and a fantastic view over the alps and the fjord.
With the well known Trollstigen and Trollveggen in the area, Åndalsnes has more than a 100 years long tradition in the tourism industry. Due to this, the city has lots of hotels and overnight accomodations. Åndalsnes has an exciting industry and commerce, the recent years there has been a increasing activity in a modern plastic industry. Traditionally, the city is known for it’s clothing industry, and still the area have several vital establishments in related industries.
THE RAUMA LINE
The Rauma Line is one of the most beautiful and wildest railways in Noeway. The Rauma Line is a 114.2 kilometer long railway between Åndalsnes and Dombås. The line features two horseshoe curves and has a 655 meter elevation drop. Among the line´s features is the Kylling Bridge and views of the mountainous valley. Five stations remain in use: Dombås, Lesja, Lesjaverk, Bjorli and Åndalsnes. There have been launched plans to replace the line with a high-speed railway.
TROLLSTIGEN
The road between Åndalsnes and Geiranger is called “The Golden Route”. Dramatic and exciting is a short description of Trollstigen. The mountains which encircle the road are enormous;
Store Trolltind a mighty 1.788 metres above sea level, and mountains called Kongen (the King), Dronningen (the Queen) and Bispen (the Bishop) confirm their majesty in this mountain world. Stigfossen waterfall gushes down the mountainside towards the luscious Isterdalen valley. In the middle of all this Trollstigen road winds its way up the mountainside. Just a few meters outside the Bispesvingen bend at the top of the famous tourist road you can see the Base jumpers flying.
Trollstigen was opened the 31 July 1936 by the reigning King Haakon the 7th, after 8 years under construction. Even today the road is a good example of the art of engineering and construction. On the steep mountain sides the road does a total of 11 bends up to Stigrøra. The road is cut into the mountainside in some places, or else it is safely built on the natural stone foundations.
With its incline of 9% this narrow road with many bends and open drops, you must be a proficient driver. Vehicles over 13 meters long are not allowed on Trollstigen and you are discouraged from driving with a trailer or caravan. This road is liable to avalanche. Pay attention to the signposts. Trollstigen road is closed in the winter and opens in May or June. Walkers can enjoy the fantastic views and majestic mountains by following the newly restored Kløvstien path.
KLØVSTIEN
Kløvstien Track at Trollstigen is the old track the locals used before Trollstigen Road was built. Every spring and fall, the locals in Isterdalen valley took their cattle to the mountain pasture at Trollstigen. And the locals in Valldal went here when they were going to Romsdalsmartnan market. The track has recently been restored and marked. It crosses the Trollstigen road a few places. The track starts a short distance below the first narrow turn at Trollstigen Road.
TROLLVEGGEN
Europe´s highest vertical and overhanging rock face (1.000 metres). This is the craddle of mountain climbing sports in Scandinavia. Trollveggen is a landmark when you drive down Romsdalen by car. Most of the people stop the car at Horgheimseidet to admire Europs highest overhang. Only the best climbers in the world challenge the mountain. Others choose the other way with parachute, BASE jumping is popular in Trollveggen. This is now forbidden, but… If you want to admire Trollveggen from the top, then you can walk the backside from Trollstigen. You need 3 to 5 hours to the BASE-EXIT at Bruraskardet, climbing rope is not needed. From here you have a fantastic view down towards Romsdalen and to Romsdalshorn, Vengetind etc. at the other side of the valley.
THE KYLLING BRIDGE and VERMAFOSSEN WATERFALL
The Kylling bru is built of blocks of granite in a self-supporting structure. It took all of ten years to build the bridge. The Rauma Railway was opened in 1924. The river Rauma is actually all the valley floor there is and the Kylling bridge connects the sides of the valley 60 metres above the surging waters.
Vermafossen waterfall is another sight worth seeing, you find it near by Kylling Bridge, wild and beautiful scenery. The waterfall plunges 381 meters and it´s visible from the road. Verma has 150 inhabitants, and several furniture factories. Here you also find grocery shop, petrol station, school, housing for the elderly, floodlit track and great hunting- and recreational possibilities. Verma is the easternmost region of Rauma, at the border to Oppland county.
MÅNDALEN
Måndalen is a village has about 900 inhabitants and is the center on the south side of the Romsdal Fjord. The village includes Voll, Samset, Bruaset, Skare, Venås, Bø, Moen, Raknem, Skeide, Sæbø, Sauset, Oterholm, Søvika and Hovde. The center of Måndalen lies on Voll. In addition to traditional farming Måndalen has a long tradition of clothing and woodworking. The investment company Wenaasgruppen have it´s headquarter at Voll. It is one of the largest within the hotel property. Previously the village had a sport fishing industry. The most famous products were the Møre Herring (Møre-Silda), Søvik svivel and Otter Linen Record.
Down by the bay is Voll church, a wooden church from 1896. The river Måna flows through the village and out into Vollabukta by Måna camping. The main tributary is Vemora. There is salmon in both the river Måna and at times the lower part of Vemora.
MEDALEN
Medalen in Romsdalen valley include Horgheim, Marstein and Flatmark – around 100 inhabitants and one of the smallest districts in Rauma regarding population, but probably the mightiest when it comes to scenery. Lies along the highway E136 approximately 20 kilometres from Åndalsnes, encircled by precipitous mountains like Trollveggen, Romsdalshorn and Karlskråtind. Sights, except stunning mountains, are Kors church with a altarpiece carved by the farmer Jacob Klukstad from Lesja in 1769. Medalen also have one of Romsdals largest grave-mounds from the migration age.
VENGEDALEN
Vengedalen is one of many valleys in Isfjorden, and is a “hidden treasure”. Half hour driving distance from Åndalsnes. At the Vengedal lake you have a tremendous view towards Trollveggen, Romsdalshorn and Vengetind. Turn around, and you have Klauva, Kirketaket and Kjøvskardtind in the background. Take a 15 minutes walk up to Litlefjellet (Small Mountain) and you the Romsdal Valley below you, and at the other side you have Trollveggen. Further away you see Åndalsnes and the Romsdal Fjord.
ISFJORDEN
Isfjorden is located 7 km from Åndalsnes. Isfjorden is a village in the innermost arm in the Romsdalsfjord. The place is surrounded by beautiful mountains, waiting for visit. Easy arrivals to the mountains; telemarkskiing, mountaineering and climbing. What about deersafari in Grøvdalen. On the fjord you can try sea kayaking or go out in the boat for fishing or crawfishing.
Some of Norways most famous mountains nearby: Romsdalshorn, Trollveggen, Vengetind, Juratind, Kirketaket and Torshammaren are some of them. The fjord also invites to activities; sea kayaking, craw fishing and fishing trips in idyllic surroundings. There are also the rivers Isa and Glutra, very good rivers for fishing salmon and trout, they meet and ends in the fjord.
RØDVEN STAVE CHURCH
Close to the beautiful Rødvenfjord we have Rødven Stavechurch. The stavechurch is the only one in Romsdal, and the church was built around year 1100. This is an one-nave stave church, whose oldest components originate from the end of the 1100’s. It has been considerably altered during the course of time. A crucifix dating to the middle 1200’s belongs to the old interior. During summertime there are guided trips in the church, also possible off-season.
The Stave Churches are constructions of high quality, richly decorated with carvings. In virtually all of them the door frames are decorated from top to bottom with carvings. This tradition of rich ornamentation appears to go back to the animal carvings of the Viking age. The dragons are lovingly executed and transformed into long-limbed creatures of fantasy, here and there entwined with tendrils of vine, with winding stems and serrated leaves. The elaborate designs are executed with supreme artistic skill. The stave church doorways are, therefore, among the most distinctive works of art to be found in Norway. However, it is difficult to connect them with the Christian gospel.
THE ROMSDAL ALPS
Litlefjellet
Litlefjellet in Vengedalen is a easy and short trip, but the view is tremendous! Drive the mountain road up to Vengedalen and pass the Vengedals lake. The path starts approximately one kilometer after you pass the lake, on the right side of the road. You use approx 20 minutes to the edge (780 metres), from where you have a fantastic view down to the Romsdal valley and to Trollveggen. You stand below Romsdalshorn (1.550 metres) and you have Vengetind at the east.
Nesaksla
Nesaksla at Åndalsnes and over the mountains to Isfjorden is a nice trip with fantastic view to the Romsdal alps, you actually have view to the coast from here. You start from Esso gas station close to the tunnel in Åndalsnes, steep up to the hut at Nesaksla (715 metres). Continue upwards to Mjelvaskaret (991 metres) or down to Vikåbotn before you walk down Høgnosa, over Steinselva river and follow the path down to Øvre Stølen and Furukollen. Then follow the forest road down to Isfjorden Soccer stadium. Instead of walking down Høgnåsa, you can follow the ridge from Mjølvafjellet to Blånebba. You must use rope and climbing gear at the steepest areas here. View down to Romsdal valley and Trollveggen, Romsdalshorn and Vengetind, Kirketaket and all the way to the coastline.
Vengetind
Vengetind (climbing) is a “untypical” mountain in Romsdalen. With it’s rugged and disintegrated formations it reminds more of the Central-Europe alps. At springtime when the top of Vengetind is covered with snow, no mountains are more beautiful! You start at Vengedalen in Isfjorden, different routes to the top.
Romsdalshorn
Romsdalshorn (climbing) is the most “famous” mountain in the area in addition to Trollveggen and Vengetind. You must climb to reach the top (1.550 metres). Fantastic view, easy climb. You start from Vengedalen in Isfjorden.
Juratind and Hoemsbu
Hoemsbu is a DNT-Hut (with food serving) at Hoem by the Eikesdalsvatnet lake. The path starts at Rabben in Søredalen in Grøvdalen. Follow the path on the right side of the river to Hoemskardet (about 1.400 metres, glacier – use rope). From here you can take a short walk/climb up to Juratind (1.712 metres). Or continue down the glacier and the path down Hoemsdalen to Hoemsbu.
Kirketaket (1.439 metres)
A fantastic “Telemark mountain” and a “must” if you are in the Romsdal area with skis. You start at “Øvre Kavli” (120 metres) in Isfjorden. Follow the forest road across Stormyra and continue to Bruhaugen. Then through the forest towards Skardsetra. Just before you arrive Skardsetra you cross upwards towards the west side of Steinberget. Follow the ridge across Steinberget, up a small hill on the eastend before you come down to Kirketaket. Ski up the west ridge to a place where you can ski into the mountainside of Kirketaket. From here you cross up to the top. The run down to Kavliheia is more than 1.000 metres vertical, then a bit “slacker” down to the startpoint.
Kjøvskardtind (1.552 metres)
Start at Øvre Kavli (120 metres) in Isfjorden, same place as for Kirketaket. Follow the forest road across Stormyra and towards Bruhaugen. Just before Bruhaugen, turn right and follow the tracks below Steinberget to Kavliheia. Continue to Grønnhaugan, where you turn to the left towards Kjøvskardtind. Fantastic view from the top. More than 1.100 metres vertical down to Kavliheia, then a bit “slacker” down to the startpoint.
Juratind (1.712 metres)
This mountain between Isfjorden and Eikesdalsvatnet is a popular goal in may, specially on the Ascension Day it may be “crowdy”. May is the best time for this skitrip due to avalanche danger the earlyer months. You can start either from Grøvdalen in Isfjorden or from Hoemsbu at Eikesdalsvatnet. Easy but long trip, you need rope the last 30 metres to the top. From here you have a fantastic view and a fantastic Telemark run, 1.550 metres vertical drop.
RAUMA RIVER
Rauma river that runs through the Romsdalen valley in Møre & Romsdal and Oppland counties. It runs for 68 kilometres from the lake Lesjaskogsvatnet in Lesja to Åndalsnes. The salmon runs up to the “Slettafoss”, a 16 metres high combination of waterfalls and rapids more than 42 kilometres upriver from the estuary.
THE RAUMA SKICENTRE
The Rauma Skicentre is located in Skorgedalen, only 20 minutes drive from Åndalsnes. Beautiful Skorgedalen is a very popular all-year recreation area. We have created a family environment combining activities for both children and adults. Special opening times can be arranged for a group day out! Groups can also rent the ÅIF ski lodge in Skorgedalen.
ICE CLIMBING
The conditions for ice-climbing vary a lot in Romsdal. During cold periods of winter the Flatmark area is very popular. The Skogagrova waterfalls is small and manageable. The Døntefossen waterfalls across the valley is more demanding, really testing the strength and experience of the climber. Be sure to make contact with local climbers for the latest reports on conditions.
FISHING
Romsdal is a great area for fishing in rivers, lakes and the fjord. The fjord also invites to activities; sea kayaking, craw fishing and fishing trips in idyllic surroundings. There are also the rivers Isa and Glutra, very good rivers for fishing salmon and trout, they meet and ends in the fjord. A State License must be obtained at the post Office for fishing in rivers and lakes. For fishing in the fjords no license is needed. Here is where to call at to experience fishing in Romsdal:
Rauma Fiskesafari
Fishng trips on the Romsdal fjord every day with widely experienced skipper. The boat is licensed to carry passengers by Norwegian marine authorities.
Rauma Trolling & Fjordfiske
Enjoy charter trips and fishing trips on the Romsdalsfjord in an FM38. Tailor-made experiences at request. Also facilities for meetings etc.
Remmem Farm
An oasis of beauty, far away from traffic and stresses of today. At Remmem Gard you will find the perfect surroundings for teambuilding, exciting experiences in spectacular scenery, fishing or a combination of those mentioned. You decide your level of service and activity yourself. Enjoy your stay in the genuine environment of a traditional Norwegian farm.
Fiva House
Established by English “salmon-lords” abut a 150 years ago. Experience fishing for salmon and trout by the foot of the majestetic Trollveggen!
Åndalsnes & Omegn Jeger og Fiskerforening
Administrating zones in the lower parts of the river Rauma. Contact the Tourist Information Centre for more on zones and licences.
Rauma Elveeierlag
Administrating zones in the lower parts of the river Rauma. Contact the Tourist Information Centre for more on zones and licences.
GOLF
Rauma Golfclub is a golf course with 6 holes and a variation of difficulties. The course is an open forrestcourt surrounded by the Romsdalsalps. Drivingrange and ProShop. Permanent 9 hole course planned, the first holes may be completed in 2006. Rauma Golfclub lies close to Setnesmoen approximately 2 km from Åndalsnes Center.