A little to the north of the watershed between Østerdalen and Trøndelag, Kvikne is an agricultural community with ca. 500 inhabitants. Rv3 runs through the village, one of the main roads connecting Oslo and Trondheim. Kvikne is located between Knutshø and Forollhogna where the wild reindeer live. These mountain plateaus are protected to preserve the wild reindeer’s living areas.
Acitvities
Many of the hikes in Kvikne take you to cultural heritage sites. Great nature experiences await and a chance of seeing wild reindeer. Show consideration, keep your distance, and do not disturb the animals. Recommended hikes are the trail to Svarstjøen and the viewpoint at Ruv, or a walk up Kaltberget. You’ll find a parking place, toilet, and the starting point for the hike to Svartsjøen and Ruv (1028 mas.) along the road Svartsjøliveien. It’s nice to eat and rest at the campfire place, where there is also a copy of a Sami hut. Follow the nature- and cultural heritage trail along the lake. From here you can also hike up to Ruv and enjoy a beautiful view.
A hike up Kalkberget is a nice activity for the whole family. You’re rewarded with a great view of Kvikne. At the top (954 mas.) stands a large cairn and an open shelter. A ski track passes Kaltberget in winter and the peak is a nice destination year-round. The trail is easily accessed and well-marked.
Vollan Farm and Kvikne National Park Centre
We recommend visiting Vollan Farm. Here, you will also find Kvikne National Park Centre with an exhibition and information about the wild reindeer, the mountain ecosystem and cultural heritage sites in Forollhogna and Knutshø.
The farm has a rich history and interesting architecture. The oldest buildings are from the 1600s. When run by Lorentz Lossius (1589-1654), this was one of the largest farms in the village. In addition to the main building, there are barns, a stable, and a chapel.
Archaeological finds show this to have been a wealthy farm as early as the 1200s. Today, the farm is a museum and well worth a visit in summer. To learn more about Kvikne’s nature and cultural history, take a walk on Vollan Nature Trail.
A place in history
Humans have come to Kvikne for thousands of years to harvest from the rich natural resources. You can find their traces everywhere in the landscape. Discover pitfall trapping systems and remnants of Sami settlements or see the soapstone quarries.
In the Pre-Roman Iron Age, the soft soapstone was highly sought after. There were several of quarries at Kvikne. The soapstone was shaped into cooking pots and vessels. More recently, it was used for restoring the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.
In 1630 the first large copper mine in Norway was founded at Kvikne. Nearly 15 years earlier than Røros Copper Works.
Norway’s oldest book, Kvikne-psalteriet, from ca. 1150-1200, was also found in the village. The famous Norwegian writer, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, was born in the local vicarage, Bjørgan, in 1832.
A place in history
Kvikne Copper Works played a central role in Norwegian history. When founded in 1630, it was the first of the copper works in Mid-Norway. For several years it was also the country’s largest mine. At this time Norway was under the rule of Denmark and the Danish royals ran Kvikne Copper Works.
By order of the Danish-Norwegian king, the mining was administered by the person running Vollan Farm at Kvikne. Lorentz Lossius (1589-1654) was first and later became the first director of the Røros Copper Works. The mining activity caused the need for a bigger church at Kvikne. The richly decorated building was finished in 1654. Its altarpiece is reconned to be one of Norway’s finest.
Hunting and fishing
The wild reindeer hunting season is in August and September, you can also obtain licences to hunt for moose, deer, roe deer and small game. Buy a licence or read more about hunting and fishing here:
Kvikneutmarksrad.no
iNatur.no
Kvikne.no
