Ghosts of Roros

Roros is called the pearl of the Trondelag. It enjoys a somewhat dark fame of a haunted place, and the atmosphere is added to it by the original wooden buildings. We find them in Norway, close to the Swedish border.

There are beautiful and interesting places, and there are also places that combine both of these features. When it comes to Roros, one may wonder if it is beautiful, but no one will deny him originality. It is a mining town located in the region of Norway, which is not one of the most popular tourist destinations - in its middle-eastern part. Despite the fact that it is not a very crowded place, you can get to it without any problems. Tourists going from Trondheim will reach Roros after a 2-2.5-hour drive, while those who wish to come from Oslo will take 4-5 hours.

The dark legend of Roros

Roros is considered Norway's most haunted town . The "merit" of this is not only the specific atmosphere prevailing in it, but also the fact that in 1718 about 300 Swedish soldiers were killed here. Harsh weather conditions overcame them like Napoleon's Russian winter - they froze in the mountains surrounding the settlement. The tragic events are commemorated by an open-air show organized annually (since 1994).

According to legends, the settlement was established in the place where a reindeer shot by farmer Hans Olsen Asen fell. A dying animal exposed copper from under the ground, and soon after that, the first mine was established here. It was the only one at that time to receive the king's consent to exploit the raw material in this region. The town itself was born in the second half of the 17th century.

Roros was consumed by fires many times, but many authentic wooden buildings from the beginning of the settlement have survived to this day. What's more, people still work and live in them, and the products they make are valued for high quality. The historic buildings were entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980.

The charms of a mining town

While walking around Roros, you get the impression that time has stopped here - a long time ago. The landscape consists of wooden, quite charming houses (although it must be honestly admitted that their beauty is highly debatable), heaps and the Hyttelva River. You can visit them on your own or during a 1.5-hour guided tour, the so-called Bergstadvandring. We must remember that we are in Norway - when pronouncing a large part of the names, you can break the language, almost like with German numerals.

In addition to the houses, it is worth seeing the church that can accommodate 1,600 worshipers, which makes it one of the largest temples in Norway. Another attraction of Roros is Rørosmuseet , which took over a large part of the equipment of the closed mines. If we have warm clothes with us, we can embark on a journey inside Olavsgruva and Nyberget, two mines open to the public. You get to know them during an hour-long guided tour.

Every year in February, Roros turns into a bustling city. At this time, the great Rorosmartnan fair takes place, where tourists come from all over the world. Up to 70,000 people show up there. It is a festival whose traditions date back to the 19th century. During the festival, you can visit the town and learn about the culture of the Sami people - the oldest people in Scandinavia.

Where to stay in Roros?

In and around Roros, you can easily find accommodation - be it in a hotel or at a campsite. Tourists can also choose from several campsites, including Koppang Camping , where 4 people will spend the night in a camper or tent for 235 CZK. The price includes access to electricity.

The specific beauty of the mining village has been assessed many times - during the London World Travel Market tourism fair, it received the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award in the "best destination" category, beating approx. 100 competitors. It has less than 4,000 inhabitants and attracts over a million people each year. It is worth seeing for yourself what prompts tourists to visit these parts of Norway.