Oppdal, Norway

Oppdal’s story begins in prehistory – this alpine valley has been inhabited since at least the Norwegian Iron Age (before 600 CE).

By around the year 600, there were roughly 50 farms here, and the community grew through the Viking Age to perhaps 70 farms. The Vang burial site in Oppdal stands as grand evidence of this era: over 700 burial mounds (some sources say nearly 900) cluster by Oppdal Church, making it the largest known pre-Christian grave field in Norway.

Archaeologists have uncovered remarkable artefacts in these graves – from fine jewellery and swords to Celtic metalwork originating in the British Isles, which indicates that even 1,000+ years ago, Oppdal was not so isolated but engaged in long-distance trade. This relative wealth likely came from abundant game and resources: local hunters trapped wild reindeer on the surrounding plateau for centuries. Dozens of ancient hunting pits and even arrows have been found in the mountains, preserved in ice and snow. These finds paint a picture of a hardy mountain people who prospered through cooperation (it’s said Oppdal’s farmers were less stratified by wealth than other regions, often banding together to survive harsh times).

With the arrival of Christianity in the Middle Ages, Oppdal’s pagan past gave way to new traditions. Wooden stave churches were built to replace old shrines – by the 1100s, Oppdal had five rural chapels serving scattered farm communities. The Church at Vang (today’s Oppdal Church) became the main site, and a new church built there in 1653 still stands, housing medieval artifacts like a 13th-century crucifix. During this period, Oppdal’s strategic location truly shined: it sat at the junction of important routes north-south and east-west across Norway. Travellers, traders, and pilgrims all passed through. In fact, Oppdal was a notable stop on the Pilgrim’s Route to the shrine of St. Olav in Trondheim – a journey thousands undertook in the Middle Ages. To aid these pilgrims, King Eystein (early 1100s) ordered mountain shelters built at intervals. One such lodge, Kongsvoll Fjeldstue beside the Driva River, was established as a royal “mountain station” for weary pilgrims crossing Dovrefjell. Kongsvoll still operates today as an inn and biological station, rich with history (guests can even visit its small museum). Another old station, Drivstua, further north in Oppdal, also dates to this pilgrim era. However, the good times were challenged – the Black Death (1349) ravaged Oppdal, killing so many that entire farms were abandoned. By 1500, only about 35 farms remained and the population had plunged; even centuries later, famine hit (as in 1742, locals here reportedly died of hunger). Yet the resilient Oppdalinger rebuilt their community each time.