Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Gudbrandsdal Valley is the tradition-steeped country of Peer Gynt, the
Norwegian Huck Finn. This romantic valley of timeworn hills, log cabins,
and velvet farms has connected northern and southern Norway since ancient
times. While not as striking as other parts of the Norwegian countryside, Gud-
brandsdal offers a suitable first taste of the natural wonders that crescendo
farther north and west (in Jotunheimen and the Sognefjord). Throughout this
region, the government subsidizes small farms to keep the countryside popu-
lated and healthy. (These subsidies would not be permitted if Norway were a
member of the European Union.)
The de facto capital of Gudbrandsdal, Lillehammer, is a pleasant winter and
summer resort town of 25,000. While famous for its brush with Olympic great-
ness (as host of the 1994 Winter Olympiad), Lillehammer is a bit disappoint-
ing—worthwhile only for its excellent Maihaugen Open-Air Folk Museum, or
to break up the long drive between Oslo and the Jotunheimen region. If you
do wind up here, Lillehammer has happy, old, woody pedestrian zones (Gågata
and Storgata).
Tourist Information
Lillehammer's TI is inside the train station (mid-June-mid-Aug Mon-Fri
8:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-16:00; mid-Aug-mid-June Mon-Fri 8:00-16:00, Sat
10:00-14:00, closed Sun; Jernbanetorget 2, tel. 61 28 98 00,
Lillehammer's two most worthwhile sights are up the hill behind the center of
town. It's a fairly steep 15-minute walk from the train station to either sight
and a 10-minute, mostly level walk between the two (follow the busy main
road that connects them). Because the walk from the station is uphill (and not
very well-signed), consider catching the bus from in front of the train station
