Central Norway - Norway - page 272

Olympic Ski Slopes

Lillehammer has two Olympic ski slopes: Hafjell Alpine Centre ( 61 27 47 00;
www.hafjell.no ) , 15km north of town, hosted the downhill events, while Kvitfjell Alpine Fa-
cility ( 61 28 36 30; www.kvitfjell.no ) , 50km north of town, was used for cross-country. Both
offer public skiing between late November and late April and they're connected by bus
with Lillehammer Skysstasjon.

PEER GYNT VEGEN

Of all the beautiful mountain roads of central Norway, one stands out for its combination
of scenery and storytelling: Peer Gynt Vegen ( www.peergyntvegen.no ; toll Nkr70; Jun-Sep).
Running for 60km from Skei to Espedalen, it takes you along the trail followed by that ill-
fated fictional character created by Henrik Ibsen and offers fine views of the Jotunheimen
and Rondane massifs en route. Climbing up to 1053m above sea level at the Listulhøgda
lookout point, it passes the Solbrå Seter farm, where Gudbrandsdal cheese was first
made in 1863. An open-air arena next to Gålåvatn lake is the scene in early August for an
opera concert of Edvard Grieg'sPeer Gynt. To reach Skei, head north of Lillehammer
along the E6 and at Tretten take the turn-off for the Rv254. At Svingvoll, Peer Gynt Vegen
branches off to the northwest.

Hamar

Pop 26,000
This medium-sized town would never win a beauty contest, but it does possess a surpris-
ing number of attractions that are worth a detour on your way between Oslo and the north.

Sights

Viking Ship Sports Arena OLYMPIAHALLEN
(Vikingskipet; 62 51 75 00; www.hoa.no ; Åkersvikaveien 1; admission Nkr40; 8am-8pm Mon-Fri,

to 5pm Sat & Sun 1st-17th Aug, to 3pm Mon-Fri rest of year)