Central Norway - Norway - page 283

Until 1865 the building was owned by the mining company and this is reflected in the
church art. By the altar you'll see the grizzled Hans Olsen Åsen among other company dig-
nitaries. There are also paintings of the author Johan Falkberget and the original 1650
church.
For five weeks from early July to early August, the church hosts organ recitals ( MAP
GOOGLE MAP ; 6-6.45pm Mon-Sat, mid-Jul-9 Aug) , sometimes accompanied by orchestral
musicians from across Europe.
Smelthytta MUSEUM
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; www.rorosmuseet.no ; Malmplassen; adult/child/student incl guided tour in
summer Nkr80/free/70; 10am-6pm mid-Jun-mid-Aug, 11am-4pm Mon-Fri, 11am-3pm Sat & Sun
early Jun & mid-Aug-mid-Sep, shorter hours rest of year, guided tours during summer in Norwegian
11am or 3.30pm, in English 12.30pm)
Housed in old smelting works, which were central to Røros' raison d'être until 1953, this
museum is a town highlight. The building was reconstructed in 1988 according to the ori-
ginal 17th-century plan. Inside you'll discover a large balance used for weighing ore, some
well-illustrated early mining statistics, and brilliant working models of the mines and the
water- and horse-powered smelting processes. Displays of copper smelting are held at 3pm
Tuesday to Friday from early July to early August.
Outside the museum entrance spreads the large open area known as the Malmplassen
(Ore Place) ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ) , where loads of ore were dumped and weighed on the
large wooden scale. Just across the stream from the museum are the protected Slegghau-
gen ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ) (slag heaps), from which there are lovely views over town. Off
the southwestern corner of the slag heaps, the historic smelting district with its tiny turf-
roofed miners' cottages ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ) , particularly along Sleggveien , is one of
Røros' prettiest corners.