Kongsvold fjellstue

This is the only mountain lodge at Dovrefjell that the state still owns. It has been of service to travellers continually since the end of the 17th century.

Just before Christmas in 1718, alle the mountain lodges at Dovrefjell burden down to stop a Swedish military offensive led by General Carl Gustaf Armfeldt, that was making its way through Trøndelag and towards Oppdal. When the Swedish discovered that all the mountain lodges had been burned down, and that Dovrefjell was therefore without shelter, they turned around just south of Drivstua. After that they suffered a tragic journey home over Tydalsfjella. According to insurance documents, there was many houses at Kongsvold before they were burned down in 1718. There was 25 buildings in total including a large horse stable.

Ever since the first educated botanist visited Kongsvold in 1756, the mountain lodge has housed many people interested i botany, from Norway and beyond. So many plants were collected and taken away from here that from 1911 the area was protected by law. This was the first step in the establishing of Dovrefjell National Park. Today, Norwegian University of Science and Technology is running Kongsvold Biological Station. They have, among other things, the responsibility of taking care of the mountain garden that surrounds us here. The garden was established by the botanist Thekla R. Resvoll in 1923. Back then it was located by the railway station, but was moved here in 1990.

Kongsvold Mountain Lodge runs a traditional guest house buisness, with a traditional tavers and an exhibition of many artifacts connected to the history of Kongsvold. In the tavern there is also an information section, that can tell you about nature, culture, animal life and flora in Dovrefjell National Park and in Drivdalen, Kongsvold and Hjerkin protected areas.