Øyvindtjønna

The place is named after the English St Edwin which was king of Northumbria in the 7th century. From the pond you'll see Trondheim and Nidaros Cathedral. Its easy to imagine that pilgrims in the Middle Ages must have welcomed the sight and rejoiced over the fact that their destination was within sight. Øyvindtjønna was also a destination in itself. In addition to being a holy and miraculous spring that was much visited, particularly around midsummer and October 4th (day of St Edwin's celebration), written sources and archaeological findings show that a chapel was located here in the Middle Ages.

The Norwegian historian Gerhard Schøning observed as late as in 1775 crutches and sticks left by people seeking shelter in the chapel. The chapel was probably built as early as in the 13th century and demolished during the 17th century. The remaining material from the chapel was stored by Melhus vicarage, but used as firewood when the Swedish General and Baron Carl Gustaf Armfeldt's soldiers marched through the valley in 1718.

Photo: Even Hatlelid Mortensen