Cultural Heritage

Såstad

Situated along Gudbrandsdalsleden
Bente Fekene
Såstad

Såstad was a farm from the middle ages. The courtyard was located where Såstad Søndre is situated today. There was a parish Church constructed of stone and wood at the farm. Sverres Saga tells a story of lenderman Halvard at Såstad holding a feast for over 300 people during the opening ceremony of the church (1177). Sverre arrived with his birkebeinere warriors over Mjøsa and ambushed lenderman Halvard. It broke out fights northwest of the farm. Some of Halvards men fell in the battle and he was forced to flee. Såstad was later given to one of Sverres men, as were severeal other farms in the area.

A tumulus was open at Såstad in 1744., by the bishop Erik Pontoppidans. This was one of the first archaeological excavations in Norway. They found two swords, two spearheads covered in silver, shield boss, track and bridle, from the early Iron Age (400-1000).

Hulda Garborg was born at Såstad in 1862. She later lived in Hamar until she was 13. Many of her Hedmark novels show motives from Stange and Såstad (she called it “Kjølstad gård”).

“Gråterhaugen”
Legend tells that there was a woman standing on a hill crying during the battle at Såstad. According to another legend, Hemli, the 15 cubits long giant who was killed in the battle, was buried 15 cubits under the surface a bit north. He was buried together with a 15 cubit long goldchain. (15 medieval-cubits are 22.5 feet.)