Cultural Heritage

Spitalen

Situated along Gudbrandsdalsleden
Spitalen

Spitalen (or Spetalen) is an interesting place for pilgrims, its name meaning a «hospital», in Norwegian; hostel. This hostel would be operating in the Middle Ages for pilgrims. It was also regarded as impossible to travel along Lake Mjøsa from Minnesund and northwards to Espa because of the steep precipices alongside the lake. According to tradition, the old roads therefore ran along the hillsides, where it was easier to walk. That is why the Pilgrim's Route runs through Spitalen (originally a group of summer pasture farms belonging to the farms in Stange). Korsvika bay by Granerudsjøen lake can be linked to this route.