Now, almost 500 years after the medieval pilgrimages, people are again wandering in the pilgrims' tracks, enjoying the historic sights, outdoor activities and cultural experiences.
Some of the many roads leading to Nidaros have been signposted. The major and most frequently used roads are through "Gudbrandsdalen" from
Oslo to
Trondheim, and the "Swedish path" from Skalstugan (in Jämtland) via Stiklestad to
Trondheim. In all, the pilgrim paths total more than 930 kilometres (560 miles). It is not necessary to hike the entire distance to understand what it is all about, and the various guidebooks offer many suggestions for shorter trips.
The Pilgrim Way project was launched in 1994 when the authorities decided to reconstruct the walk along the old roads to Nidaros (the former name of Trondheim). The work to reopen the old roads has been carried out in close co-operation with the 29 municipalities through which the pilgrim way winds. Norway's Crown Prince H.R.H. Haakon Magnus consecrated the Pilgrim Way in 1997.
Pilgrims would normally travel in groups. A day's journey might stretch up to 30 kilometres (18 miles) for those hardy souls who could manage to hike that far. Every 8 to 10 kilometres (6 miles) there would be places of rest with grazing for the horses. Such pastures were called "Olav's fields". Along the way there would be inns and lodgings. The oldest places for accommodation were the simple sælehus - houses of rest - where lodgers would have to cater for themselves. Tradition also tells us of roadside crosses, pilgrims' chapels and
sacred wells along the road.
