Romsdalsmuseet

About the museum

Romsdalsmuseet was established in 1912 and bought an area in Molde where the first buildings of the rural collection were set up. The museum opened to the public in 1928. The collection lies in a park centrally in the town, a few minutes’ walk from the centre, and consists of around 50 buildings that show Romsdal building traditions and ways of life from the 17th to the 20th century, including årestuer, røykovnstuer, stabbur (storehouses), cowsheds and a separate mountain summer farm (seter) setting by the andedammen (duck pond).

Bygata was opened to the public on 10 June 1992. It consists of six buildings and recreates a Molde as it could have looked before the town fire of 1916 and the bombing in 1940. Several of the houses originally stood in the centre of Molde.

Krona is the museum’s newer museum building, with striking timber architecture. Here one finds the permanent exhibition “Romsdalshistorier” (Romsdal Stories) about the people of Romsdal and living conditions in the region through different periods, an area for changing exhibitions, a special “Schwittersrom” (Schwitters Room) with the interior from the Merzhytta on Hjertøya, a café, a museum shop, a library and an auditorium. Romsdalsmuseet additionally runs several other visitor sites in the region, such as Bud kystmuseum, Fiskerimuseet på Hjertøya, Veøya and Nesset prestegard.

Highlights

• The rural collection with around 50 buildings from the 17th to the 20th century
• Bygata, a Molde from before the town fire and the war
• Permanent exhibition “Romsdalshistorier” in Krona
• The Schwitters Room with the interior from Merzhytta on Hjertøya
• Café Mali and museum shop
• Treasure hunt for children and “Sommer på museet” (Summer at the Museum)

Permanent exhibitions

• Romsdalshistorier – Permanent exhibition at Krona about the people of Romsdal and the living conditions in the region through different periods.
• Bygdesamlingen – Around 50 buildings showing Romsdal building traditions and ways of life from the 17th to the 20th century, with årestuer, stabbur, cowsheds and a seter.
• Bygata og Schwittersrommet – Six buildings recreating Molde before the town fire of 1916 and the bombing of 1940, and a room with the interior from Kurt Schwitters’ Merzhytta on Hjertøya.

Founded

1912

Operated by

Romsdalsmuseet

Admission & discounts

Compulsory-school pupils in Romsdal have free admission. Tickets can be bought at the reception at Krona, in Lassebua at the entrance to the rural museum, or in advance through the museum’s ticket system. Gift vouchers are ordered at post@romsdalsmuseet.no.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Treasure hunt for children in the summer and activities for children at Krona. Children aged 0–11 have free admission.

Getting there & parking

The museum grounds lie in a park a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Molde.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Kafé Mali at Krona with lunch dishes, cakes and coffee, and a museum shop. At the rural museum, sveler (Norwegian pancakes), coffee, ice cream and soft drinks are sold in the summer season.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 87 guests.

The auditorium at Krona seats 87 people. Function rooms in the museum grounds are rented out, and a chapel is used for weddings and church services in the summer half-year.

Plan your visit