Stiklestad Nasjonale Kultursenter

About the museum

Stiklestad in Verdal is the place where Olav Haraldsson fell in the battle on 29 July 1030. The following year he was canonised, and he has since been known as Olav den hellige (Saint Olav). Stiklestad church was built at the end of the 12th century on the spot where the king fell, and the Olavsstøtta (Olav Stone) east of the church is the oldest known monument in Norway. The site also has a Catholic chapel from 1930 and an Orthodox chapel that was moved here and consecrated in 2014.

Stiklestad Nasjonale Kultursenter conveys the story of Olav, the battle and the Olav heritage through exhibitions in the Kulturhuset, an open-air museum with over 30 buildings from Verdal and Innherred, and the medieval farm Stiklastadir, where visitors can see, hear and smell the past. The open-air stage and amphitheatre were built for the major play Spelet om Heilag Olav, which is performed during the Olsok celebrations.

The Kulturhuset houses, among others, the permanent exhibitions Helgenkongens historier (“The Stories of the Saint King”) and I Olav den helliges fotspor (“In the Footsteps of Saint Olav”) on the mezzanine. The centre also has a hotel, a restaurant, a museum shop and guided tours. In summer, Vikingsommer (Viking Summer) is held with daily tours and activities on the site.

Highlights

• The site of the battle at Stiklestad in 1030
• Stiklestad church from the end of the 12th century
• Open-air museum with over 30 buildings
• The medieval farm Stiklastadir
• The exhibitions on Olav den hellige in the Kulturhuset
• Spelet om Heilag Olav and the Olsok days

Permanent exhibitions

• Helgenkongens historier – Permanent exhibition on the mezzanine of the Kulturhuset about Olav Haraldsson and his significance over a thousand years.
• Folkemuseet – Open-air museum with over 30 buildings showing building traditions and living conditions in Verdal and Innherred from the 1500s to the 1900s.
• Middelaldergården Stiklastadir – Farm environment from Olav Haraldsson's time, with stories about a society changing from Norse religion to Christianity.

Founded

2007

Admission & discounts

Tickets for the Kulturhuset exhibitions are bought at reception.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Kulturhuset and the hotel are accessible by lift and meet universal design requirements in most areas. Parts of the open-air museum are not adapted in the same way. Four accessible parking spaces near the main entrance and a taxi stop five metres from the entrance. Accessible toilets on the ground floor and in the basement, and on the path up to the Spelamfiet (amphitheatre). Induction loop in the conference room and the auditorium. The open-air stage has wheelchair spaces in row 1. Dogs are allowed on the museum grounds, but not during Vikingsommer and not during Spelet om Heilag Olav (this also applies to guide dogs).

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

3.5 km from the E6. About 90 km from central Trondheim and 60 km from Trondheim Airport Værnes.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Restaurant Skalden is open every day all year, except for a few Easter and Christmas days. Museum shop open daily 09:00–21:00. Scandic Stiklestad Hotel is on the same site.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Course and conference rooms, function rooms and catering.

Plan your visit