Sverresborg Trøndelag Folkemuseum

About the museum

The first initiative for a building-history museum in Trondheim was taken in 1909, when a group of residents wanted to collect typical older buildings. In 1913 the Bygningsmuseet for Trondhjem og Trøndelag (Building Museum for Trondheim and Trøndelag) was founded, and the collection then consisted of seven buildings and around 300 objects. The area around the ruins of King Sverre's medieval castle from 1182–83 was taken into use as a site in 1914, and the castle ruins became part of the museum. From 1975 the museum was called Trøndelag folkemuseum, and after 1999 Sverresborg Trøndelag Folkemuseum.

Today the museum has more than 120 registered antiquarian buildings, and around 80 of them stand on the site. They show Trøndelag building traditions from town to countryside and from mountain to shore. The stave church from Haltdalen dates from the 1170s, but most of the other houses are from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Hans Nissen farm, given to the museum in 1912, is regarded as Trondheim's oldest farm. The area is divided into the themes By (Town), Bygd (Countryside) and Borg (Castle).

The large visitor building was opened on 1 June 1999 to designs by the architects Fredrik Torp and Torstein Lømo, and is financed by a gift from the couple Monica and Pierre Chappuis. It houses reception, shop, café and the main exhibition Livsbilder (Pictures of Life).

Highlights

• Haltdalen stave church from the 1170s
• Trondheim town museum with streets, back yards and interiors from the 18th century to today
• The ruins of King Sverre's castle
• Adolf Øien's gentry flat
• The main exhibition Livsbilder (Pictures of Life)
• The Hans Nissen farm, Trondheim's oldest farm

Permanent exhibitions

• Livsbilder – The main exhibition in the basement of the visitor building follows human life from childhood to old age through memories and objects.
• Trondheim bymuseum – Streets, alleys and back yards with authentic buildings and interiors that show Trondheim's history from the 18th century to today.
• Adolf Øiens leilighet – Gentry flat with twelve rooms covering 300 square metres, furnished with objects from the home of the industrialist Adolf Øien.

Founded

1913

Operated by

Museene i Sør-Trøndelag AS (MiST)

Admission & discounts

Prices follow the season. High season (June–September): adults NOK 200, seniors/concessions, students and groups NOK 160. Low season (January–May and October–December): adults NOK 160, seniors/concessions, students and groups NOK 140. A free second day applies for up to five days after the visit (not after 16 August) on presentation of the ticket. A ticket to Sverresborg gives free admission to Norsk Døvemuseum and Trondhjems Sjøfartsmuseum within one week. The Sverresborgkortet (Sverresborg Card) is an annual pass with free admission to all events, in three price groups.

Accessibility

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

The main entrance has automatic sliding doors, and reception, shop, café and toilets are at ground level. The main exhibition in the basement can be reached by lift, but the doors there have no automatic opener. The exhibition Livsbilder has low lighting and changes in level. In the open-air museum the terrain is partly steep and cobbled, and the antiquarian buildings have narrow doors, steps and door thresholds; for some houses a ramp can be laid on request. Wheelchairs can be borrowed in the visitor building (they cannot be reserved). Nattmannshuset (the Night Watchman's House) has a soundscape, and the museum offers programmes and city walks with sign language interpreters in cooperation with Norsk Døvemuseum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum calls itself Trondheim's largest family attraction and has family events such as Påske på Sverresborg (Easter at Sverresborg), Sankthans (Midsummer), Eventyrhelg (Fairy-tale Weekend), Middelalderfestival (Medieval Festival) and Jul på Sverresborg (Christmas at Sverresborg), with separate ticket prices. Children aged 0–15 enter free. The museum also offers programmes for nurseries and schools.

Getting there & parking

Trondheim City Bike is an alternative to car and bus.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Borgstua Kafè in the visitor building follows the museum's opening hours. Vertshuset Tavern at Sverresborg is a separate restaurant. There are 14 lockers in two sizes; a token is collected from reception. The museum shop follows the museum's opening hours.

Events & venue rental

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

Up to 500 guests.

Historic premises for meetings, parties and weddings for 15 to 500 people. Lo church and the Haltdalen stave church can be rented for christenings, weddings, confirmations and concerts in the period May–September; the outdoor areas can be used for ceremonies.

Plan your visit