Røros

Røros is a town in Norway and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name Røros Mining Town and the Circumference. Røros was established in the 1600s because of that copper mine that was in operation for more than 300 years. Røros' unique history still dominates the town.

Røros sits in the uplands and interior, and is one of the coldest places in Europe during winter. The coldest temperature measured in Røros is -50,4°C on 13 January 1914. This is the lowest temperature measured in the southern part of Norway which makes it one the coldest places in the country.

Understand
Røros was created in the 1600s because of the copper mines established there. The town sits on a high plateau and there was only scattered settlement before mining began. Røros and surroundings, a circle 44 km around the first mine - known as the circumference, obtained royal privileges in 1646. Røros, along with Kongsberg, obtained special status as a mining town ("bergstad"), a name still used Bergstaden or Bergstaden Røros. The town was included in UNESCO world heritage list in 1980, the world heritage area was enlarged in 2010 to include the circumference. Except the masonry church the town is characterised by log buildings from the 300 years of copper mining. The town was burned during conflicts with Sweden in 1600s.

Norway's first coast to coast railway connected Oslo and Trondheim via Røros and was of course named Rørosbanen - Røros line (today the main line runs via Gudbrandsdalen and Dovrefjell).

Mining ended in 1977 and left a town with a unique history that can still be seen for instance by the slag heaps. Today the town of Røros has about 3,000 inhabitants.

The towns rich past can be seen by the large church that dominates the skyline. The church, also known as Bergstadens Ziir, is one of the most important works of church architecture in Norway. It is a big surprise to find this key church in a small mountain town. The church was designed by local master builders in cooperation with the copper mine manager. It is not clear how they got the idea for the particular design, except that octagonal churches already existed in Germany and in Trondheim.. Construction work was paid by the copper mine company and the church belonged to the company until 1865 when the church became public property. Several churches around Norway have been built as copies or as inspiration from this unusual building. The church tower is the symbol of Røros and instantly recognizable.

Røros is in the interior uplands and is during winter the coldest place south of the Arctic circle in Norway. The town itself sits at above 600 meters above sea level, which is regarded as upland in this part of the world. The town is surrounded by Rørosvidda, a largely barren plateau-like "fell" landscape. Rørosvidda reaches about 1200 meters above sea. There was previously more forest on the plateau, but the copper mine needed large amounts of wood or coal to extract metal from the ore and large part of the forest within the circumference was cut down.

The Swedish TV-series Pippi Longstocking (based on Astrid Lindgren's children's books) was shot at Røros.

By rail

 * There are direct trains from Trondheim (from kr 249, 2 hr 30 min) and Hamar (from kr 249, 3 hr 30 min).
 * In Hamar there are connecting trains to Oslo and Lillehammer.
 * In Hamar there are connecting trains to Oslo and Lillehammer.

By plane

 * Widerøe operates two daily flights from Oslo (from kr 599, 50 min), no flights on Saturday.

By bus
AtB operates buses from Trondheim (kr 286, 3 hr).

By car

 * From Oslo: route E6 then 3 via Elverum (5 hr, 400 km).
 * From Trondheim: Route E6 then 30 (2 hr 30 min, 150 km).
 * From Sveg in Sweden: route 84 then 31 (3 hr, 210 km).
 * From Lillehammer and Gudbrandsdalen:
 * E6 to Ringebu then through Friisvegen mountain pass to Atna
 * E6 to Frya (near Ringebu) then through Venabygdsfjellet/Rondane road mountain pass
 * From Ålesund and Molde: E136 through Åndalsnes, then E6 through Dovre pass, through Folldal and Alvdal

Get around
It is easy to get around in Røros. Everything is in walking distance.

Do

 * Sylan (swedish: Sylarna, sami: Bealjehkh) is a mountain area north-east of Røros that is shared with Sweden. The highest summit marks the border and is also the highest point in Jämtland. Trekking associations in Norway and Sweden operate some 30 lodges on both sides of the border. Hikers can comfortably do 2- to 4-day hikes lodge-to-lodge, as well as scrambles to summits. The landscape is relatively gentle with a handful of massifs/summits rising above plateau.

Buy
Artists are abundant in Røros. Local arts and handicrafts, potteries as well as reindeer and sheep skins are available.

Eat
A typical meal for the locals consist of amazing fresh bread with local cheeses, cold cuts and gravlaks. Unique to Røros are reindeer and moose meats. These meats are usually eaten as steaks or stewed to perfection.

Cope
You can find lockers of different size in the train station (kr 10-20).

Go next

 * Hedmark: Tynset and Femunden lake
 * Oppdal
 * Trondheim
 * Sweden: Jämtland, Dalarna including Falun mining town