Meetings trolls in Peer Gynt`s Kingdom – Vinstra – Gudbransdalen - Norway`s mysterious region with thousand of opportunities

"The royal hall of the king of the Dovre-trolls, a great assembly of troll-courtiers, gnomes, and brownies. The old man of the Dovre sits on the throne, crowned, and with his sceptre in his hand. His children and nearest relations are ranged on both sides. Peer Gynt stands before him (violent commotion in the hall). The troll-courtiers said: Slay him! A Christian-man's son has deluded the Dovre-King's loveliest maid!"……! And so the thrill drama continues.

The world famous author Henrik Ibsen wrote this. He was a Norwegian dramatist, whose realistic plays dealing with psychological and social problems. This won him recognition as the creator of modern drama. He was born 20 Mars 1828 in Skien, and died in 23 May 1906.

The land of the Trolls - Vinstra in Gudbrandsdalen. Photo. The Peer Gynt-statue in Vinstra. At Vinstra and in the surroundings around in Gudbrandsdalen, you will find the beautiful area which inspired Henrik Ibsen to write his dramatic masterpiece, Peer Gynt! Most kind of activities and recreation can be experienced in a wonderful wilderness between Jotunheimen and Rondane.

Today, just as it was when Ibsen visited the area, Peer Gynt's Kingdom in Vinstra offers mystery, adventure and inspiration. Peer Gynt himself in the novel was a real adventurer who travelled many places in the world, but his greatest experiences was in his own region. Read the novel about Peer Gynt you too, and find inspiration for great adventures in Vinstra, Gudbrandsdalen.

What`s the origin for trolls? Where are they actual from? Is it true about trolls?
The Norwegian Folk tales contain an undertone of realism and folk humour that makes them unique. There have always been trolls in the Norwegian folklore, but these old trolls were always ugly, nasty and dangerous. Children were told "If you don't behave yourself, the trolls will come and take you away!" For them trolls were very frightening creatures.

Photos. Looking for trolls at the mountain Kvamsfjellet in Norway (Eastern 2004).

According to ancient Norwegian legends some trolls were giants and others were small. They all had long crooked noses, only four fingers and toes on each limb, and most had long bushy tails. The trolls were night creatures, and direct sunlight could cause them to crack and turn into stone. Perhaps this can explain why Norway has so many stones, rocks and high mountains.

There are stories of two-headed as well as three-headed trolls, and even a few with only one eye in the middle of their wrinkled foreheads. Others have trees and rough mosslike growth all over their heads and noses. They have supernatural powers, and do usually bring good luck.

Photo. Trolls in Norway mean no harm - as far you behave yourself. These hairy creatures have supernatural powers, and do usually bring good luck.

The trolls lived to be hundreds of years old. Most were shaggy and looked a bit frightening, but they were mostly good-natured and naive. Even today it is well advised to keep a good standing with the trolls. When you go to the forests and the mountains in Norway, just remember, they probably mean no harm.

But beware. In the twilight hours you are no longer alone. Then it is only you.....and all the trolls. I just wish you good luck!

Stein Morten Lund, 31 January 2005

Additional information
Gudbrandsdalen in Norway is the valley with thousand opportunities. This region is in Oppland County, located in south central Norway. It extends ca. 160 km from the Dovrefjell south-eastward to Lillehammer on Mjosa lake - Mjøsa lake.

Activity vacations are offered all around in the region and nearby. These vacations may feature river rafting, bicycling, kayaking, hiking, glacier tours, cave tours, climbing, fishing, horseback riding, boat tours, reindeer safaris, elg (moose) safaris and moskus safaris.

It's a rich agricultural and timber district. The Lagan River, which traverses the valley, is a valuable source of hydroelectric power. The valley has long been an important trade route and a main invasion route through South Norway and has a rich history; many Gudbrandsdalen farmers trace their ancestry back to saga times. Much of the action in Ibsen's Peer Gynt is set there.

Rafting in one of Europe's best and wildest rivers:
Sjoa River is for white-water rafting. Sjoa is located in Oppland County in Norway. Sjoa, which is also called the land of the Trolls, is surrounded with high mountains, and has huge and steep rock walls.

Sjoa River in Gudbrandsdalen floats along the road 257 in the Heidal valley. The rafting trips here start ca. 8 km from the intersection with E6 road at Sjoa. It's about 1,5 hours drive north from the Olympic City Lillehammer. Rafting demands co-operation. It has during years been very popular among companies which use rafting for teambuilding.

The rafting companies provide the participants with necessary equipment such as helmets, wetsuits, and life vests, but the participants must bring their own wool sweaters, wool underwear and thick woollen socks.

Wild and untouched nature: 
The area nearby offers the most fantastic nature you ever have dreamed about. Jotunheimen is a mountain region, where you find several of the highest mountains in Norway (and the north of Europe). Among these are: Galdhøpiggen (2469 m), Glittertind (2452 m), Store Skagastølstind (2405 m) and Fannaråken (2069 m).

The mountain range Jotunheimen is located 350 km north of Oslo, Norway. The summits are 2000 m or more above sea level, and there are quite a number of smaller glaciers in the area. Most of Jotunheimen has status as National Park, which means that special environmental regulations apply, the most important one being that no motor vehicles are allowed. This makes Jotunheimen ideally suited for hikers and climbers that enjoy the experience of basically undisturbed nature.

Spreading north and east from Otta towards the Swedish border, the Rondane National Park (Rondane Nasjonalpark), established in 1962 as Norway's first national park, is now one of the country's most popular hiking areas. Its 580 square kilometres, one-third of which are in the high alpine zone, appeal to walkers of all ages and abilities. The soil is poor, so vegetation is sparse and lichens, especially reindeer moss, predominate, but the views across this bare landscape are serenely beautiful, and a handful of lakes and rivers along with patches of dwarf birch forest provide some variety.