The title of this post contains three ø’s, which is an indication of just how Norwegian our last weekend was. We took a road trip to the charming village of Røros, two hours southeast of Trondheim.
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Røros Main Street.
The Røros Copper Mine was founded in 1644 and operated continuously until its closure in 1977. Three years later, Røros was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of its well-preserved culture. The town changed very little over the intervening 333 years; the vast majority of houses remain in use and are in one of two architectural styles that reflect traditional Norway: 1) Lincoln-style log cabins with turf roofs, or 2) brightly painted wood beam rowhouses.
Røros Copper Mine.
I guess if you figure out how to survive as a mining community in a harsh climate 2,000 feet above sea level, why change anything?
I would like wildflowers on my roof.
Røros is also known for its local food. Twenty indigenous Sami families actively practice reindeer husbandry in the region, and thus reindeer meat is a widely available. Gavin and I purchased a flank steak from Røros Rein to cook at home, and Gavin had an excellent reindeer stew for dinner.
You can also buy a reindeer pelt for $51.
I tried another traditional Norwegian dish, Rømmegrøt, which is “sour cream porridge.” It is served with a side of dried sausage and tastes like mac and cheese without the mac. That is, until you pour cinnamon sugar on top, and then it tastes more like warm frosting. It is delicious! I looked up the nutrition facts later and learned that one serving has 786 calories and 67 grams of fat. It strikes me as the type of food you would invent if it’s 1650, you’re cold, you have limited ingredients, and you need something to sustain you during a long shift at the mine.
Rømmegrøt. That’s melted butter on top.
Røros is known for its Christmas market and is surrounded by several hundred miles of cross-country ski trails, so I suspect we’ll be back in the winter, if not before.
Here are a few more pictures, because it’s beautiful.
Røros: Yes!
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You are doing a GREAT job for Norwegian travel industry. I want to do and see everything you write about! Skoal!
Thanks Susan — I really appreciate it! We are having a great time. Start planning your trip!