Ringebu
Ringebu is Innlandet’s stave-framed alpine basin — a municipality where dragons perch beside mammoths, ski trails carve through Olympic slopes, and a three-tongued flame blazes across the coat of arms. With around 4,400 residents and a landscape shaped by the Gudbrandsdalslågen River, Venabygdsfjellet plateau, and the villages of Vålebru, Fåvang, and Venabygd, Ringebu is the kind of place where you can hike past medieval churches, ride horses through mountain passes, and still catch a sculpture trail beside a fjellbad. It’s got heritage, highlands, and a name that may stem from Old Norse *Ringabú* — “ring-shaped farm.”
Top Attractions
- Ringebu Stave Church – 13th-century wooden church with dragon carvings & panoramic views
- Kvitfjell Ski Resort – Olympic downhill venue with alpine & cross-country trails
- Venabygdsfjellet – mountain plateau with hiking, skiing & wild reindeer sightings
- Ringebu Prestegard – art gallery & cultural center beside the stave church
- Venabustallen – horseback riding tours with Norwegian Dole horses
Unique Experiences
- Høgkleiva Tankeplass – sculpture trail with myth-inspired art & panoramic viewpoints
- Karlsvogna Fjellbad – indoor steam pool, bubble bath & climbing wall at Spidsbergseter
- Dragon Sculpture – metal dragon installation linked to local folklore & mammoth statue
- Venabu Fjellhotell Ski Safari – guided ski tours through untouched mountain terrain
- Asdalstjørna Nature Reserve – scenic drive with lakes, wildlife & rugged beauty
Places to Stay
Search hotels, cabins & guesthouses in Ringebu
Where to Eat
Explore top-rated restaurants in Ringebu
Getting There
Ringebu lies along the E6 highway and the Dovre railway line, with Vålebru as its administrative center. Buses connect to Lillehammer, Otta, and Rondane National Park. The area is best explored by boots, bike, or bold curiosity — especially if you’re chasing stave echoes, ski lore, or the hush of birch leaves beside a dragon sculpture.