The Romsdal (the valley of the Rauma), one of Norway's most beautiful valleys, extends southwest from Åndalsnes, on the magnificent Romsdalsfjord, for a distance of some 60km/40mi.
Access
The Romsdal is reached either from Åndalsnes or from the southeast through the Gudbrandsdal, from the head of which E 9 runs over the watershed between the Atlantic and the Skagerrak into the upper Romsdal. Beyond the inn at Stugaflåten, the last place in the Gudbrandsdal, the road passes from the county of Oppland into Møre og Romsdal.
In a wide part of the valley, below the massive bulk of the Kalskråtind (1,799m/5,903ft), is Marstein. To the north, dominating the scene, is the Romsdalshorn (1,550m/5,086ft); to the west are the Trolltinder (1,794m/5,866ft), with almost vertical rock faces which were first climbed only in 1966. The height of the mountains means that the sun does not reach down into the valley for almost five months in the year.
The E 9 winds its way down the Romsdal, which becomes steadily narrower, with views of the river Rauma flowing tumultuously below. At the Slettafoss it has cut a wild gorge through the rock.
At the Sogge bridge the Trollstigvei ("Trolls' Road") goes off on the left and traverses the Isterdal to Valldal. It crosses the Stigfoss, continues up to the Trollstigheimen Fjellstue, on the pass, and then descends to Valldal, on the magnificent Tåfjord.
At the Grøtør bridge a side road branches off to Grytten church. The E 9 continues to Åndalsnes (pop. 3,000), a lively tourist center picturesquely situated on the Romsdalsfjord. The town has an important harbor and shipyards (it built oil-rigs, among other things).
Åndalsnes is a popular cruise destination that saw the first cruise ships as early as 1883.
A few kilometers from Verma the E 9 reaches the bottom of the valley of the Rauma, with steep hills on either side. At Flatmark (alt. 127m/417ft) the peak of Døntind (1,676m/6,000ft) is seen on the left.
The church at Kors was built in 1919, incorporating masonry from the old church at Flatmark. Notable features are the reredos by Jacob Klustad, the "Master of the Acanthus", and the Renaissance pulpit.
Visiting choirs will attend the Kors church for performances.
At Verma (alt. 273m/895ft) can be seen a stone commemorating the opening of the railroad in 1924. Here the line crosses the river on the Kyllingbru (76m/80yds long, 59m/195ft high). Nearby is the Vermafoss hydroelectric station.
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Church in winter in Romsdal.
Snow covered chapel in Romsdal.
Interior of a stave church in Romsdal.
Exterior of the stave church in Romsdal.
The winding Troll's Road, also known as Trollstigvei.
