The Hill Fortress Roaldstein

-  Viewpoint with beautiful view of the Lake Snåsavatnet

Roaldstein is not a fortress as one would normally think of a fortress, a large man-made building. Roaldstein is primarily nature's work, an approx. 200 m high mountain knot, with a sheer wall towards Lake Snåsavatnet on the south side. The terrain is steep and twisting and made it a place that was not easy and come to. It was only from the north and northwest that it was relatively easy to get up on the small plateau on top.

The fact that the place was inaccessible, but with with a good view to the south, made the place to a superb lookout post.  A fortress was built around the plateau and you still find approx. 100-150 m with more or less visible remains from the fortress. It was probably built during the popular migration period, sometime between 400 BC-550 AD. The need for such a fortress was likely due to attacks by warrior groups at this time. Fortresses were built throughout Trøndelag, and some believe they were built as part of a strategic warning and contingency plan for the whole of Trøndelag.

Roaldstein has been used for several purposes throughout history. It is believed that it has been used as a protection, attack post and as a checkpoint. It was built as a place where the population could escape. Another theory is that rural areas can be border landmarks between different territories. During World War II, the Germans had an observation site on Roaldstein. They also set up a high observation tower, a staircase and a machine gun point. Still remaining is a small bunker that the Germans built of stone from the old fortress.

The view from Roaldstein is beautiful and you can look far beyond the village and the mountains. Looking west, towards Steinkjer, you can see almost the end of Lake Snåsavatnet. The fact that you can see so far further strengtens the idea that this has been a checkpoint. One could see the enemy from  long distance, light the fire to alert the inhabitants of the village in good time. The residents could then escape to the forest or mountains with family and animals in good time. Roaldstein could have been a part of the warning system, which not only applied to various fortresses, but also a collaboration between citizens and other cairns, such as Bergsåsen.

See here for gps-tracks and zoomable map to Roaldsteinen. (Hike description in Norwegian, but you can change the language and translate with google translate).