What is a pilgrimage without medieval flavours? Sygard Grytting treats hungry pilgrims to meat and fish from nearby forests and mountains, homemade bread and cakes, and marmalade made with berries from its very own garden.
Visiting Sygard Grytting is like going back in time. Both the guest house and the family traditions date back to medieval times. In fact, it's been run by the same family for about 700 years. Current owner Stig Grytting is the 16th generation at the farm.
Tasty food, fresh from the farm
Stig and his wife Hilde are both involved in the farming, the farm’s accommodation, and even have a hand in offering their guests tasty three-course dinners. The food is made from scratch and the menu often features the farm’s own produce.
The lamb comes from livestock that has grazed right outside the door and roaming around in the surrounding mountains. Moose and reindeer meat are sourced from forests and mountains just a short distance away and the same goes for the fish.
Potatoes are grown on the farm. Jam is made with berries from the garden, and the desserts often feature fruit from its orchard. The bread and pastries are all homemade and some of the bread is baked in the old kitchen’s traditional bread oven.
Elegantly restored
Sygard Grytting consists of around 25 houses of different sizes. The farmers themselves live in the stately farmhouse from the early 1700s, located in the inner courtyard.
The buildings have been painstakingly restored over the past 25 years, an accomplishment for which the family has received numerous awards. With close attention to traditions, some of the buildings in the inner courtyard have been renovated into a historic hotel with 12 rooms of a high standard. Sygard Grytting also boasts an extensive wine cellar on two floors under one of the main buildings.
It also hosts wine tastings and historic gourmet food evenings.
The medieval loft
Out of all the grand historic surroundings, the most special feature on the farm is no doubt the so-called langloft – the medieval loft that serves as a pilgrim hostel. It is the largest medieval loft in Norway and the only preserved hostel from the Catholic era.
The listed loft was built using a log building technique that was known before the Black Death in 1350, Stig tells us. A letter from 1343 refers to the house as Svevnstova in which it is described as being three stories high with enough space for at least 20 people.
An exceptional experience
The moment you step across the threshold and enter the langloft, you can sense its medieval atmosphere. It's easy to feel kinship with other pilgrims who have stayed here since the 1300s. Sleep under sheepskin rugs in simple beds and eat your meals at the long table in the same building.
During the summer season (1 July–15 August) pilgrims may book a delightful three-course meal and enjoy homemade breakfast in the main building on the farm, or choose the traditional pilgrimage soup. Some guests prepare their own meals in the kitchen in Fantstugu, where it is also possible to stay overnight. For groups, a Middle Ages-inspired dinner can be arranged.
The farm offers an exceptional accommodation option for pilgrims and an experience you will never forget.
Take a pilgrimage
Walk alone or in a group. Find everything you need on the official St. Olav Ways website.
Hikes for everyone
You don’t have to be a pilgrim to travel on foot in Norway. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced trekker, we have the perfect trail for you.
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