Hamar is a not large town (with just under 30,000 residents) located on the shores of Lake Mjøsa, the largest lake in Norway. Hamar is an important railway hub. Architecturally, the town is fairly average, but it has several tourist attractions that may interest visitors.
Main Sights and Attractions
Hamar Railway Station is one of the most beautiful railway station buildings in Norway. The first wooden station building in Hamar was built in 1862, in connection with the opening of the Eidsvoll–Hamar railway line. That small station was replaced in 1880 by a larger wooden structure designed by Balthazar Conrad Lange. The current brick station building, which still stands today, was designed by architect Paul Due and officially opened in 1894. The station underwent modernization in 1993 ahead of the Lillehammer Winter Olympics, and again in 2023. It is considered one of the most important historical railway buildings in Norway.
The town’s most prominent attraction is the Norwegian Railway Museum, located 3 kilometers from the railway station. The museum boasts a rich collection of locomotives and carriages dating from 1861 to 1962. On its grounds is also Norway’s oldest railway station building, from 1851. One of the highlights of the collection is the Dovregubben 49C 470 steam locomotive, the largest and heaviest steam engine ever used in Norway. The permanent exhibitions showcase signal equipment, railway uniforms, archival photographs, and documents. During the summer season, visitors can ride vintage trains on a short railway line of several hundred meters. The museum also features a children’s playground and a seasonal miniature railway.
Cathedral Ruins – the cathedral ruins are a very valuable historical site for those who are interesting in history of Norway. The cathedral was built between 1153 and 1200, but was destroyed by Swedish troops in 1567. Only the foundations, floors, and parts of the walls survived. To protect the remains, a glass structure known as the Glass Cathedral (Norwegian: Domkirkeodden) was built over the ruins. Admission is charged, and tickets are relatively expensive.
Kirsten Flagstad Museum – A small museum dedicated to one of Norway’s most famous opera singers, Kirsten Flagstad. The museum is located in the oldest preserved house in Hamar. Visitors can learn about the singer’s life and view a collection of costumes she wore on stage.
Not far from the railway station is the Art Gallery (Kunstbanken senter for samtidskunst), where contemporary artists from Hamar and the surrounding area exhibit their works. At the time of writing, admission was free.
Hamar is also known for its sports facilities, which were built for the 1994 Winter Olympics. The Vikingskipet sports hall can accommodate 20,000 spectators and is one of the largest indoor arenas in Norway. It was built in the shape of an upside-down Viking ship. Another major facility is Hamar OL-Amfi, which hosted speed skating competitions during the Olympics.
Related articles:
Train travel in Norway – a comprehensive guide
