Allmannrøysa

Allmannsrøysa is located at Hardbakken, the highest point on the pilgrim trail between Dovrebygda and Fokstugu. Some think this is an old burial cairn, but most present-day walkers will see it as a place where one can leave a stone - perhaps one carried all the way from home. For many, the stone can be experienced as a symbol of something heavy they have been carrying with them, which they can now set down here at Allmannsrøysa.

There has been a theory that a cross once stood in the middle of Allmannsrøysa. This theory was confirmed when a section map from the 1700s was found. The map showed which stretches of the King’s Road the farms down in the valley were responsible for maintaining. A boundary between sections runs across Hardbakken, and it is referred to as “the Cross at Harbachen.”

Not far from Allmannsrøysa, an important archaeological find was made a few years ago: two small objects lying right next to each other. One was the end of a walking staff. The other object was a pilgrim’s badge. The walking staff contained wood, which was dated to the late 1100s. This find confirms that the route past Allmannsrøysa and Hardbakken was an old medieval road and a pilgrim route for those traveling to Nidaros. 

Allmannsrøysa lies at 1,210 meters above sea level. From here there is a magnificent view. On a clear day, we can see the highest peaks of Dovrefjell, including the tallest of them all, Snøhetta at 2,286 meters above sea level. A bit closer, we see the white buildings at Fokstugu and Fokstumyra—known for its rich birdlife. The Pilgrim’s Route follows the King’s Road toward Fokstugu. From Allmannsrøysa, it is about a two hour hike.