Baardseng Gård seen from above: the farm on its hill above Lake Mjøsa, the meadow sloping down to the water, and the old pilgrim road crossing the land.

A Norwegian story you are invited to join

Set on a hillside overlooking Lake Mjøsa, Baardseng Gård carries roots to the Viking age. We open our gates to guests who wish to slow down and immerse themselves in Norwegian culture.

Since 1665

Three centuries of history,
lived in the present.

Baardseng Gård has evolved over more than 300 years, but its heart remains the same. Today, we run a modern farm with goats, chickens, tractors in the yard, and a deep respect for the traditions that built this place.

With written records dating back to 1665, and in our family since 1990, we hold onto what matters: the old paths, the historic buildings, and warm hospitality. As this generation’s farm owners, we want to give our guests an authentic feel of Norwegian life. We honor the farm’s rich past while building a sustainable future, opening our gates so you can take part in the traditions shaped by the family who calls Baardseng home.

Baardseng Gård at golden hour: a moose in the meadow with the red farm barn and Lake Mjøsa in the background.

I · The road

The pilgrim road runs through the meadow.

For nine hundred years, travelers have walked this path from Oslo to Nidaros, and Baardseng was on the way. Today we welcome you to rest on the bench over the lake, or to come in. The gate is open, as it always was.

II · The Lake

A lake that changes with the season.

From the farmstand, Mjøsa reveals its majestic, ever-changing colors and mood. Skibladner, the world's oldest paddle steamer, glides like a swan on the lake, as she has since 1856.

III · The farm

A barn built by hand, log by log.

Notched by hand without nails, these timber walls have weathered the seasons since the early 1700s. Today, the barn is a peaceful refuge rooted in the past, welcoming guests to carve with hand tools and reconnect with the timeless craft that built the barn.

IV · The stabbur

A Time Capsule.

Built on tall pillars, the old stabbur serves as our farm's time capsule. Original hand tools hang as they were left, and the floor timbers still carry the crust of salt from centuries of cured meats.

Experiences

Five ways to spend a day. Small groups, genuine wilderness, and local hospitality.

Waffle batter being mixed in a farm kitchen

The Waffle Hour

Cardamom batter on cast iron, cloudberry preserves, and caramel-rich Gudbrandsdalen brown cheese. Sit with the family in our warm kitchen for Norway’s coziest daily ritual.

2.5 hrsAll ages→

A long farm table set for a meal above Mjøsa

Dinner at the Old Farmhouse

A wood-fired feast at our historic pine table seating twelve. Savor heritage dishes crafted with certified organic produce sourced directly from around Baardseng.

3 hrsAll ages→

Hands carving green wood at the smithy bench

Traditional Wood Carving

Work with green birch and hand tools in our historic timber workshop. Mentored by master Gudbrandsdal woodcarvers in small groups of up to six.

3 hrsAges 10+→

Freshly set cross-country ski tracks through the birch forest

Nordic Cross-Country

Nordic Skiing in the Gudbrandsdal Wild

Explore the extensive cross-country skiing trail network of the Gudbrandsdal Valley with local ski guides. Glide through quiet mountain forests, frozen wetlands, and wild ridges far from the tourist crowds.

2–5 hrsAges 10+→

A farmer walking through a dewy hay meadow at sunrise

Farmer Apprenticeship

Be a Norwegian Farmer for a Day

Suit up in traditional Felleskjøpet workwear, learn the controls of our tractors, and manage real livestock and pasture tasks alongside our farm team and valley neighbors.

4 hrsAges 16+→