The 7 Best Things to do in Gran Municipality, Eastern Norway

A unique attraction for children of all ages - a place the whole family will enjoy. Meet the Phantom, visit Scrooge's office and make your own comic strips. Museum of Comic Art - Norway has about every comic strip that has been published in Norway. The collection comprizes over 150,000 objects. Originals of well known Norwegian and foreign artists are displayed.

Sosterkirkene – the Sisters Churches - on Granavollen are an impressive landmark and have a mysterious history. Two churches are placed next to each other. Their steeples have inspired the design of the Gran municipal coat-of-arms. We are still speculating why there are two churches on Granavollen. The popular explanation is that there were two sisters who disliked each other and built each her own church. But if we go back to the Middle Ages, the time at which the churches were built, it wasn’t unusual that one built two or three churches in the same vicinity. They then had different functions, for example cathedral, monastery church, or parish church. Only on Granavollen Today, it is only on Granavollen that we find two medieval churches so close together on the same churchyard here in Norway. The larger one, Nikolaikirken was probably the county church while the smaller one, Mariakirken, was the parish church.They were likely built during the 12th century. At that time, the churches were quite often given the names of saints. The larger one is named after the saint bishop Nikolaus of Bari, the patron saint of travellers. The smaller one was named Mariakirken after the mother of Jesus. A Gathering Place and a Power Centre Sosterkirkene are freely located high above the village. Granavollen has been a gathering place through centuries, both in prechristian times and in the christian era. One of the oldest finds from christian time is a rune stone from the 11th century. The burial grounds, the rune stones and written source material tell us that this has been an important religious and political power centre.

Glasslaven Art Centre at historical Granavollen opened in April 2016. In the Stable gallery, art work is exhibited and for sale all year. Exhibitions and events are announced on digital media. Open to the public on weekends year around and every day in summer (medio June/end of Aug). Professional artists have their work space here: Glassblower, silversmith, authors, composer and painters. The barn from 1880 is restored and rebuilt with ecological principles using only natural materials and traditional techniques. The whole of Granavollen is unique: The neighbouring Sister churches and the Stone house (which is the only non-religious building from the middle ages in the countryside of Norway) are some of our most valuable national landmarks. The unique environment has for generations inspired the local people´s creativity and attracted artists from afar. Driving time and train ride is an hour from Oslo and from the airport Gardermoen 50 minutes.

Visit idyllic Hadeland Folkemuseum and get a glimpse of everyday life from the past. This open air museum contains more than 30 buildings from the 17th to the 20th centuries and a burial mound from Halfdan Svarte, the old viking king. In the summertime you can walk around in our beautiful open air museum by yourself, or you can take a guided tour in the old houses or in Tingelstad old church. This medieval church dates from the 11th century A.D and has original 16th century interiors. The museum has areas for picnicking. The cafeteria is open on Saturdays and Sundays during the summerseason. In our museum gift shop you can buy souvenirs, handicraft, special art wares, beverages and ice cream. Visit Genealogy centre, open Thursdays and by appointment (not July and August).

A charming museum with a dressmaker’s workroom and shop in the old culture landscape Tingelstad on the farm Aschim Nordre. 170 objects from the 18th and 19th centuries. Treasures are hand-embroidered christening dresses and tiny caps. In the old smithy, they design and produce christening dresses inspired of olden days. You can buy baptismal pins in silver, traditional Norwegian wooden toys, etc. From under the birch trees, you can enjoy the view over the landscape and the Randsfjord.

Steinhuset from the 1200s is the only nonecclesiastic stone building from the Middle Ages in rural Norway. What the building has had for function, is uncertain, but the theories are many. Cistercian monastery, banquet hall for the parish priest, or house for the Hamar bishop during his visitations? One has good reason to belivev that the house has had some connection with Sosterkirkene - the Sister Churches. Today, Steinhuset is used for different arrangements. Steinhusets Venner invite regulary to culture evenings. Guided tours can be arranged.