Røros Old Town (Bergmannsgata & Kjerkgata)
Bergstaden Røros
The heart of a World Heritage mining town, with coloured wooden houses from the 17th–19th centuries lining two main streets, along with courtyards and workshops. Its state of preservation is rare in Northern Europe.
Røros was founded in 1644 around copper mining. For more than 300 years it was Norway's centre of copper mining and smelting. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1980, and in 2010 the listing was extended to 'Røros Mining Town and the Circumference'. The old town has about 2,000 timber buildings. Its main axes are the broad Bergmannsgata and Kjerkgata. Miners' cottages, merchants' courtyards, stables and storehouses enclose a series of yards. Today, the courtyards hold craft shops, cafés, and stalls selling reindeer meat and local dairy products. You can wander the district for free. A good route is to start at the train station, walk up Bergmannsgata to the church, then loop around to Slegga hill for a panoramic view back over the town. This takes about 1.5–2 hours. In winter, the streets are icy, so wear non-slip shoes. Some courtyards are private homes, so please do not enter them.
Opening hours
District open all day; shops mostly 10:00–17:00, some closed on Sundays
Nearby sights
- Rørosmartnan Winter Market
- Røros Church (Bergstadens Ziir)
- Smelthytta – Røros Museum
- Slegghaugan Slag Heaps & Sleggveien
- Nordgruvefeltet & Christianus Sextus Mine
- Johan Falkberget Museum (Ratvolden)
- Olavsgruva Mine
- Femundsmarka National Park & Lake Femunden