ETR // Stage 11 // Brekstad - Kristiansund

63°41'12.4"N 9°39'59.7"E
63.686779, 9.666586
Brekstad - Kristiansund
VR EXPO - 60 Stages
ETR Map for Mobile
what3words.com
goo.gl/maps

Distance

Brekstad - Kritiansund
Radius 100 km
214 km

Highlights

Trondheimsfjord
Mariaklosteret
Hell Gods Expedition
Hell Blues Festival
Trondheim
Rockheim Museum
Nidaros Cathedral
Archbishop's Palace
The Crown Regalia
Orkanger
Stiklestad Folk Museum
Tyholt Tower
Munkholmen
Nordmøre Region
Kristiansund Nightlife

Ride the southern coast of Trondheimsfjorden

If you find yourself riding a loop from Brekstad back north to Trondheim, Levanger and Steinkjer on the E6, you can explore the Stjørdal area. Here, you should consider visiting the Tautra area in the Trondheimsfjord, where you can find ruins of a convent dating back to 1207. You could also visit the new Maria Convent from 2006, and the Klostergården offering overnight rooms and a restaurant.

To get there from From Steinkjer or Levanger, take the E-6 south towards Åsen. Turn right on Route 753 toward Frosta just before the Esso station. The Frosta road is great riding, and fifteen minutes later, you drive through Frosta. Do not turn towards Sentrum, but stay on 753 until you turn right at the sign for Klosterruiner. This road takes you to the causeway, and over the bridge. When you get to the roundabout on Tautra, turn left and follow the signs for Mariaklosteret.

Alternatively, if you're riding from Trondheim, drive north on E-6, and about 20 minutes after Stjørdal, turn left onto Route 753 to Frosta, just after the Esso station. Fifteen minutes later, you arrive in Frosta, where you should stay on 753 until you turn right at the same sign for Klosterruiner cross over the causeway and over the bridge, and when you get to the roundabout on Tautra, turn left and follow the signs for Mariaklosteret. Tricky to get to, but definitely worth it.

Heavenly herbs and Homebrew

While driving this ever-narrowing road, you will see large farms on both sides of the road, an impressive view of the fjord and fields on both sides. At the farm shop you will find home-brewed beer, so buy some for the road trip ahead. End the trip at the Maria Convent - a modern building, constructed in 2006, with stylish, award-winning architecture. Everyone is welcome there, and the visitor’s center also welcomes all travellers. The nuns at the Maria Convent make a living from the manufacture of skin creams and herb soaps. A visit here is literally “heavenly”.

Falling from Heaven into the depths of Hell

Returning from Frosta, turn towards Trondheim, but don’t miss the Hell Gods Expedition, the name of the train station in Hell where you are condemned to take the same photos of the same road sign for all of eternity. While in Hell, you should attend the Hell Blues Festival if the dates match up, usually in September.

Rockheim - Trondheim's Rock City

From Stjørdal, ETR takes you back to Trondheim, a city full history - While you’re in the mood for music, head over to Rockheim, Norway’s national museum of pop and rock music. Since the museum’s opening in 2010, there has been a steady stream of visitors, eager to learn about this music and its history. However, Trondheim is much more than music.

Nidaros Cathedral is the largest and northernmost medieval cathedral in Scandinavia, built over the tomb of St Olav, and the oldest parts are from the 12th century. Next to the Cathedral you'll find The Archbishop's Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace Museum, and The Crown Regalia exhibition. These attractions are highly recommended.

Orkanger and the Viking heritage

The ETR takes you towards Orkanger, and if you are interested in Viking History, don’t miss the Viking Marked. You’ll have to visit Stiklestad, the battlefield where King Olav Haraldsson fell, on the 29th of July, 1030, and became known as St. Olav.

The battle of Stiklestad represents the introduction of Christianity in Norway. Both the battle and the Saint King, made it possible for Stiklestad to become a symbol of both Christianity, and the kingdom. Here, you can check out the Saint Olav Drama and festival, exhibitions, the Folk Museum, guided tours and other activities.

Photos

Dave O'Byrne
European Touring Route AS

Partners

Tyholt Tower and the 60-minute rotations

Your Trondheim visit can be further enriched by enjoying the city life. There are also some great attractions, such as the Tyholt Tower, which is a great place to go for lunch. The communications tower stretches 120 meters into the sky, and was built by the Telecommunications Authority, for modern radio and telecommunications. Dangling 74 meters above the ground in the rotating restaurant, you’ll have a fantastic view of Trondheim and the surrounding area,. A complete rotation takes one hour, so the view changes constantly.

Monk's Island execution ground and prison

If your nerves are still intact, take a boat to the fascinating Munkholmen or Monks' Island. This little fortified island is situated in Trondheim harbor, and served as Trondheim's execution ground, and special prison, in ancient times. Today, the area has a popular restaurant, and here you can also enjoy some great bathing and other types of recuperation and recreation. The boat departs every hour from Ravnkloa from the 20th of May to the beginning of September.

Evening time in Kristiansund

I don't know why, but I always seem to arrive in Kristiansund in the evening, just in time to catch the last rays at the harbour, before a great night out in the local nightlife. There are lots of other great activities, experiences and things to do in the spectacular Nordmøre Region, so you should stick around for a few days to enjoy the many great things this exciting region has to offer.

If you get tired of riding your motorcycle on fantastic roads (for example, The Atlantic Road or Aursjøveien Road), you can always spend a couple of days on other activities such as hiking, climbing, exploring, mountainbiking, sea kayaking, sailing, diving, eating local cuisine, or visiting The Bremsnes Cave, and the many small villages, secluded bays and inlets, and the great museums and local craft shops that you’ll find in the beautiful coastal towns of the magnificent Nordmøre Region.

Or, you could just try to outrun the Internet, get offline, relax for a few days, at some of the beautiful and tranquil coastal villages, or find your own slice of Heaven far from the crowds, the traffic, stressful work life, and far from technology, screens, iPads and mobile phones. In fact, don't even bring your phone!