Pilgrimage route St Olavsleden to reopen after five hundred years

The 580 kilometre long St Olavsleden (St Olav´s Way), a pilgrimage route between Selånger in Sweden and Trondheim in Norway, will be reopened after five hundred years of disuse. To mark the occasion, a week-long hiking event will take place between 1st and 7th September 2013, ending with an opening ceremony at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. 

‘Our vision is for St Olavsleden to become the Scandinavian equivalent to El Camino, Santiago de Compostela. I hope many people will join us on the inaugural hiking trip to celebrate the opening of this ancient pilgrimage route. It will be a very special event,’ said Putte Eby, project manager of St Olavsleden.

During medieval times, the route was one of the big four pilgrimages, together with the roads to Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago de Compostela. In September St Olavsleden will be brought back to life with two simultaneous hikes – one in Sweden and one in Norway – culminating in a joint grand ceremony in Trondheim. Hikers can plan their own trip or book a package, which includes a guide, food and accommodation.

Putte Eby added, ‘Walking an ancient pilgrimage trail for a few days – or even weeks – can create time and space for an inner journey too. It might just be the start of something new.’

St Olavsleden stretches from coast to coast, from the Baltic sea off the east coast of Sweden to the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Norway. The aim of the project is to entice international walkers and cyclists to go on a Nordic pilgrimage, with a target of attracting several thousand visitors by summer 2014.

The essential facts about St Olavsleden and a brief historical summary are attached to this press release, as well as royalty-free photos for use in publication.

Visit www.stolavsleden.com for more information about the pilgrimage route and the opening event in September.

Or contact: Putte Eby, project manager St Olavsleden, +46 (0)70-191 05 99.