Reg.Nr. HA-2017/NO/02

The King's Road across Filefjell

The King’s Road across Filefjell is a 100 km long hiking route, based on The Royal Road to Bergen from the 1790s. The primary goal has been to secure future preservation of The King’s Road, one of Norway’s most significant road historic cultural monuments, while at the same time ...
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Project details

Title:The King's Road across Filefjell
Entr. year: 2017
Result:Grand Prix
Country: Norway
Town: Filefjell
Category type: Other (See notes)
Notes:Historical road
Building type/ Project type: industrial heritage
Former use:First driveable road for horse and carriage between Eastern and Western Norway
Actual use:Cultural experience path for hikers – with alternative biking routes. Along the way, historic information is presented via numerous cultural monument signs and digital media
Built: 18th century
Architect / Proj.leader: Statens Vegvesen, The Norwegian Public Road Administration, NPRA
The Jury's citation: “This integrated project of cultural and landscape heritage is of the highest quality and was undertaken with a real focus on best practice in building”. “Importantly, this is the recovery of an historic route and its forgotten track. The road is not an invention, but the revitalisation of a heritage site which is well connected to the villages and settlements along the Road, which in turn enriches the local economy and motivates the local community to appreciate and care for their heritage”.
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Description:
The King’s Road across Filefjell is a 100 km long hiking route, based on The Royal Road to Bergen from the 1790s. The primary goal has been to secure future preservation of The King’s Road, one of Norway’s most significant road historic cultural monuments, while at the same time creating a cultural history hiking path with focus on infrastructure, good experiences and imparting of knowledge. The road was at risk of being completely lost, but through comprehensive mapping and restoration, it has been revitalised with a general and complete focus on sustainable cultural heritage preservation. The most comprehensive of its kind to be carried out in Norway. Collaboration, involvement and quality have been importent principles. Traditional restoring techniques have been brought back to life, and historic material has been brought forth. Imparting of knowledge, training and future agreements on maintenance have been prioritised in order to secure the cultural heritage.