Welcome to Heim!

Now you are entering the area where a scary killer bear, known as the 'Mannbjønn' (Manbear), ravaged during the 18th century, taking people as its victims. The story began with Knut, who wanted to drive the bear away from his property. He stared the bear right in the eye, and in that moment, the beast lunged forward. Knut swiftly jabbed at it with the sharp end of his staff, causing the bear to roar. It became a fight for life and death, a battle that the bear won. This was the first human life claimed by the Mannbjønn, and over the following years, the bear roamed this area in Nordmøre, instilling fear in both households and mountain farmers. The bear claimed three farm girls and a boy before the village sought the aid of hunter Tølløv. He tracked the bear near the mountain Hjelmen, where the animal lay sleeping on a rock. Tølløv loaded his rifle with a silver bullet, aimed carefully, and shouted, 'Hey, lad, it's time to wake up and have your morning dram!' The bear rose on its hind legs, and then the rifle fired. However, it was only a grazing shot! Tølløv quickly took aim again as the bear charged towards him. With a thud, the bear's body hit the ground. Fortunately, it has been many years since the Mannbjønn was last seen in this area.

In approximately 500 meters, you will reach an exit where a sign leads to the stone burial mound of the famous Hollywood film star, Keiko the killer whale. The Hollywood star arrived on a crisp autumn day in November, swimming alongside a fishing boat towards Taknes Bay. Keiko's story began with the role of Willy in the 'Free Willy' films. After years of captivity, he finally found freedom in the waters near Iceland, his true home. Attempts were made to integrate him into a pod of wild killer whales, but things didn't go as planned. Keiko found greater comfort among humans and eventually made his way to Norwegian waters. It was the year 2002, and Keiko once again became a major attraction. In Taknes Bay, boats and people gathered to witness the old film star showcase his skills. Visitors travelled from far and wide to catch a glimpse of this remarkable creature. Sadly, the film star passed away from pneumonia just one year later, and a burial mound was created for him in Taknes Bay. Rumours suggest that he may not actually be resting in the mound, however this hasn’t been proven. Who knows? What is certain is that Keiko continues to live on in the hearts of many.

Who was the proud lady buried at Hestnes over a thousand years ago? She rests in a large oval burial mound, which could be seen when sailing into the fjord. She was wealthy, and the people in the area must have held her in high regard, considering the elaborate burial site she was given, overlooking the fjord to the west. Here, the fjord stretches out towards the vast ocean, connecting to the rest of the world. Perhaps she stood there herself, waiting for her loved ones or even embarked on exciting sea voyages. The burial gifts bestowed upon her were befitting of a chieftain's wife. Magnificent textiles adorned the burial, along with ornate brooches and a wooden buckle, beads, and textile tools that indicate she lived in the 9th century. The spinning wheel was an essential item found exclusively in women's graves. The spinning wheel was associated with the Norns in Norse mythology, the beings who spin the threads of human life. Perhaps the textile offerings reveal something about her earthly life as a textile craftsman, but only a prosperous lady could possess these exquisite jewelleries and fabrics. While she lived, she spun her life threads among the people, and she was highly regarded.

You're soon arriving at Valsøya, where you'll find a collection out of the ordinary. While some people collect stamps, others collect old houses. Yes, you heard it right - old houses. To be precise, old wooden houses. Magny Strand has gathered four houses from the surrounding area in her collection. All these houses were once in a state of decay, but Magny saw a value in them that no one else did. They have been repurposed in various ways here at Valsøya. Over the past 25 years, these houses have been transported to Valsøya in the most incredible ways. First, Berjebakkstua arrived floating on a raft from Valsøybotn, serving as the first reception for the caravan park. Several years later, the neglected Saltrøfjøset was carefully dismantled and expertly reconstructed by skilled craftsmen, transforming from a barn into a restaurant. Jordmorstua (translated to 'The midwife's cottage') was a small storage house from Hestnes. It got relocated and placed on stilts right by the shoreline here at Valsøya. The latest addition to the collection was the Olaushuset from Stokkegården. To transport the Nordmørslån it was loaded onto a large truck, causing the closure of highway E39 during the journey. A Nordmørslån refers to the traditional main farmhouse here in Nordmøre. Olaushuset now contains eight apartments available for rent. Old houses... Well, collecting stamps might have been easier!

You're almost arriving at the Grønset farm. Feel free to stop by; you can even stay overnight if you fancy or grab a bite to eat at the café if it's open. Finally, the farm has been transformed into Grønset coaching inn (skysstasjon in Norwegian). Helga Hjorthol Grønset is the lady of the house, and she'll describe her farm like this: You see, my grandfather, Lars Grønset Hjorthol, had a strong desire for a coaching inn here. 80 years ago, he even enlisted the architect Håkon Bleken to design the necessary changes to the house. But you know, the ground beneath the house was full of quicksand. The entire Grønset house ended up standing and trembling on thin poles for several months. So, all the money my grandfather intended to use to build a hotel vanished into that soggy clay. However, it became very safe afterward! Anyway, it took a few years before the coaching inn became a reality, but now it's finally here. Grønset has been here for a long time, and there are traces of Stone Age settlements on this headland. The fjord you see is called Vinjefjorden. And hang onto your hat: the fish in Vinjefjorden are cheeky devils! Welcome!

Here at Skeiet in Vinjeøra, there has been settlement for many centuries. Several longhouses have stood by the farm, and people and animals have lived side by side here since the Merovingian period. Two so-called 'dead houses' were located here, a unique form of burial. The houses of the deceased were attended to and cared for by the living. They visited the dead; they danced, drank, and indulged themselves here. With a view overlooking Vinjefjorden, fertile land, and control over the incoming and outgoing boats, Skeiet has been a prosperous community with strong connections along the coastline, towards Ireland and Northern Europe. Boat burials were symbols of greatness, honour, and the resting place of important men or women. In the 8th century, a man was buried here, possibly a great chieftain. He found his final resting place in a boat burial. The grave lay across the fjord, with a large oval mound above it. The man was accompanied by ample grave goods, including a nine-meter-long boat to carry him on the journey to Valhalla. He was equipped with food, weapons, and a horse. Each item held significance and was vital for the passage to the realm of the dead. Around 100 years later, a new boat burial was placed right above the old one. The knowledge of the old boat grave, its location, and who lay there likely passed down through generations. The new boat grave was that of a woman. Alongside the boat, she was bestowed with magnificent gifts in the form of textiles, textile tools like a whalebone weaving sword, metal jewellery, and pearls. An impressive necklace made from fittings of horse equipment. These fittings originated from Ireland and dated back to the 8th century. It might have been an heirloom.

You are now driving along the Roberg Lake, Rovatnet. On the other side, you can see Roberget towering above the water, forming a well-known landmark. From the right angle, you can see the profile of a face on the mountainside. Some believe that this is the Roberg Troll. The Roberg Troll lived in a massive hall inside this very mountain, and legend has it that it would eat people alive, causing great fear among the villagers. Once, the Roberg Troll transformed himself into an attractive man. He wanted to win the heart of the beautiful girl, Gudrid. However, she was already engaged and rejected him. A few days later, the Roberg Troll returned and kidnapped the girl, taking her into Roberget. But Gudrid's fiancé, Størker, knew what to do. He descended the cliff and beheaded the troll, freeing his beloved. Within a year, a new head grew on the Roberg Troll. After that, the troll became a rare sight and mostly stayed inside its hall in Roberget. Perhaps it is still sitting there to this day?

Right in front of you, you can see the bronze statue of the renowned skiing couple, Berit and Ove Aunli, who have been honoured for their achievements. If you are into cross contry skiing, you might remember where you were when Oddvar Brå broke his ski pole? Ove Aunli certainly remembers it well because he was part of the relay team that won gold at the World Ski Championships in Holmenkollen on that very day in 1982. His wife, Berit, brought home an impressive three gold medals from the same championship. She even made history as the first Norwegian female cross-country skier to win an individual gold in an international championship. Together, this couple has won a total of 17 medals in the Olympics and World Championships. Not only have they excelled internationally in the world of skiing, but they have also made significant contributions to local sports here in the area. "It's not too bad to be immortalized," Ove exclaimed during the unveiling of the statue, as both he and Berit are alive and well here in Heim. If you happen to visit Sport 1 Ove Aunli at the Alti Heim shopping centre, you might be lucky enough to receive excellent customer service directly from Ove himself.

As you stand on the municipal quay in the centre of Kyrksæterøra, you can see the area where the old Wessel Shipyard thrived in its heyday. Originally, the shipyard was established in Vinjeøra, a village located 13 kilometres from here. At the end of Vinjefjorden, Just Wessel built his first sailing ships before closing operations there in 1856 and relocating the shipyard to where you now stand. During the 1860s and 1870s, a multitude of sailing ships were constructed here in Kyrksæterøra. At its busiest, there were 100 men working at the shipyard. Additionally, there were another 100 men in the forests and sawmills simultaneously, so the story goes. Shipyard owner Just Wessel delivered vessels that sailed in South America and the Mediterranean, and these ships had a reputation for being among the finest. Many of the ships were commissioned by shipowners in Kristiansund, engaged in the export of clipfish and timber. It is said that the workers here were well-treated. Their accommodation and meals were provided for by the shipyard owner, and when the weather turned particularly harsh and cold, it is told that the workers received a splash of cognac in their porridge. Furthermore, they had the privilege of attending the celebrations held when a ship was launched. On such occasions, they had the opportunity to taste exotic food and beverages that Wessel had obtained through trade with South America. If you continue further up Øragata, you will reach Wesselgården, where Just Wessel had his main residence during his time operating the shipyard here.

Here lies Wesselgården, along the old mainroad from the quay up to the church. The road was later named Øragata. Wesselgården served as a hub for both travellers and locals for a long time. It housed a coaching inn and a general store before becoming the headquarters of Just Wessel's sailing ship ventures in the 1860s. His shipyard laid the foundation for the establishment of craftsmen and various other industries. Wesselgården played a central role during the period when Kyrksæterøra developed into a trading place and the centre of the village. People gathered here to chat and catch up on the latest news. This crossroads, where all the roads into and out of the village converged, even earned the nickname 'the happy corner'. Indeed, people were so joyous that there was a need to appoint a sheriff in Øragata. Legend has it that the sheriff wore a green scarf. When he had the scarf draped over his right shoulder, it signalled to others that there was liquor and moonshine for sale at the happy corner.