Dolm kirke is one of the oldest buildings still in use on the coast of Trøndelag. This Romanesque stone church on the island of Dolmøya dates to around 1188, with thick walls and rounded arches that have survived eight centuries of storms, fires, and rebuilding. The church burned and was rebuilt four times: in 1709, 1772, 1848, and again on 3 February 1920. After the 1920 fire, the parish decided to build a new main church across the strait in Melandsjøen, and Dolm fell quiet for decades. It was finally re-inaugurated in 1992 and stands today as a gem in the coastal landscape.
The strait of Dolmsundet between Dolmøya and Hitra holds layers of history far older than the church. Around a hundred Stone Age settlements have been recorded here, along with a similar number of Iron Age graves and several Bronze Age cairns. A reconstructed Iron Age longhouse sits in a cultural heritage park among the ancient sites, giving a sense of how people lived along this coast thousands of years ago.
Just across the water from Dolm kirke lies Hopsjø handelssted, a trading post with roots in the 18th century. The Parelius merchant family dominated trade here for over 250 years. The main house from 1730 still stands, and what may be Norway's oldest preserved shop now sells souvenirs and traditional sweets. The old warehouse has been converted into a restaurant focusing on locally sourced food. On the harbour, an exhibition documents the area's golden era of whale hunting, with artifacts and photographs from the whaling station at nearby Hestnes.
The organization Nattseilerne is based at Hopsjø, maintaining and sailing traditional wooden boats along the coast. Between the medieval church, the prehistoric sites, the merchant history, and the living boat culture, this quiet corner of Hitra packs more coastal heritage per square kilometre than almost anywhere in Trøndelag.
The strait of Dolmsundet between Dolmøya and Hitra holds layers of history far older than the church. Around a hundred Stone Age settlements have been recorded here, along with a similar number of Iron Age graves and several Bronze Age cairns. A reconstructed Iron Age longhouse sits in a cultural heritage park among the ancient sites, giving a sense of how people lived along this coast thousands of years ago.
Just across the water from Dolm kirke lies Hopsjø handelssted, a trading post with roots in the 18th century. The Parelius merchant family dominated trade here for over 250 years. The main house from 1730 still stands, and what may be Norway's oldest preserved shop now sells souvenirs and traditional sweets. The old warehouse has been converted into a restaurant focusing on locally sourced food. On the harbour, an exhibition documents the area's golden era of whale hunting, with artifacts and photographs from the whaling station at nearby Hestnes.
The organization Nattseilerne is based at Hopsjø, maintaining and sailing traditional wooden boats along the coast. Between the medieval church, the prehistoric sites, the merchant history, and the living boat culture, this quiet corner of Hitra packs more coastal heritage per square kilometre than almost anywhere in Trøndelag.