Røldal is one of the few true mountain villages in Western Norway. It sits at 414 metres above sea level, surrounded by peaks reaching over a thousand metres, on the shore of Røldalsvatnet lake. For centuries this has been a crossroads between east and west. Roads lead from here to Odda and Hardanger, to Haukeli and Telemark, and south through Ryfylke. This is where Norwegian Scenic Route Ryfylke ends - or begins, depending on which way you are travelling.
The village is small, around 320 inhabitants, but it has an outsized history. In the Middle Ages, Røldal was Norway's second most important pilgrimage destination after Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. Pilgrims came from across Scandinavia to visit the stave church and its crucifix, which was said to have healing powers. According to legend, the crucifix sweats every Midsummer Eve - and that sweat could cure the sick. The practice continued until 1835, longer than anywhere else in Norway. The church, built around 1250, still stands in the village centre and is open for guided tours in summer.
Today Røldal is perhaps better known for snow. The ski resort claims to have the deepest snow in Europe, with an average of 12 metres falling each season. The entire resort sits above the tree line, starting at 800 metres and climbing to 1,300. The season typically runs from late November until mid-May.
It was not until 1968 that Røldal had a year-round road connection to the outside world. By 2030, the village will become even quieter - a new 12.4 kilometre tunnel is being built to bypass Røldal entirely, removing the 1,000 metres of climbing the E134 currently requires through the village centre.
