Stalheimskleiva, Heritage road in Voss, Norway
Stalheimskleiva is a historic mountain road that winds through the Nærøydalen valley over about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile), making thirteen sharp hairpin turns as it climbs steeply through rocky slopes. The passage is flanked by two large waterfalls that drop down the mountainside alongside the winding route.
Built between 1842 and 1846, the road was the first route to link Bergen with Oslo through this mountain passage, enabling the mail service between these cities. This connection opened up the isolated valley to trade and travel.
The road reflects how Norwegian communities of the 1800s were determined to overcome the barriers of mountain terrain and connect with each other. It shows the engineering spirit of an era when people refused to let geography keep them apart.
Today the road is closed to vehicles, but you can walk up to one kilometer downhill from the top near Stalheim Hotel to experience the most dramatic sections. The path is manageable for most walkers but requires sturdy shoes and care on the steep stone sections.
Stalheimsfossen and Sivlefossen are two powerful waterfalls plunging down both sides of the hairpin turns, swelling into particularly forceful torrents during spring snowmelt. In summer these cascades flow less heavily but still create a striking view from the winding path.
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