The museum surrounds the ruins of the medieval castle of Zion, built by King Sverre Sigurdsson in 1182 – 83. Here, you will find Norway’s northernmost stave church and learn what life was like, in town and country, in the 18th to 20th centuries.

Begin your walk through history at the simple but beautiful Haltdalen stave church, built in 1170, when Norway was still a Catholic country. The tour continues past the castle ruins, with sweeping views across the Trondheimsfjord, to a yard surrounded by wooden buildings: farmhouse, cowshed and barn, traditional storehouse on pillars, cookhouse and smithy.

Tour the farmhouse and then continue to the “Old Town,” with historical buildings from the centre of Trondheim. Visit the beautiful 18th century Gramgården for a taste of traditional krumkake cakes and tales of old Trondheim.

The tour ends at the visitor centre, to view the “Pictures of Life” exhibition – illustrating life in Trøndelag over the last 150 years – and its shop, stocked with a selection of high-quality handicrafts, such as linens, ceramics and a selection of books and cards.