How to get to the troll tongue from Bergen. The scariest place in Norway: Troll's Tongue

"Troll's Tongue" (Trolltunga - in Norwegian) is a rocky horizontal ledge on the Skjeggedal rock, which rises above Lake Ringedalsvatn at an altitude of 700 meters. The shape of the protrusion resembles a tongue, which is why it received its name. Thanks to this, the Troll's Tongue rock is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful and dangerous places in all of Norway.

This place became widely known after the publication of photos and an article in a travel magazine in 2009. After this, those wishing to see the miracle of nature increased significantly, and in order to visit the very edge of the Troll’s Tongue and take unique photos, you even have to stand in line.

This place is located in the vicinity of the town of Odda, where we arrived early in the morning. From there you need to get to the town of Tyssedal, where you will see signs along the road towards the parking lot, where the road to the Troll Tongue begins. In Odda, we stayed for several hours at a sports discount store, where we bought good things at low prices, so we arrived at the parking lot late from the planned time.

The route on this map is the top one. The road to “Language” starts from this parking lot and takes 14 kilometers. I used to think that it would be like an easy walk and I was very much mistaken. We met only one Russian-speaking tourists who said that they spent 2 days on this hike. One day in that direction, overnight and the second day back. It’s possible in one day, but you have to leave very early; the warning on the map says that you must complete the 7th kilometer before 13.00. We looked at the time - it was exactly noon. It was necessary to urgently decide whether to go or not, because an easy walk threatened to turn into a mountain race. Maxim immediately refused, and Denis and I would not have been able to forgive ourselves if we had been so close to this place and left without seeing it with our own eyes. In 10 minutes we collected the necessary things in a backpack - warm spare clothes, food, water, flashlights, food and ran upstairs.

The first 4 kilometers are serpentine roads to the upper parking lot. Lower parking cost 300 CZK, upper 500! It was insanely expensive, but even if we decided to overpay, there would still be construction work going on on this road and we wouldn’t be able to get through.

Another option was to climb directly along the abandoned funicular, but part of the railway was missing.

This serpentine road is the most boring.

Therefore, we decided to speed up along the funicular road that appeared again. But I don't recommend repeating this.

Climbing it is very difficult and dangerous, although it saves about half an hour of time.

On the way we had to stop to rest, because... The gradient of the climb is very decent.

I still don’t understand how I decided to do this. It's better not to look back

We climb out to the upper parking lot through a hole in the fence.

And we follow the designations of the red letter “T”, it occurs often, so it is very difficult to lose the way.

Sometimes you can find such signs

And so everything is standard, follow the “T”.

Gorgeous views open up from the pass

Don't forget to drink water along the way to avoid dehydration.

It is not necessary to take a lot of water with you; supplies can always be replenished in lakes and streams. The water is clean and very tasty.

It’s nice when you have to go through less than you already have. The next kilometer is one of the easiest, it is the most flat, but you need to carefully watch your step.

We begin to see Lake Ringedalsvatnet, it is above it that the vooooon stone hangs from that mountain on the left in the distant background.

On the way we meet many tourists who are already returning. Everyone says hello, very friendly and smiling. We didn't meet any Russians. One thoughtfully asked if we had flashlights so we could go back in the dark. When someone saw us running all the way, they started chanting “Russia”!

Minute stops to catch your breath and enjoy the beauty of Norway.

This one is apparently going overnight.

There are so many tourists walking along the path to the Troll's Tongue that it is easily distinguishable against the background of nature.

We are at cloud level - about 1200 meters above sea level. Low clouds are composed of water droplets, so there is a strong sense of humidity. There is no rain, but it feels like you are in a hammam. Water materialized on the camera lens and I had to constantly wipe it off.

There are several houses along the road that can be used in case of an emergency. The houses are open, where you can wait out the bad weather or spend the night.

This is where waterproof shoes come in handy.

Getting close. Another group of returning tourists.

This is the mountain lake Tyssehol. 1160 meters above sea level.

It’s amazing to me how you can spend the night in such conditions in the strongest wind. This tent is placed near a stone ledge so that it does not blow so much.

Especially when there is another house nearby where you can safely spend the night.

There is even a well-appointed toilet here, although for some reason it has no door...)

We see people taking pictures...

And here it is - Troll Tongue!

Trolltunga did not go unnoticed by Scandinavian legends and beliefs. One of them says that the huge Troll was childishly kind and playful - he could not sit in one place: he dived into deep and dangerous waters, jumped over abysses or tried to catch a rainbow over a cliff. And on sunny days that were dangerous for his life, he holed up in a cave until dark. One day the troll decided to check how dangerous the sun was for him. He hid in a cave, waited for dawn and stuck his tongue out of the darkness. The heavenly body did not appreciate such courage and as soon as the sun's rays touched it, the troll turned to stone...

I didn’t think there could be a queue here; even in such not the best weather we had to wait. I'm afraid to imagine how many people there are here in the summer. It took us 3 hours to get here from the very bottom. All this time we ran with insignificant stops. The ascent on foot would take about 5 hours.

As many different photographs as possible for memory.

These two were especially difficult

The fear was from the unpredictability of the wind, which either subsided or suddenly appeared with a sharp gust.

A different perspective on "Troll's Tongue".

We spent about an hour here, during which time we took several dozen photographs, had a snack and rested. Well, now it’s 14 kilometers back again, which, despite the greater simplicity due to the fact that instead of the first 7 km of ascent there is already a descent, was not easier, because... We're really tired. We also spent about 3 hours on the way back.

The total time investment for Troll's Tongue took approximately 7 hours, so I can say with great confidence that this is the hardest attraction I have ever reached. We returned the last kilometers already at dusk, so the warning that it is necessary to walk the 7th kilometer before one o'clock in the afternoon is very true. If you come here, I advise you to check the weather forecast and leave early. In bad weather, walking along this road is very dangerous.

One of the most famous landmarks in Norway is a horizontal stone ledge, which the whole world knows as the Troll's tongue. On Mount Skjeggedal near the town of Odda there is a site that thousands of tourists who come to the vastness of this northern country dream of climbing.

Unique natural formation

Above Lake Ringedalsvatn, visitors to Norway see a rather thin flat formation that really looks like the tongue of an evil creature. It is unclear how this protruding slab has not yet collapsed into the abyss.

Opening from the top of Trolltunga (this is the name of the ledge in the local dialect), it amazes with the rugged beauty of mountain peaks, valleys and gorges.

How to get to the Troll tongue

Get ready for the road to the top to be quite difficult. At an altitude of almost 800 meters, a thin slab hovered over the lake. Part of the way to one of the most interesting wonders of nature can be done by cable car. Sometimes it doesn't work and you have to walk.

The road is hard. Contemplation of the picturesque surroundings gives strength: mountain streams, waterfalls, forests, crystalline snow on the tops of the mountains. The end of the journey will have to be made along the edge of the Norwegian fjord.

But travelers aren't complaining. The magnificent view from the stone slab exceeds all expectations. The most desperate of their peak conquerors are photographed sitting on the edge of the ledge. An incredible sight. The feeling is fantastic!

Every year tourists climb Mount Skjeggedal in Norway to test their fortitude and endurance. To climb the amazing stone tongue of the Troll, you will need several hours and a great desire to see the beautiful Norwegian fjords from a bird's eye view.

Troll tongue in Norway photo

Yes, yes, I know. You have seen this rock a hundred million times already and know everything about it. But I can’t help it, I wanted to take a closer look at it and leave a note on my blog. Moreover, we have already looked at Norway. Let's look again at this creation of nature :-)

The landscapes of Scandinavia always make you hold your breath and endlessly admire their majestic beauty. And the unusual reliefs and stone formations of the Scandinavian mountains enchant and beckon.

One of these creations of Scandinavian nature is Trolltunga, better known under the name “Troll Tongue”. In Scandinavian mythology, great attention is paid to Trolls. These mythical creatures occupy an important place in the culture and history of this country.

Trolltunga is a stone protrusion shaped very much like a sharp tongue. Once upon a time, this stone creation deviated from the base of the rock, and, breaking away, stopped motionless at an altitude of 800 meters above the lake.

"Troll's Tongue" is located on Mount Skjeggedal, near a small town called Oddo. The Troll's Tongue offers breathtaking views of the lakes and valleys of Norway. Although Trolltunga is considered one of the most dangerous attractions in Norway, it attracts thousands of tourists every year who, risking their lives, try to get as close as possible to the edge of the cliff in order to capture the best photos.

Undoubtedly, the view from the Troll's Tongue is incredibly beautiful and majestic! Mighty mountains, like giant sentries - giants, stand guard over the Scandinavian lands and Ringedalsvannet, the lake over which the Troll's Tongue hangs. It stretches at the bottom of a deep valley and attracts the gaze of tourists.

But it’s not so easy to climb the “Troll’s Tongue”! Although, many tourists have already passed through this interesting and picturesque path, paving the way for new pioneers, the road to Trolltunga is, in a way, a small test. To begin with, you have to overcome obstacles in the form of fast mountain rivers, cope with the walls of waterfalls, cross rows of clear lakes, a strip of mighty forest and massifs of harsh mountain snow. But it's worth it!

On the way to the Troll's Tongue there is a 950-meter long staircase that helps you along the way. There is also a funicular, but, unfortunately, it does not always function. The route is not that difficult, especially since the places are very picturesque and the time on the way will fly by.

After visiting the Troll's Tongue rock, you will visit this unusual place more than once. After all, only here, standing high above sea level, can you feel the feeling of flight and freedom. There is a desire to become a bird so that you can soar over these untamed expanses of the mountains and feel the coolness of the purest lakes...

Some brave souls climb Troll tongue and even reach its end, without fear that it will collapse. This is a challenge to fate, or maybe it’s just the luck of the next person who steps on the rock that it won’t collapse right now! But someday it will collapse!

From the place where you can park your car (parking is paid: daily parking is 100 NOK, daily parking is 200 NOK), getting to the language on foot will take about 5 hours, most of which will have to be uphill. Until 2008, the first part of the route (one of the most difficult) could be taken by cable car (:en:Mågelibanen). The funicular is currently closed and there is not enough money for repairs.

Start of the route up the mountain

Maybe it's already been repaired? Who knows?

Clickable

Where did Trolls even come from?

When the climate warmed and the glacier crawled north, people came from the south. They settled here and named the country Norway, which means "Road to the North."

They called themselves "nurmenn" - northern men. They saw how beautiful this country was and thought that they were its first inhabitants, but soon people discovered that the whole country was already inhabited by many amazing creatures living in the most incredible places.

In the mountains - and there were many of them - trolls lived.

The most powerful among them was Dovregübben.

Some of them were giants, with trees and mosses growing on their heads and noses. Others were small.

They could only be seen at night or at dusk, since these creatures did not tolerate daylight. Trolls looked like people, but they all had long noses (old women often used their noses to stir porridge in cauldrons). All trolls had hooked tails.

They were scary in appearance but simple-minded and trusting. And it often happened that they were fooled by peasant boys.

Among the many supernatural abilities of trolls was that they could transform into anything.

The troll could, for example, turn into an incredibly beautiful girl. They were called Holdre - witch. They lured hunters and blue-eyed guys into the mountains. Therefore, you always had to look at them from behind - they could not hide their tail.

Even today, when walking through the forest or near lakes and waterfalls, be aware of trolls. They are usually not evil, but still be careful. As dusk falls, you are no longer alone. It was not for nothing that on Christmas Eve the peasant put out a full bowl of porridge outside the threshold, which always ended up being eaten.

TROLLS - in old German and Baltic myths, strong and ugly giants who live and store their treasures in the mountains. According to legend, trolls were sometimes even extremely hostile towards people and their potential enemies, the Jotuns, however, people are saved only by what many claim: trolls are extremely stupid.

Virtual tour. Click on the picture below:

Fabulous Norway never ceases to attract travelers with its picturesque nature, unearthly beauty of the fjords, fresh air and crystal clear lakes. And since Troll's Tongue first appeared on the cover of a travel magazine, the flow of tourists to Norway has increased significantly.

Everyone wants to step onto this unique, and even dangerous ledge, and take in all the beauty of the opening view with their own eyes. And, of course, delightful, original photographs in the famous Troll Language - the dream of any avid traveler.

Description

Troll's Tongue is a rocky outcrop hanging over Lake Ringedalsvannet at an altitude of several hundred meters.

This is a piece of rock that once broke off from the massif of Mount Skjeggedal, but did not fall down, but froze above the abyss in a horizontal position. And since its shape resembles a large tongue, the Norwegians quickly came up with a suitable name for it.

It should be noted that Lake Ringedalsvannet is not of natural origin, but was formed as a result of the damming of a river. Quite wide at the base, the Troll's Tongue gradually tapers to a few centimeters. And its length is about 10 m. It is believed that being on its edge is dangerous, since it is unknown at what moment the block may fall down.

Where is it located?

Trolltunga, as it is called in the local dialect, refers to the Hardangerfjorden, the second longest in Norway and the third longest in the world. It is located 10 km from the small town of Odda in the Hordaland region of Western Norway.

How to get there?

It is most convenient to start the route to Trolltung from the capital of Hordaland county - the city of Bergen. Conventionally, the entire path can be divided into two parts, the intermediate point of which is the town of Odda. To get to Mount Skjeggedal you need to get to the small village of Tyssedal, which lies 6 km north of Odda in a valley between the fjord and the mountains.

After arriving at the place, the walking route begins. Previously, the first thousand meters of the ascent could be done by cable car, but now it does not work.

The ascent is carried out along the pedestrian path, which is located to the right of the funicular and is marked with a red letter “T”. Many tourists prefer to climb directly along the cable car's sleepers, despite the fact that this is prohibited.

The rest of the route passes through rough terrain with alternating climbs and plateaus. The total length of the route one way is about 12 km and takes on average 5 hours.

It is impossible to get lost, since along the entire route there are kilometer markers indicating how much is left to the Language.

Order an inexpensive transfer - taxi in Norway

You can get from Bergen to Odda either by car or by bus. The latter's travel time is about 4 hours.

The best way to get to your destination from Odda is by car. First to the village of Tyssedal along highway 13, and then following the signs for Sjöggedal. Travel time is 20-30 minutes.

There are free and paid parking lots at the foot of the mountain. A tourist bus also departs regularly from Odda, taking everyone to Mount Skjeggedal.

Renting a car in Norway

What to take with you?

You should not take too many things with you, the climb will already be exhausting, only the essentials.

Where to stay?

• After a difficult climb, make a long return trip highly undesirable. Therefore, for those traveling by car, the best option would be to stay in Tyssedal or a little further away - in Odda. The same advice can be given for those arriving by bus.
• To make it before dark, the climb to the Troll's Tongue should begin early in the morning. For this reason, some tourists prefer to spend the night right on the spot. Nearby there is a beautiful lake with crystal clear water where you can pitch a tent. There are also places for tents in the parking lot.
• It will be useful to know that in the middle of the route and at the observation deck There are special houses where you can wait out bad weather or spend the night if there is a chance you won’t be able to return before dark.

• When to go? The best time to visit Troll's Tongue is from June to October, when the weather is sunny and clear. During rainy periods, climbing the mountain can become dangerous, and the surface of the ledge itself will be wet and slippery. In winter, visiting Trolltung is also undesirable due to the deep snow.
• Exercise caution. Attention will be required not only on the ledge itself, but also on the way to it. You should also be especially careful when climbing the steps of the funicular if preference is given to this method of overcoming the first part of the route.
• Who is not recommended: Due to the difficulty, it is not recommended to climb for people with poor physical fitness. You should also not take small children on the route.

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