Haslum: Pilgrim Path, Church and Farm History

Haslum has a distinct historical focus: the pilgrim path through Bærum ends at Haslum Church, which is surrounded by a cemetery and the apple orchards of Haslum Gård. The historic farm also offers seasonal raspberry picking. When planning your visit, it is worth distinguishing the church’s history and the farm’s history from the seasonal pick-your-own activity.

Pilgrim Path and Church Surroundings

The pilgrim path through Bærum runs from Faabro, at the Oslo boundary, to Haslum Church. The church is the endpoint of this route section and one of two medieval churches in the municipality of Bærum. Its surroundings have two clearly defined sides: a cemetery lies on one side, and the apple orchards of Haslum Gård on the other. The church building and the farm landscape thus meet in the local setting.

Haslum Church: Building History and Details

Haslum Church was built in the 1190s from locally produced limestone. About 100 years after its construction, it was extended to its present cruciform shape. The whitewashed stone church is in the Romanesque style. Together, the materials, style and later extension tell a building history that can be traced from the original structure to its present form; the timing of the extension is approximate.

A bell dating from 1250 is preserved in the tower. What is probably considered the church’s oldest surviving memorial is a round stone with a small hole in the middle. It is believed to have formed the base of the first baptismal font. Its former function is therefore a matter of conjecture. Two Gothic sculptures from the same period as the bell—a Madonna and a bishop statue—provide another historical connection in the vicinity of Haslum. They are now held in the collection of Universitetets Oldsaksamling.

Haslum Gård and Seasonal Visits

Haslum Gård is a historic farm with deep-rooted traditions. Its apple orchards lie on one side of Haslum Church, creating a tangible link between the farm and the church surroundings. The farm offers seasonal raspberry picking. The available period depends both on the farm’s booking schedule and on the harvest. All visitors must book admission before arriving, so plan your visit to the farm according to the booking schedule and take seasonal availability into account.

Bærum as the Wider Destination

The wider destination of Bærum offers other cultural highlights. Henie Onstad Kunstsenter at Høvikodden is an important venue for international contemporary art; the site is surrounded by a large sculpture park. Grini Museum presents the history of Grini Prison Camp through film footage, photographs, audio recordings, artefacts and digital technologies. These places offer different experiences: contemporary art and sculpture on the one hand, and the history of the prison camp on the other.

Bærums Verk is also part of the wider destination of Bærum. There you will find a marketplace in the authentic historic setting of an ironworks that has shaped Bærum since the early 17th century. Handelsstedet comprises approximately 50 shops, craft businesses, workshops, galleries and food and drink establishments. Its approximate scale and mix of businesses make Bærums Verk a different cultural highlight from Haslum’s church and farm history.

When deciding where to stay, you can choose between a visit focused on Haslum’s pilgrim path, medieval church and seasonal farm visit, or a broader exploration of the wider destination of Bærum. The regional examples broaden the picture to include art, a museum and a historic trading centre; they are separate places to visit in Bærum, not features of Haslum.

Discover more destinations: Fornebu, Lysaker, Sandvika, Stabekk, Høvik.

See the overview of the wider destination: Bærum.