Sylteormen sea serpent in Valldal

Sylteormen – the mark of the sea serpent in Valldal

If you stand on the pier in Valldal, or paddle a kayak across the fjord, you may notice a long, snake-like mark in the mountainside. This is known as Sylteormen – “the Sylte Sea Serpent”. According to legend, it was King Olav Haraldsson – later canonised as Saint Olav – who threw a mighty sea serpent against the rock, leaving a mark still visible today.

King Olav Haraldsson and Sylteormen

Olav Haraldsson, known as Saint Olav, was the king who united Norway and brought Christianity to the country. After being defeated by Danish and Norwegian chieftains in 1028, he was forced to flee. He sailed north along the coast to Sunnmøre and into Valldal, before crossing the mountains eastward towards Sweden and what is now Russia.

The saga tells that during his voyage up the Storfjord in the winter of 1029, a monstrous creature rose from the depths – a sea serpent so huge and fierce that the fjord itself trembled. The serpent lunged at the king’s ships to stop him from reaching land, but Olav fought back. Grabbing the serpent with an oar, he struggled until he overcame it and hurled it against the mountainside, where it stuck fast.

The mark from the battle can still be seen on the side of Syltefjellet in Valldal, clearly visible from the town centre. In Norse tradition, Olav’s encounters with serpents are seen as symbols of his inner and outer struggles – for faith, power and the unification of Norway. Olav later died at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030, becoming Norway’s most venerated saint.

Valldalsleden – a pilgrimage in the footsteps of Saint Olav

According to legend, Olav pulled his ships ashore in Valldal and continued on foot across the mountains towards Lesja and Dovre. This route forms the basis of Valldalsleden, a section of the historic Saint Olav Ways pilgrimage trail. What was once a route of escape for the king is today a beautiful hiking trail, which can also be experienced with local guide company Ræin.

The Valldalsleden route runs from Valldal to Dovre, where it connects with Gudbrandsdalsleden – the main trail leading to Trondheim and the Nidaros Cathedral, the traditional resting place of Saint Olav.

A cross was later erected above Sylte, on a hill now known as Korsbrekka (“the Cross Hill”). You can easily find it by following the Valldalsleden trail from the centre of Valldal.