If you’re looking for a walk that blends coastal charm with deep-rooted history, set your sights on the Old Postal Road (Den gamle postveien) in and around Kristiansand. This historic route once linked Southern Norway’s settlements by carrying letters, goods, and news long before railways and highways crisscrossed the region. Today, portions of the path remain as quiet trails and country lanes, letting visitors step into a landscape where post riders, merchants, and farmers once traveled between the coastal town and inland valleys such as The Setesdal Valley (Setesdalen).
The Old Postal Road dates back to the 18th and early 19th centuries, when Norway’s postal system relied on horse and foot messengers using established waypoints. The route tied Kristiansand to neighboring communities like The Vennesla Valley (Vennesla), extending north toward The Bygland Area (Bygland) and beyond. Along the way were postal farms that provided fresh horses and lodging for couriers. Even though many original structures have disappeared or been repurposed, the alignment of the road survives in forested stretches, stone bridges, and farm tracks that hint at centuries of steady travel.
What makes the Old Postal Road so engaging is the blend of natural and cultural heritage. You’ll pass birch and pine woodlands, small lakes, and rocky outcrops typical of Southern Norway’s terrain. In places, you can still find dry-stone embankments and wheel-rutted sections that speak to the engineering of an earlier era. Interpretation boards on certain segments describe the postal network, local stories, and the communities that depended on these connections. It’s a low-intensity walk with big rewards for anyone interested in history and landscape.
For practical exploration, visit the Tourist Information Office (Turistinformasjonen) in Kristiansand or check the municipality’s hiking portal for maps of marked segments within the city’s green belts and toward The Vennesla Valley. Most stretches are family-friendly, with gentle gradients and well-trodden paths; sturdy walking shoes are sufficient in dry conditions, though spring and autumn can be muddy. Public transport (Buses, Buss) links Kristiansand with trailheads north and west of the city, making linear walks easy—hike a section and ride back. In summer, long daylight hours allow for leisurely picnics at lakeside clearings and farm glades.
A fun fact: parts of the Old Postal Road influenced later roadbuilding when Norway pushed to modernize transport in the 1800s. Where terrain allowed, the new alignments followed or widened the postal track, leaving telltale curves and bridge sites still visible today. Another curiosity is how the route fostered local trade; small markets sprung up near postal farms on delivery days, a tradition echoed in today’s lively Fish Market (Fiskebrygga) atmosphere in central Kristiansand, where locals still meet to exchange news—albeit much fresher than a horse could deliver.
For visitors, the Old Postal Road offers a different side of Kristiansand beyond beaches and city cafés. It’s a chance to slow down, hear the forest, and imagine the rhythm of travel before engines and screens. Combine a half-day walk with a visit to The City Museum (Kristiansand Museum) at Kongsgård, where heritage buildings and exhibits place the route in a broader regional context. With easy access, evocative scenery, and a storyline that shaped Southern Norway, this historic path is a memorable addition to any Kristiansand itinerary.
Before you go, check weather forecasts and bring water, snacks, and a basic map or GPS track. Respect farm property and signed detours, keep dogs leashed where livestock graze, and leave no trace. Whether you stroll a short segment near the city or follow longer stretches toward inland villages, the Old Postal Road gives you a timeless walk through Kristiansand’s living history.