Nystu Undset
Unsetveien 578
2484 Rendalen
Tlf. 901 23 302 / 917 68 995
hilde.nystuen@gmail.com
www.nystu.no
Halgrim and Hilde are hosts at the Nystu farm in Unset. Here four generations live side by side and the farm has been in the family since the Middle Ages. The last 100 years we have welcomed guests every year.
We offer memorable experiences through a stay in our historical buildings, tell you about our cultural heritage and show you the countryside surrounding the farm, the mountain farm and river Unset.
Our “jewels” are the 300 year old mountain farm in Spekedalen – Spek valley – and the preserved barfrøstue – a special type of building from the 1700s – on Tomtekallhaugen, right by the farm. Here you can spend the night in surroundings that tell unique stories, we will gladly tell you more!
Stay at Spekedalen mountain farm
The main house from the 1700s has remained unchanged for generations. Through low doors you enter the large rooms with timber walls and wide floorboards, where the cauldron used to sit on the ring. Here you can carry in water, light a fire in the woodstove and fireplace, light the kerosene lamp and enjoy the charms of the outhouse. If you want to sleep close to the warmth of the fireplace you can stay in Veslbua. Or you can spend the night in Sjøbua by the lake Søndre Spekesjøen.
Stay at river Unset
Kilsbua lies idyllically by river Unset. Here you can come close to trout and grayling in a characteristic meadow landscape with old hay barns and shelters from the time when scythes and horses were used in farming.
Stay in the protected barfrøstue
Our barfrøstue from the 1700s is protected and one of Norway’s few preserved barfrøstuer. This building type was distinctive for Østerdalen with the special barfrø set up to Østerdalsstua – a typical farming home in Østerdalen. We have carefully restored the building following antiquarian principles and are eager to share our knowledge on how to take care of protected buildings. Now the building is restored to its former glory with necessary modern conveniences. The living room has a rare beautiful interior with architectural details from the Baroque, Rococo and Classicism periods. Staying here is an experience in itself. Perhaps you would like to celebrate one of life’s big events here? With the other companies in the network we can offer traditional local food for events.
Hiking company
We would like to bring you into the heart of the eastern mountains in Rendalen with Spekedalen’s 300 year old history of mountain farming, or let you experience the thousand year old history of trapping around Elgpiggen. You can also hear the stories of our unique building heritage, the protected barfrøstua, together with a walk in Unsetgrendas special cultural landscape.
Fishing
Whether you want to fish with planer boards or go after the big fish with dry flies, we’ll do our utmost to ensure a memorable fishing trip! If you dream of getting miles away from the beaten track, we offer ice fishing with transport and accommodation in Spekedalen. Maybe you want to join our annual rakfisk trip and make your own rakfisk – a traditional Norwegian fish dish – to take home? Or get close to the trout and grayling surfacing in river Unset, where it quietly flows past Kilsbua, our old hay barn?
Skiing and skiing technique
In Rendalen you can enjoy snow pack on the mountain plateaus or powder snow in the forests. We also have many miles of prepared trails in varied terrain. You might want to improve your skiing technique while you are here – classic or skating?
Cultural heritage and restoration
Restoring cultural relics from the 1700s is not for everyone. Here at Nystu you will find one of the best preserved barfrøstuer. This building type is distinctive to Østerdalen. The most distinctive feature is the barfrø – the standalone tower-like room. We have carefully restored our barfrøstue following antiquarian principles. Now the building is restored to its former glory with necessary modern conveniences. The living room has a rare beautiful interior with architectural details from the Baroque, Rococo and Classicism periods. Staying here is an experience in itself – and here you will be inspired to go out and experience everything Rendalen naturligvis, has to offer.
Maybe the medieval castle watch towers in Europe is the origin of the barfrøstue? This thought occurred to Eilert Sundt in 1861: I imagine that Danish and Swedish lords have imitated their German counterparts’ way of building towers on their castles and manor houses, first for protection and vigilance, but later here in our peaceful Nordic countries only for ornament. In the same use I imagine the custom has been imitated by farmers in Dalarne in Sweden and from there the thing and the name may have come to Østerdalen in Norway.