The Trondheim Postal Road and the Postal Road Project at Breimsvatnet (Lake Breim)

Important Facts about the Postal Road

The Trondheim postal road emerged from the 1780s as a regular postal service between Bergen and Trondheim. Mail took 9-10 days to transport between the cities. Initially, postal farmers transported the mail as an assigned duty, with postal farms every 10 kilometers where fresh horses were kept.

From 1837, postal farmers were replaced by mail carriers who were responsible for getting the mail through safely. These were armed with postal horns, pistols, and sabers due to the danger of robbery, as there were often large money shipments with the mail. The postal road was initially a bridle path and sledge route in winter, but in the early 1800s it was expanded to a cart road.

Breimsvatnet - an Important Hub

From 1785 to 1889, the postal route went across Breimsvatnet. It took 2 hours with 5 men to row across the water from Førs to Reed in open, traditional rowing boats. The crossing could be dangerous in harsh weather, and the mail often had to wait for better conditions. In 1889, a road came through Våtedalen, and the postal route via Breimsvatnet was discontinued.

Toward the end of the 1800s, two hotels at Reed: Gordon Hotel and Victoria Hotel, both competed for tourists. They each acquired their own steamboat: D/S Victoria (1887) and D/S Gordon (1888).

Reed as a Hub

At Reed there was a church, court, general store, inn, and post station. From Reed, the postal road passed Gordon Hotel and over Utvikfjellet down to Utvik - a 15 km long and steep stretch. There was a post office at Reed from 1775, and an inn from 1715. In 1884, the old inn was replaced with the magnificent Gordon Hotel.

Henrik Ibsen travelled through the area in 1862 and was struck by the landscape. He described the valley as "a crack between the winding, mighty and torn mountain walls."

From Work Route to Tourist Destination

At the end of the 1800s, tourism emerged. Travellers from home and abroad sought out the fjords and mountains, and Breimsvatnet and the postal road became not only a transport artery for mail and goods, but also for people seeking nature experiences. Reed became a popular destination among English tourists and sport fishermen.

The first mail carrier was the Italian Pisani, a musician in the town band in Bergen, who was known for his beautiful tones on the postal horn.

Today's Situation

Today, the history along the postal road is being highlighted by local services. Sølvane Gard in Kandal arranges culture and opera in the beautiful cultural landscape, while Gordon Hotel at Reed is being restored by a young hotelier who wishes to continue the traditions.

A new boat route has been established connecting places around Breimsvatnet, allowing visitors to experience both nature and history along the old postal road. It is a collaborative project between the municipality, county, businesses, and volunteers, and in 2026 it runs for four weeks, from weeks 29-32.

The remains of the postal road at Paulsvatnet are preserved, and the Reed Cultural Trail provides insight into the exciting history dating back to the end of the 1800s. This important part of Norwegian transport history lives on through those who pass it on to new generations.

Welcome to a historic boat trip on Breimsvatnet!