Welcome to Hell! ⊠In Norway? Itâs Not What You Think It Is!

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When someone tells you that âHell has frozen over,â you might think itâs just a figure of speech. But in the town of Hell, Norway, itâs actually a reality during the winter months. Yes, you read that right! There is a town called Hell in Norway, and it freezes over in winter. Letâs dive into this fascinating phenomenon and learn more about this unique town in Norway.
What Is Hell?
No, we do not mean the literal hell! Hell, a village in the LÄnke area of StjÞrdal municipality in TrÞndelag county, Norway, sits about 3 kilometers south of StjÞrdalshalsen. Covering 1.04 square kilometers, it had a population of 1,589 as of 2018, with a density of 1,528 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Hell serves as a post town with two postal codes and features amenities like a grocery store, gas station, fast food shop, and retirement home. Previously, the European route E6 highway passed through Hell, but a new road now bypasses the village.

The village of Hell has gained attention as a tourist attraction due to its name, with visitors frequently posing for photos in front of the station sign. Additionally, a smaller building at the railway station bears a sign reading âgods-expedition,â an archaic spelling of âgoods handlingâ in Norwegian, adding to the villageâs quirky appeal.

Where Does the Name Hell Come From?
While âHellâ has a different meaning for us, this village is named after something else. The name âHellâ originates from the Old Norse word âhellir,â meaning âoverhangâ or âcliff cave.â While in modern Norwegian, âHellâ shares a homonym with âluck.â In Old Norse mythology, âHelâ was the ruler of the underworld, also known as âHellâ in English today. In contemporary Norwegian, the word for hell is âhelvete.â
What Else Is There to Hell in Norway?
Hell railway station serves as a junction where the Nordland Line to BodĂž splits from the MerĂ„kerbanen between Trondheim and Storlien, Sweden. It remains a staffed railway station. However, the Hell KjĂžpesenter Mall is actually located north of the StjĂžrdalselva River, not in Hell/LĂ„nke, making its name misleading. An annual blues festival, âBlues in Hell,â is held at Hell Station in September.

Originating as the Hell Blues Festival in 1992, it later transformed into the Hell Music Festival in 2006 before reverting to its original concept as âBlues in Hellâ in 2008.
Additionally, since 2011, Hell has hosted a round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship, later also including the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2014.
Would you ever visit Hell in Norway?
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