Several of Norway’s famous landmarks are named after trolls and Trollpikken is by far one of the weirdest.
I’ve been to some amusing places around the world and it has come to my attention that a few of them have something striking in common. To put it politely, they all pay homage to the male anatomy. There was the time I visited the Penis Museum in Reykjavik, sought out the ‘sexiest’ tomb in Pere-Lachaise Cemetery, and now added to the list is Trollpikken, or bluntly in English: The Troll’s Dick.
Norway really is fascinated with Trolls. In Odda they have the Troll Tongue (Trolltunga). Nedstrand has the Troll’s Wife (Himakånå). Åndalsnes has the Troll’s Wall (Trollveggen). And last but not least, in Egersund, they have Trollpikken which I was eager to see on my latest trip to Norway with friends.
If you’re interested in visiting the region’s crowning jewel, or simply want to know more about this geological oddity, here’s everything you need to know about Trollpikken:
The 2017 vandal controversy
In June 2017, some boneheaded vandals destroyed Trollpikken by chopping it completely off. It’s a huge rock so whoever did it, did so with rigorous planning and industrial tools in tow. Since the culprits were never caught, their motive remains a mystery. I’m sure Freud would have attributed this attempted annihilation to penis envy, but I reckon it was nothing more than plain, ol’ foolery.
Thankfully, after a successful crowdfunding campaign, a group of local people worked hard to wedge it back together. The, erm, re-erection required the implementation of steel rods so it’s now stronger than ever, and has become an amusing symbol for the potency of Norwegian nature!
Hiking to Trollpikken
Unlike the hiking routes to many other rock formations in Norway, such as Kjerag, Preikestolen and Trolltunga, the hike to Trollpikken is relatively short and easy but no less enjoyable.
The drive from Stavanger took us around 1 hour 30 minutes and the hike begins at a dedicated parking lot in the Geomagma Park by Sletteidveien in north of Egersund.
The trail is just under 2 km one way and is clearly signposted. It leads mainly through grassy paths with large Jurassic-style boulders scattered all around. The boulders have been around for thousands of centuries, and occurred in the form we see today after being lifted, carried and left in place by the ice during the last Ice Age.
En route we passed a small but picturesque waterfall and stopped to take some photos, the weather was super nice, and surprisingly there was hardly anyone else around which made us feel evermore like we were the martians exploring our new planet (except the presence of a waterfall if we’re being technical about things).
The whole area reminded me of a larger-scale version of Brimham Rocks in North Yorkshire which I would occasionally visit in my childhood and has become a UK mecca for rock climbers. But Norway’s Geomagma Park is bigger in more ways than one. Wink, wink.
Then, once we turned a corner and caught a flash of the phallic-shaped oddity peeking out from a larger mass of rocks we all burst out laughing like mischievous school kids. Such things never grow old.
Climbing up to Trollpikken
We raced over to it as fast as we could and soon found ourselves standing underneath the giant phullus wondering how exactly we could get on top of it. The boys included.
Without any climbing skills, the average person might find it a bit tricky. However, where there’s a will there’s a way as they say. Ale found a route that we both scrambled up and Ruchi and Vas were happy to stay below the monolith and offered their photography services instead.
Now, I’m not going to lie, climbing on top of a humongous phallus did make me feel wildly excited (sorry Vas!), and judging by Ale’s grin, he enjoyed the momentary feeling of being stupendously well-endowed.
After we clamoured back down, and the main attraction had been seen, tried and conquered, I think we all felt impressed and equally amused by what Mother Nature had revealed to us.
Accommodation in & around Stavanger
I recommend using Stavanger as your based from which to visit Trollpikken. It’s a great city with lots of attractions and culinary offerings. Plus, it’s also very close to Pulpit Rock which no trip to Stavanger is complete without.
Accommodation options are aplenty, but I personally recommend Clarion Collection Hotel Skagen Brygge. Situated in a prime location along the picturesque harbour, this hotel offers a unique blend of comfort, convenience, and a touch of maritime charm.
If you’d prefer to be out of the city, Sola Strand Hotel provides a coastal retreat just outside Stavanger (and only 2km from the airport). This historic hotel offers comfortable rooms, a private beach, and serene views of the North Sea. Even if you’re not staying here, I suggest strolling along the beach and heading here for lunch. Yum, yum.
3 Responses
Your mention of Brimham Rocks reminds me that this was how I first came across The Culture Map. I climbed at Brimham Rocks in the late 70s and several years ago when I was looking up Brimham Rocks on the internet I stumbled across you. Have been following your interesting travels ever since.
Hi Nigel! I’m glad this has brought back memories from over 30 years ago! If you’re ever back in England, I reckon a trip back to Brimham Rocks should be on your list! Thanks for reading and I hope you’re having a great summer : )
Great Post ! I have read your other posts which are really informative for any traveler before arriving on Norway. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful informative information on the blog.