Top attractions in Telemark

The Telemark canal

The Telemark canal was finished in 1892 and was, for many years, a very important travel route between upper- and lower Telemark. Experience the wonders of Telemarks nature when travelling through the canals 18 locks that will lift the boats from 0 to 72 meters above sea level on the trip from Skien to Dalen.
www.Telemarkskanalen.no

Heddal stave church

Heddal stave church is the best preserved stave church in Norway, and it is situated right outside of Notodden. The beautiful church hall was built in the 1200s, and here you will find rose paintings from the 1600s and the “bishops chair” and incense vessels from medieval times.
www.heddalstavkirke.no

Jomfruland, Kragerø

The island of Jomfruland outside Kragerø is a part of a glacial moraine stretching from the Baltic Sea through Sweden and along the Norwegian coast. A favourable climate and lush vegetation have attracted a great variety of birds: some 60 to 70 species nest here. A birdwatching station is also placed here. Jomfruland is specially known for its long boulderstone beach. The island is free of traffic and is popular with bicyclists and campers. Jomfruland is also one of the islands in Norway with the most sunny days. Can be reached by ferry from the idyllic town Kragerø.

Gaustatoppen

A popular hiking trail runs up to Telemark's highest mountain, Gaustatoppen 1.883 m above sea level, and takes about 2 hours. On a clear day you can see 1/6th of Norway from the summit. Nice view over Rjukan, at the edge of the Hardanger mountain plateau from where there are hiking trails over to the west coast of Norway.

Henrik Ibsen museum, Venstøp, Skien

The dramatist Henrik Ibsen lived on the small farm of Venstøp from the age of 7 to 15. His childhood home is today a modern museum devoted to the writer. His childhood in Skien has been an inspiration to many of his works, of which “The wild duck” is the most famous.
www.telemarkmuseum.no / www.visitgrenland.no

Norwegian industrialworkers museum, Vemork, Rjukan

Vemork was at the centre of one of the most important acts of sabotage committed during the Second World War, when Norwegian saboteurs prevented the Germans from developing a nuclear bomb from the heavy water that was produced there. Here you will also find an exhibition about the saboteurs and also an exhibition about Rjukan as an industrial place.
www.visitrjukan.no / www.visitvemork.no

Morgedal and the Norwegian ski museum

Morgedal is called “The cradle of skiing”, as it was here ski sport as we know it today started in the 1850’ies, with Sondre Norheim and his revolutionary ski models that could twist and turn. The visitor center Norsk Skieventyr houses a multimedia journey through skiing's history, and a skimaking workshop.

West-Telemark Museum, Eidsborg

The West-Telemark museum is situated in Eidsborg, and consists of more than 30 houses and buildings. In addition to the intimate Eidsborg stave church from the 1200s, there is also Stålekleivloftet, Norways oldest non-religious building. A new modern museum building will open in June, housing a number of new exhibitions.

Nissedal Potholes

Since the ice-age, rocks and gravel have been swirling around on the riverbanks and formed big potholes. Today the river is dammed and the potholes and river make out a natural waterpark suitable for all ages. On hot days the potholes become almost like hot pools, heated by the rocks and surrounding mountains.

The Gausta Line and Krosso Cable Car, Rjukan

The Krossobanen Cable Car was the first cable car to be built in northern Europe. It was built in 1928 and it was a gift from Norsk Hydro to the townspeople so that they could get up high enough to see the sun during the winter. . The view over Rjukan from the upper station is fantastic, with the mountains rolling away to the south and west and Vemork nestling in the valley where the dramatic heavy water sabotage operations took place during the WWII.

The Gausta line is a cable railway built inside Mount Gausta, 1.883 mtrs. and consists of a battery-powered carriage on rails which transports passengers to the top of Telemark’s highest mountain.Impressive view from the top.

Bø Sommerland

Bø Sommerland, situated just ouside the village of Bø, is Norway's largest aqua park, with one of the world's largest artificial waves for surfing and Norway's biggest water roller coaster.