Skien

About

Skien is the capital of the countyTelemark with just over 50,000 inhabitants. The city is beautifully located between the two lakes Bryggeparken and Hjellevannet.The waterfront in Skien municipality is an important part of the cityscape, and has a mixture of pedestrian streets, green lungs and monumental buildings. 

The Telemark Canal starts in the middle of Skien center, and you will meet the first 2 locks here. Skien Church with its 2 towers of 68 meters is clearly in the cityscape and open in summer for those who want to see the beautiful church. The world-famous playwright Henrik Ibsen was born in Skien and grew up here. Today, his childhood home on Venstøp is a museum, Henrik Ibsen Museum.

Exciting shopping opportunities can be found here, and if you need a breake, there are many cafes to choose from.

The city has a rich cultural life with its own theater stage, the culture house Ibsenhuset with its large program throughout the year, several well-known jazz musicians and three venues for contemporary art. Skien is also the venue for the food festival Mersmak, ParkJazz, as well as a number of concerts, theater performances and sporting events.