Gavlesjåstulen at Lifjell

About

Experience authentic mountain farm life at Lifjell – with homemade products, happy animals, and living traditions.

Gavlesjåstulen is the oldest operating mountain farm (støl) on Lifjell and the only one in Notodden that still produces traditional seter products and welcomes visitors. Here you will meet the farm maid (budeie) Siri, as well as Marianne and Anne, who offer warm smiles, fresh mountain air, and genuine mountain farm joy.

Products and Serving

At Gavlesjåstulen you can buy and taste traditional seter products made from milk from Telemark cows that graze freely in the mountains:

• Knåost – made from sour skimmed milk with salt, caraway, and a little cream
• Stulsost – made from sweet milk
• Prim (brown whey cheese spread) – boiled from whey from the cheese production, with added cream
• Butter and Sour Cream – made from fresh sour cream from our own production

In addition, we offer:

• Rømmegraut (sour cream porridge) made from our own produced milk and sour cream
• Waffles, coffee, mineral water, and chocolate

Animals and Experiences

With us, you can greet many of the farm animals:

• Telemark cows and calves
• The horses Molly and Pondus
• Turkeys, hens, and roosters
• Dogs and cats

Season and Opening Hours 2026

Open: July 1st - approx. August 25th, 2026
Opening Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Sunday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM (12:00 – 16:00)

How to get here

From Notodden

Drive towards Sauland (Seljord). Turn off at Nordbygda and follow the sign to Gavlesjå until the parking lot at Myregvarv.
From there, walk on a marked trail to the mountain farm (approx. 35–40 min walk).
Toll: NOK 100, payable by card in the machine upon return or online.

From Bø

Drive past Bø Sommarland towards Notodden, turn off Reshjemvegen and follow signs towards Årmotdalen to Åsebrua.
Toll: NOK 90, payable online upon return.
Continue on Årmotdalvegen to Grønbygil (new toll), park there and follow the tractor road to Gavlesjåvatnet. Then follow the marked trail along the water to the mountain farm (approx. 1 hour walk).

History and Legends

Gavlesjåstulen has roots dating back to the Middle Ages. According to old stories, the priest Svein lived here during the Black Death. He is said to have received food sent from Heddal and created an herb garden in Blåur – known as Sveinshage (Svein's Garden). After his death, he is said to have been buried at Sveinsrøys (Svein's Cairn) just above the mountain farm.

The area is also known for legends about huldreky (supernatural cattle) and småfolk (little folk/fairies) – stories that live on among the local population.