Explore Telemark

English

Norsk

Home of Myllarguten - Myllarheimen

Type:Historical monument

Arabygdvegen 1342, 3864, Rauland

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 2 reviews2 reviews

Add Home of Myllarguten - Myllarheimen to your Itinerary

From NOK80.00
Product Image
  • Product Image
  • Product Image
  • Product Image
  • Product Image
  • Product Image
  • The houses at Myllarheimen.
  • Product Image

Book Tickets Online

About

Myllarheimen in Arabygdi, Vinje, is the home of the artist and fiddler Torgeir Augundson (1801-1872), better known as Myllarguten. The smallholding Myllarheimen is where he lived the last years of his life.

Torgeir Augundson was born in Sauherad, and being a miller’s son he got the nickname Myllarguten (the millerboy). His family lived a wandering life in poverty. Already as a five year old Myllarguten started to play the fiddle, and after a while he became a popular fiddler at weddings and other gatherings. He traveled around playing, and got inspired by many skilled fiddlers he met on his way.

In Bergen in 1831 Myllarguten met the famous violinist Ole Bull, and Bull was highly impressed by his fiddling. In 1849 Bull arranged a concert in Kristiania (Oslo) with Myllarguten as the main attraction. The concert was a success, and Myllarguten built himself up a large audience. But in the end of the 1850ies the interest for folk music declined as the era of national romanticism was in decline.

Myllarguten settled down in West Telemark, and at the age of 30 he married Ingebjørg Eddanshaugen. They had 10 children were of three died early.

In 1852 the Millerboy purchased Sudistog Øygarden farm after having made good money playing concerts in Christiania in 1849 and in Bergen in 1850.

He was neither skilled farmer nor competent economist, and as such he had to give up the farm again just over ten years later. He was allowed to keep this smallholding he called Kósi, put up four houses there, and lived there as of spring 1866.

The cabin came from Bronelid, a place west of Lake Totak. He moved the barn (made of birch) and a small storage house with him from Øygarden, and he fashioned a cowshed from an old bath house he found somewhere else.      

Leave Øygarden, travel south
Deep into poverty, I am surely bound

Six years later, on the 21st of November, 1872, he died as a ppor man. The whole funerary procession fit in a small open boat.

The little farm was left deserted, and fell into disrepair. Just after 1900, the cabin was torn down. What could still be used – some say a single log, and some say more – was brought to Nordjordet farther out in Arabygdi and was incorporated in the building of a new cabin there. This cabin was used as a home until 1958. It was taken apart in 1989 and now serves as an annex at a holiday home at Haddland.

In 1938, the artist and painter Harald Kihle came to Arabygdi. In the journal of the Norsk Bygdekunstlag (Norwegian folk art association) in 1949, he and colleague Kristian Kildal wrote a piece that strongly encouraged the preservation of those mementos of the Millerboy that still remained.

Rauland Bygdekunstlag (Rauland Folk Art Association), led by Øystein Kostveit, accepted the challenge and persuaded Rauland municipality to purchase the land and what remained of the houses and barn from Steffa Øygarden.

It was deemed impractical to use the original cabin from Nordjordet. Instead, they found a similar cabin at Glosimot in Bjålidmarka that had originally been a bakehouse at Nord-Svalastog farm, Haddland.

The practical work was carried out by volunteers. Olav Midgarden, grandson of the Millerboy, made sure everything was put in its proper place as far as they could manage. His brother Targjei Skinand, together with Aslak Øygarden, did the masonry work for the chimney.

A few of the Millerboy’s old possessions were collected for display in the cabin.  The official opening of the Millerboy’s home was July 8th, 1951, and 2000 people attended the ceremony in the then roadless community.

The Memorial statue of the Millerboy, made by sculptor Dyre Vaa, was set up here in August 1969.

 

Guiding in the Millerboy's Home

Myllarheimen is open for purchased guided tours. You can order a guided tour for groups bigger than 10 persons by calling +47 35 06 90 90 (Museum of Western Telemark) or by sending an e-mail to booking@vtm.no.

 

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

5 of 5 stars
    • Excellent
      2
    • Very Good
      0
    • Average
      0
    • Poor
      0
    • Terrible
      0

    Recent Reviews:

    • KaiHallvarT
      Trip Type:
      Friends getaway
      Ein liten artig stad og stoppe når ein veit litt om denne spelemannen. Veldig fin rasteplass ved statua som er ved vatne
      5 of 5 stars
      Saturday, 23rd July 2016
      Fin tur frå Haukeli/Edland og over te Rauland. Her er det alt frå fjell og ned te vatn, ta og turen opp te Songadammen. Read full review
    • Frid L
      Trip Type:
      Family
      En liten kulturperle
      5 of 5 stars
      Saturday, 20th July 2019
      Utrolig fint sted, med en intressant kulturhistorie bak seg. Myllarguten er noe Norge kan være stolt over. Read full review

    Guide Prices

    Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
    Groups min. 10 pers. Guide fee NOK 800,-NOK80.00 per person

    Prices are subject to change.

    Map & Directions

    Contact

    Tel: +47 35 06 90 90

    Opening Times

    * There is no guide at the museum. Guided groups on request all year.

    What's Nearby

    1. Smorklepp Art Museum - Sorensen and Kihle

      The valley of Smørklepp in Vinje made a lasting impression on the famous Norwegian artist…

      14.85 km away
    2. Knut Skinnarland Sculptural Art Collection - Rauland Kunstmuseum

      The Skinnarland Collection houses more than 100 works of art by sculptor Knut Skinnarland…

      20.17 km away
    3. Dyre Vaa Sculptural Art Collection - Rauland Kunstmuseum

      The museum shows sculptures, paintings, graphic art and drawings by the famous artist…

      20.25 km away
    1. Øyfjell Local History Museum

      Oyfjell museum of Local History has a rich collection of tools, traditional costumes,…

      34.56 km away
    2. Whetstones from Eidsborg

      For about 1000 years Tokke has had an export industry of whetstones. For Norwegian…

      37.80 km away
    3. Statkraft Exhibit Centre at Eidsborg

      The Statkraft exhibit centre at the museum in Eidsborg tells the story of hydro power…

      38.05 km away
    4. West-Telemark Museum Eidsborg

      To experience the rich cultural heritage and traditions of West Telemark, VTM Eidsborg is…

      38.08 km away
    5. Stålekleivloftet - one of the oldest wooden buildings in the world

      Is the storehouse of the legendary woman Åse Stålekleiv the oldest profane wooden…

      38.23 km away
    6. Would you like to get married?

      Here you will find the perfect setting for a wedding.

      38.25 km away
    7. Saint Nicholas and the Eidsborg Pond

      The bishop dedicated the church to St Nicholas. Through the years, this saint became an…

      38.30 km away
    8. Eidsborg Stave Church

      Charming, small stave church. Located by West Telemark Museum in Eidsborg.

      38.31 km away
    9. Grimdalstunet

      Here at Grimdalstunet you can get a glimpse into the home of the artist Anne Grimdalen. A…

      42.71 km away
    10. Åmdals Verk Mines

      Exciting copper mine in a small community built upp due to mining.

      48.11 km away
    11. Øverbø - the home of Sondre

      The history of Sondre Norheim begins in Morgedal, Telemark.

      48.68 km away
    12. Aasmund Kleiv - ski maker and ingenious craftsman

      Exhibition about Aasmund Kleiv (born 1923) from Morgedal, ski maker, craftsman and artist.

      51.06 km away
    13. Norwegian Ski Museum Morgedal

      Jazz lovers flock to New Orleans, Elvis fans congregate in Memphis, ski enthusiasts…

      51.06 km away
    Previous Next