In winter, the town is completely shaded by the surrounding mountains, but illuminated by a sun mirror that shines down on the town square. The city was also the centre of one of Norway's most dramatic sabotage operations during World War II – If you're just a little interested in World World Two, you have probably seen the film "Heroes of Telemark" or the series "The Heavy Water War", both of which are about this episode at the Vemork power station.



If you visit Rjukan, you can go on a city walk, visit Vemork, which is now also a museum – and not least take a ride on the cable car Krossobanen, which was built in 1928 to give the city's inhabitants the opportunity to get up in the sunlight during the dark winter months.



From the top of the Krossobanen (at 886 metres) you can take a pleasant hike on the family–friendly "Solstien" trail. The beautiful tour is around 4.3 km long and runs on the edge of Hardangervidda Nasjonalpark. On the way you will pass several viewpoints, which give you a fantastic view over the beautiful high mountain plateau.



Rjukan is also known for its more than 200 waterfalls, where rushing meltwater from Hardangarvidda pours down the dark mountain walls – a spectacular sight, regardless of the size of the waterfall!

Setesdal

Rjukan – Nature and culture in a class of its own

If you're unlucky enough to encounter a rainy day on your holiday, or just fancy a break from the outdoors in the mountains, hop in the car and take the short drive to Rjukanbadet.
With a wellness area, slides, swimming pool, family area and outdoor area, there's plenty of fun to be had for both young and old water lovers.
Get a thrill as you hurtle through the slides and land in the 28-degree pool, or kick back in the outdoor hot tub with views of the surrounding mountains. Take your little ones to the family pool, where they can swim in safety and play on slides and other fun activities.
Read more and see opening hours and prices on Rjukanbadet's website.

Rjukanbadet – Great water park for the whole family

Heddal Stavkirke is around an hour's drive east of Gaustablikk. With its impressive wooden exterior, three towers and richly decorated gables with crosses and dragon heads, the beautiful church stands as a spectacular monument to both Norwegian history and Norwegian craftsmanship in a class of its own.

The beautiful stave churches are for many the epitome of Norwegian culture and history. The pointed towers and rough wooden walls exude history and architectural charm, and the churches represent Norway's most important contribution to world architecture. Heddal Stavkirke is an absolute showpiece, and the church, said to have been built in the 13th century and since rebuilt and restored twice, is so elaborately built and decorated that it has been nicknamed the "cathedral in wood".

The stave church is a fascinating sight as it sits atop the hill in the beautiful Norwegian landscape. Take your time to study the countless details both on the outside and inside the breathtaking building. It's a great feeling to stand in the middle of the church and imagine how the congregation stood right here 800 years ago and looked at the same walls and decorations!

Once you've had your fill of this historical and architectural gem, finish the day in the old vicarage stable, which houses both an exciting exhibition on the history of the stave churches and the cosy Kafé Olea, which offers homemade food and cake. Here you will also find the Olea shop, which sells souvenirs and locally made silver jewellery inspired by the beautiful church.

Heddal Stave Church – Norway's fascinating "wooden cathedral"

Gausta Aktivitetssenter is centrally located just opposite Gausta Høyfjellshotell. Here, family water dogs can rent canoes, rowboats, mini scooters or SUP boards for a trip on Kvitåvatn. If you're more of a land–based adventurer, but don't feel like venturing into the mountains on your own, you can book guided hikes with local guides.

If you're travelling with children aged 6–12, the activity centre offers a range of activities with experienced leaders – from fun water activities to cycling challenges, trips for 'wilderness heroes' and art workshops where children can get creative with natural materials. All guides have extensive experience in the outdoors and have both an educational background and first aid and wilderness courses.

The activities can be booked online in advance (no later than by 12.00 the day before you want a place).

Read more on the activity centre's website.

Gausta Activity Centre - Lots of fun activities for young and old

A pleasant trip by canoe, kayak, rowing boat or SUP board with a view of Gaustatoppen, a fishing trip with a chance of a big catch or a refreshing dip in the lake's cool waters followed by the embracing warmth of one of the lake's floating baths – Kvitåvatn offers wonderful water experiences for every taste.

Enjoy the tranquillity as you glide over the clear waters of the lake

At Gausta Activity Centre you can rent canoes, kayaks, rowboats and SUP boards and take to the calm waters of the lake. Watch the landscape change shape around you as you glide over the water and enjoy the sun playing on the impressive Gaustatoppen mountain towering above you. The trips on the lake give you the chance to experience the nature of Gausta in a whole new way – and you might be lucky enough to get up close to some of the area's wildlife.

If you have an angler with you on holiday, there are plenty of good fishing spots nearby. Cast your line from a quiet fishing spot on the lake shore and enjoy the silence of Gausta's unique nature, or try one of the other fishing spots that a Kvitåvatn fishing permit also gives you access to: Tjørnsettjønn, Djupetjønn and Heddersvatn. Fishing permits can be purchased at Gaustablikk Høyfjellshotell.

Floating bathing hutswith a view of the Gaustatoppen

For a unique wellness experience, book one of Gaustablikk Høyfjellshotell's floating bathing huts. Located on Lake Kvitåvatn, you can enjoy the warmth of the bath while looking out over the beautiful mountain landscape and, not least, Gaustatoppen.

If you want to combine the heat with a cool swim, you can take a dip in the cool waters of Kvitåvatn – there's also the option of a swim from the bridge, before letting yourself be enveloped by the warmth of the bath.
The bathing huts can accommodate a maximum of ten people (the number of people allowed dependsof how many your are in the households) and can be booked at the hotel. There is a changing room and bathing ladder just outside the bathing hut.

By the way, the Norwegians love bathing huts, so book well in advance..

Kvitåvatn – Idyllic surroundings for great water adventures

At an altitude of 1,100–1,200 metres above sea level, most of Hardangarvidda lies above the tree line, creating the unique, wild and beautiful high mountain terrain.

The area is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world, who visit to enjoy nature and the unique flora and fauna found on the high mountain plateau. Hardangarvidda is especially known for its wild reindeer, but elk are also often found in the high mountains – it is even possible to go on a elk safari with Rauland Tourist if you want the chance to see the "king of the forest" up close.

The most popular way to explore the area is, of course, with hiking boots on your feet – the area is relatively accessible and there are plenty of walking options, from family–friendly walks of a few kilometres to longer hikes for experienced hikers who go from cabin to cabin over several days.

If you have bikes on holiday, Hardangarvidda also has many cycle routes with varied terrain, and the flat terrain offers both challenging and easy routes for the whole family.

Read more and see route suggestions at gausta.com.

Hardangarvidda Nasjonalpark – World–class high mountain nature

How did the world's largest power plant come to be built in Rjukan in 1911? What lies behind inventions like the electric arc furnace and mineral fertiliser that made a huge difference to food production around the world? And what really happened in the dramatic sabotage that prevented Hitler from developing an atomic bomb with heavy water from Rjukan?

All this and much more can be answered with a visit to the Norwegian Industrial Museum. The museum has branches in several locations, mainly at the Vemork power station near Rjukan and at the Telemark Gallery in Notodden approx. one hour southeast of Rjukan.

At the museum, you can get an insight into the area's impressive industrial history and, not least, hear about how unique and groundbreaking inventions were created from the area's natural forces (including the Rjukanfossen waterfall, where meltwater gushes down from Hardangarvidda).

But it's not just industrial inventions that have grown out of the beautiful landscape – at the museum you can also see how Telemark's stunning scenery has inspired a string of Norwegian artists over the centuries.

Make sure you allow plenty of time for your visit – in Vemork the museum has five exhibitions in addition to the power station's spectacular boiler hall, and in Notodden you can visit both the World Heritage Centre and the Telemark Gallery.

Read more and see opening hours on the museum's website.

Norsk Industrial Museum – Exciting and dramatic history

winter

A skiing holiday in Gausta is not complete without a trip to Gaustatoppen. Here you can enjoy Norway's best–selling waffles – and a view over a sixth of the country in clear weather.

The trip up is via the unique Gaustabanen, an underground railway inside the mountain, originally built as a NATO installation in 1959, but which in recent years has brought thousands of tourists to the top of the beautiful mountain. The course is two–part – the first part goes 850 metres directly into the mountain, then you switch to a cable car, which takes you 1,050 metres uphill with a 39–degree climb.

On the way down, you can either choose to take the Gausta cable car or – weather permitting – have the experience of a lifetime on the family–friendly off–piste route or the steep runs that experienced skiers can explore with a guide.

Read more about off–piste skiing at Gaustatoppen

Gaustatoppen in winter clothes

Norway

If you choose to spend your summer holidays in Gaustablikk, you are guaranteed a real pearl of experiences. Located in the northern part of Telemark, Gaustablikk is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, while the surrounding area offers exciting towns and attractions to pique the interest of even the most smartphone–addicted teenager.

Northern Europe's highest padel tennis facility

Now you have the opportunity to try the trendy sport, padel tennis, in a dreamlike setting. Right next to Gaustablikk Høyfjellshotell and with a great view of Gaustatoppen and the mountain lake Kvitåvatn, two padel tennis courts were opened in the summer of 2021. Rackets and balls can be rented on site.

An absolute must for any holidaymaker in Gaustablikk is a top trip to Gaustatoppen. The trip is about five kilometres each way, but if you want to save some energy, you can ride almost all the way to the top on the "Gaustabanen" – a unique railway inside the mountain!

If you choose to walk, a wide and well–marked path will take you up a 700m difference in altitude. At the top, you can reward yourself with coffee and waffles from the century–old tourist cabin, while enjoying the panoramic view: from Gaustatoppen you can see a sixth of Norway in clear weather!

Gaustablikk is beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Kvitåvatn, which invites you to go fishing, canoeing and, not least, take a cool dip with spectacular views of Gaustatoppen – perhaps followed by a visit to one of the area's floating saunas?

The area also offers a wealth of marked hiking and cycling routes in the idyllic high mountain landscape. Particularly popular is the "Solstien" – a family–friendly tour on the edge of the Hardangervidda plateau. The spectacular tour, which starts with a ride on the Krossobanen cable car, offers 360–degree views of Hardangervidda, Gaustatoppen, Møsstrond and Rauland.

Rjukan – Dramatic history from world war two.

Just about 30 minutes from Gaustablikk you will find the focal point of one of Norway's most dramatic events in recent times: Rjukan. If you've seen the film Telemarkens Helte or the TV series Heavy Water War, you know the story of how Norwegian saboteurs prevented the German occupying forces from using the city's heavy water production to make an atomic bomb.

On the "Sabotage Trail" you can walk along the same path that the saboteurs followed on their way to blow up the Vemork heavy water plant. Signs along the trail tell the dramatic story of the hike, which also offers impressive views of the mountain landscape and Rjukan town.

Heddal Stave Church an hour's drive south of Gaustablikk is Norway's largest preserved stave church.
The stave church is a fascinating sight as it sits atop the hill in the beautiful Norwegian landscape. Take your time to study the myriad details – the portico, the multi–storey roof and the scaly roof tiles are just some of the reasons why the church seems like it's straight out of a fairytale!

Rjukan is also home to the Norwegian Industrial Workers' Museum, where you can both delve into the story of how Hydro started the world's first production of artificial fertiliser – and thus started the industrial revolution in Norway – and of course hear more about the exciting sabotage operation.

Your guide to a great holiday in Gaustablikk

Read more about what to do and see in Gaustablikk below and find inspiration for your holiday in our travel articles about the area.

Hirtshals

Kristiansand

Amazing nature experiences coupled with exciting saboteur tales and adventurous buildings. That's what you can experience on your holiday to Gaustablikk.

Gaustablikk – spectacular scenery and dramatic history

Gaustablikk

Here are eight tips for your holiday in Gaustablikk, whether you're into culture and history, hiking, quiet boat trips on Kvitåvatn or fun with the kids.

Gaustablikk offers a wealth of fantastic natural and cultural experiences for the whole family. 

What to see in Gaustablikk

Things to do

Rjukan – Nature and culture in a class of its own

Rjukanbadet – Great water park for the whole family

Heddal Stave Church – Norway's fascinating "wooden cathedral"

Gausta Activity Centre - Lots of fun activities for young and old

Kvitåvatn – Idyllic surroundings for great water adventures

Hardangarvidda Nasjonalpark – World–class high mountain nature

Norsk Industrial Museum – Exciting and dramatic history

Rjukanbadet – Great water park for the whole family

Gaustatoppen in winter clothes