Untraditional destinations
Visit some of Norway’s lesser known viewpoints and attractions – and come away with unique experiences and holiday memories for life.
Stegastein
Stegastein is an exceptional viewing platform that juts out 30 metres from the mountainside, 650 metres above Aurlandsfjorden.Here you can enjoy a unique panoramic view of the snow-covered mountains and the beautiful fjord below.
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Vidsyn
The fascinating Vidsyn sculpture looks out over Rauland from Vierlinuten. At the top, you can walk right up to the quirky figure, whose eyes are always looking at you, whether you’re standing to its right or left. If you walk past it slowly, it feels like the eyes are following you – try it out for yourself!
Madonna in Eggedal
Out in the middle of nowhere, on a mountaintop 1,020 metres above sea level, is quite an unusual place to find a work of art. Nonetheless, this is where you can visit the Madonna i Eggedal granite statue, around 40 minutes’ drive west of Norefjell.
Gaustatoppen
Anyone who’s been to Gaustablikk will have seen the incredible mountain towering high above the town – and fortunately, it’s quite easy to get to the top even if you’re not an experienced hiker. In fact, you can almost get all the way to the top on “Gaustabanen” – a unique funicular that runs through the mountain!
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Timber slide in Vennesla
North of Tregde and Kristiansand, you can follow a hiking trail along a real timber slide. The slide was built in 1952 to transport large tree trunks from the forest to the nearby river, and today it is the longest – and only –one of its kind in Norway.
Nastadborgen
Nastadborgen at Norefjell is a fascinating re-creation of the fortress and castle culture from the 13th to the 19th centuries. It’s the attention to detail – and the historical accuracy – in every part of the castle, from the impressive exterior down to the smallest fitting.
Foto: Nastadborgen, Svein Yngvar Dynge
Sun mirrors in Rjukan
Rjukan lies at the bottom of a deep valley and is thus shrouded in shadow for large parts of the year. In 2013, a one-hundred year idea was realised when the town’s sun mirror was put in place. The mirrors are positioned at the top of the mountain above the town and now reflect the sun’s rays down onto Rjukan’s market square during winter.
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Villa Fridheim
Villa Fridheim close to Norefjell is Norway’s only fairy tale museum. The beautiful building looks as though it came straight out of a fairytale itself and, inside, the furnishings and decorations form an atmospheric setting for experiencing some of Norway’s most exciting fairytale stories and sagas.
Sølvsmedtunet
In Vraadal, a very special experience awaits: Sølvsmedtunet jewellery workshop, where you can experience silversmith Astrid Søftestad’s work based on Telemark’s old handicraft traditions.Once you’ve seen all the fantastic jewellery, you should have a peek up into Santa’s loft, where it’s Christmas all year round.
Seljordsvatnet
Lake Seljordsvatn in Telemark reportedly has its very own sea monster – Selma. The first reports of the beast date back to the 18th century, and the creature was last seen in 2010. Visit the lake and see if you can spot the beast from one of the lake’s observation towers!
Foto: VisitSouthernNorway.com