On the way in: From Oslo alternative

On the way from Oslo to beautiful Vrådal, you have time to visit up to two of these three great sights.
At Notodden is Heddal Stave Church. With a history dating back to the Middle Ages, this is Norway’s largest stave church and it is still in use as a parish church.
Outside Kongsberg you will find Kongsberg Silver Mines , which is the largest Norwegian mining company ever.
On the way, you can also visit Lien Farm , which grows fruit they use for the production of jam, juice and cider. Genuine, good and locally sourced

Detailed tour suggestions with several stops and longer itinerary:

Departure from Oslo on the E18 with direction Drammen. At Drammen, take the E134 and on to Kongsberg. In Kongsberg, we recommend a stop at the church and the silver mines. Kongsberg Church is Norway’s largest baroque/rococo church with 2400 seats. The church is a unique building with an altar, pulpit and organ built together to form a magnificent wall. Magnificent interior with, among other things, its own royal lodge. Rococo and classical style are throughout. The church is also well known for its three beautiful and enormous chandeliers from Nøstetangen Glassverk.

The silver mines are located in Saggrenda, 8 km west of Kongsberg. The mine train takes you 2,300 meters through Christian 7th Stoll to the King’s Mine, which was the Silver Works’ largest. The bottom is 1070 meters below the day and 560 meters below sea level. There is a guided tour with, among other things, a demonstration of the old fahrart, – the first crew lift that brought the miners 300 meters further down into the depths. You walk in pillars and large rock caverns where the silver was mined. On to Notodden. Outside Notodden, we suggest a stop at Heddal Stave Church. Heddal Stave Church is the largest of the stave churches still preserved in Norway. In the Middle Ages, it is estimated that there were somewhere between 750 and 1200 stave churches in this country. There are guided tours throughout the summer months. See www.heddal-stavkirke.no

Further through Hjartdal and Svartdal and through the bends down towards Flatdal is Nutheim where King Oscar II in 1870 stopped, admired the view and let fall some admiring words that the villagers have duly attached to a memorial plaque – “Kongshella”. At Nutheim, many well-known Norwegian artists have found motifs and inspiration (Sørensen, Kihle, Fritzvold, Kai Fjell, Finn Faaborg, the Grøstad brothers). See www.nutheim.no There is also the opportunity for a small coffee stop or a delicious lunch with good homemade food.

Down the mountainside towards Flatdal, you drive on towards Seljord, Brunkeberg and turn off on the R41 towards Kviteseid and Vrådal. Before starting the last ascent towards Vrådal, you can make a stop at Kviteseid Bygdetun. What did a wealthy farm look like about 200 years ago? Here you will find the answer to that! The museum also shows Kviteseid’s old church from the 1100s, which is dedicated to St. Olav, as well as an exhibition building with the sculptures of Gunnar Utsond. See www.vest-telemark.museum.no

Up the mountainside, it is only 5 km left to Vrådal and the historic Straand Hotel, where you check in.