Southern Norway - Norway - page 251

Norwegian Mining Museum MUSEUM
Offline map Google map (Norsk Bergverks-museum; www.bvm.museum.no ; Hyt-
tegata 3; adult/child Nkr80/30; 10am-5pm mid-May-Aug, shorter hr rest of yr)
This worthwhile mining museum, in an 1844 smelter, tells the story of mining in Kongs-
berg with relics, models and mineral displays; the old smelting furnaces still survive in the
basement. In the same building, other sections include the Royal Mint , which was moved
from Akershus Fortress in Oslo to the source of the silver in 1686, as well as a skiing mu-
seum (Kongsberg is home to one of the world's oldest ski-jumping competitions) and an
arms and industry museum . All these are included in the same ticket.
Lågdal Folk Museum FOLK MUSEUM
Offline map Google map (Lågdalsmuseet; www.laagdalsmuseet.no , in Norwegian;
Tillischbakken 8-10; adult/child mid-Jun-mid-Aug Nkr40/10, admission free rest of
yr; 11am-5pm mid-Jun-mid-Aug, shorter hr rest of yr) This folk museum, a
10-minute walk southeast of the train station, houses a collection of 32 period farmhouses
around which frolic sheep, goats and pigs. Inside the main building is a WWII resistance
museum and a re-creation of 19th-century and early 20th-century Kongsberg, complete
with interesting descriptions of the shop and its former owner (much of which is written in
Norwegian only). In summer there are guided tours at 11am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm.
Kongsberg Kirke CHURCH
Offline map (Kirketorget; adult/child Nkr30/10; 10am-4pm Mon-Fri, 10am-1pm
Sat, 2-4pm Sun mid-May-mid-Aug, shorter hr rest of yr) Norway's largest baroque
church, in the Old Town west of the river, officially opened in 1761. The rococo-style in-
terior features ornate chandeliers and an unusual altar that combines the altarpiece, high
pulpit and organ pipes on a single wall. From June to August there are organ recitals held
here at 8pm on Wednesday.
Hiking & Skiing
Kongsberg'sbesthikingandcross-countryskiingisfoundinthegreen,forestedKnutefjell,
immediately west of the town. The Kongsberg tourist office sells the map Kultur-og
Turkart Knutefjell (Nkr120), which details the hiking and skiing tracks.