Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
adventure-minded visitors—and far more than just a place for Oslovians to go
to sleep after the day's work is done. This is where Oslovians and many adven-
turous foreign visitors go for an array of outdoor activities that include cycling,
boating, hiking, fishing, and even skiing in the winter. Drammen is also a cen-
ter for river cruises along the Oslofjord.
The city, with a population of 50,000, lies on both banks of the river and was
once divided into two parts, Stromsø and Bragernes. These towns were fortified
and united in 1811 to form one town. Historically Drammen was the harbor for
exporting silver from the Kongsberg Mines, but today it is known as the chief
port for receiving foreign cars shipped into Norway. In days gone by, its river-
banks were covered with sawmills, and logs were rafted down the river, stretch-
ing for a distance of 45km (28 miles). A few decades ago the Drammen River
was known as “one large sewer.” But the waters have been cleaned up in recent
years, and locals even swim here in summer. Instead of that, you might prefer to
take one of the footpaths along the riverbanks, stopping off in a sunny “green
lung” area for a picnic. Both cyclists and walkers also enjoy these riverbanks.
The river itself flows into Drammen Fjord, stretching for 25km (16 miles).
The port of Drammen figures hugely in Viking lore. Nearly a thousand years
ago, the Vikings arrived at the port in their warships laden with plunder from
foreign raids. Dating from 1070, the
Sagas of Snorre
relate how these Vikings
departed and returned along the Oslofjord to “Drofn,” as the port of Drammen
was once called.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE
From the central station in Oslo, a train leaves every
half-hour for Drammen, taking 35 minutes and costing 70NOK ($9.95) for a
one-way ticket. Visit www.nsb.no for information. Buses cost the same, leave
with the same frequency, and also take 35 minutes. For more information, call
&
81-50-08-88
or visit www.nor-way.no. Motorists can take E18 to the south-
west of Oslo directly into the center of Drammen.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The
Drammen Turistinformasjon,
Engene 1
(
&
32-80-62-10
), dispenses information about the Drammen itself and the
immediate vicinity, including a number of attractions on the western banks of
Oslofjord. The office is open Monday to Friday 8am to 3pm. Also visit www.
virtualdrammen.com for more information.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Water-loving Oslovians head south every summer for the
annual
River Festival
in this riverside city. Events feature open-air concerts,
dragon-boat races, raft racing—in total some 100 different events. This festival
takes place during a weekend in August; dates change every year. Check with the
visitor center (see above) for more details.
SEEING THE SIGHTS
The highlight of the town is the
Spiraltoppen (Spiralen Tunnel)
stretching
for 1,650m (5,413 ft.) to the summit of Bragernes at 200m (656 ft.), which
offers a panoramic view of Drammen and the Oslofjord. The tunnel is known
as the “spirals of Drammen” because it winds in six huge spirals to the summit.
The spirals were created, beginning in 1953, when the people of Drammen
stopped quarrying for building stone and began to tunnel for it instead. This not
only preserved the beauty of their natural landscape but also created a scenic
wonder. The town people continued this method of conservation until 1961.
You can drive here or take bus no. 41, which makes three trips daily, leaving
