Southern Norway - Norway - page 218

Quality Hotel Grand In a modern building, this hotel is the finest choice
for an overnight in the area. All of its bedrooms have been renovated, and some
of them open onto views of a waterfall. Others open onto views of the moun-
tains. Each room is tastefully and comfortably furnished, although accommo-
dations tend to be a bit small. Thirty percent of the units contain bathrooms
with tub/shower combinations, the rest have only showers. The hotel also offers
the best drinking, dining, and entertainment facilities in town. Its piano bar is
a nightly attraction, and on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm to 3am, there
is disco action. You also have a choice of light dining in a lounge or more for-
mal Norwegian and international cuisine in the hotel's main restaurant.
Christian August Gate 2, N-3611 Kongsberg. & 32-77-28-00. Fax [phone]. www.quality-grand.no. 176
units. 930NOK-1,460NOK ($132-$207) double; 1,480NOK-1,600NOK ($210-$227) suite. Children under 12
stay free in parent's room. Rates include continental breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Dec 23-Jan 1. Ameni-
ties: 2 restaurants; 2 bars; indoor heated pool; sauna; laundry service/dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms;
rooms for those w/limited mobility. In room: TV, minibar, hair dryer.
WHERE TO DINE
Gamle Kongsberg Kro NORWEGIAN This restaurant at Nybrofossen lies
next to the waterfall and is not only the most scenically located dining venue in
town but also the spot for the best cuisine. Hearty, regional dishes are served
here in generous helpings at affordable prices. In a big white house, the restau-
rant offers a large dining area, with room for 130 patrons. There are good views
of the river and the waterfall from the windows of the restaurant. Food is well
prepared, and the recipes are all traditional and familiar. You'll begin with a
choice of appetizers such as a shrimp cocktail or a bowl of fish soup, to be fol-
lowed by main courses dear to the heart of any Norwegian. The chef 's specialty
is filet of reindeer served in a red-wine sauce with baked potato. You can also
order beef cooked with bacon and served with a béarnaise sauce. For us, noth-
ing beats the grilled Norwegian salmon, cooked to perfection and served with a
white-wine sauce. After all that, you might forego the banana split for dessert
and opt instead for the wild berries with ice cream.
Thornesvn. 4. & 32-73-16-33. Reservations recommended. Main courses 195NOK-235NOK ($28-$33).
MC, V. Mon-Sat 1-10pm; Sun 1-7pm. Closed Dec 24-Jan 2.
EASY EXCURSIONS: HEDDAL STAVE CHURCH
The greatest man-made attraction in southern Norway, the Heddal Stave
Church lies 33km (21 miles) west of Kongsberg, reached by taking Route 134
toward Notodden. This medieval architectural masterpiece is still in use today.
Rising 25m (85 ft.) high and 19m (65 ft.) long, Heddal is the largest of the 28
stave churches remaining in Norway.
The oldest part of the church, the chancel, was built of wood in 1147. About
a century later the church was enlarged to its present format. Runic inscriptions
reveal that the church was consecrated in 1242 and dedicated to the Virgin
Mary. Inside are a beautiful wooden carved chair from 1200, a baptismal font
from 1850, and two of the original pillars from the church. The altarpiece is the
work of an unknown artist in 1667, and the wall painting, also by an unknown
artist, is from 1668. Dragons and serpents, along with grotesque human heads,
decorate the portals.
The church ( & 35-02-00-93 ) charges admission of 35NOK ($4.95) for
adults, 10NOK ($1.40) for children. From June 21 to August 20, it is open 9am
to 7pm daily. From May 20 to June 20 and August 21 to September 10, hours
are 10am to 5pm daily.