Southern Norway
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Southern Norway - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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We’ve compiled the best of the best in Southern Norway - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
From the 1890s to the 1960s, canning sardines and other fish products was Stavanger’s main industry. This fascinating museum, in a former canning factory located in scenic Gamle Stavanger, recounts what it was like to live here during that period. Occasionally the public can take part in the production process, sometimes tasting newly smoked brisling. After extensive renovations, they also changed the name and included the Norwegian Printing Museum.
Although it’s a reconstruction of an Iron Age farm, Jernaldergården feels like the real thing because the newly built structures have been positioned on the original foundations. Relics such as a Bronze Age gravestone have been discovered here, and more research is underway. Taste some mead, the Vikings’ favorite drink, or have breakfast or lunch on wooden benches in front of roaring fireplaces.
Norwegian artist Theodor Kittelsen grew up in Kragerø, and his childhood home is now a museum. He is most famous for illustrating many children's stories and fairy tales, and most Norwegians have fond memories of his art.
At the Kristiansand Cannon Museum you can see the cannon that the occupying Germans rigged up during World War II. With a caliber of 15 inches, the cannon was said to be capable of shooting a projectile halfway to Denmark. In the bunkers, related military materials are on display. Kids love running around the grounds, but keep an eye on them, since there aren't railings everywhere.
The region's largest cultural museum has more than 40 old buildings on display. The structures, transported from other locations in the area, include two tun farm buildings traditionally set in clusters around a common area, which were intended for extended families. If you have children with you, check out the old-fashioned toys, which can still be played with. The museum is 4 km (2½ miles) east of Kristiansand on E18.
In an Empire-style building from 1827, the Lillesand Town and Maritime Museum is a window into the region's seafaring past. You can see how sailmakers worked and the city’s first fire pump.
A very popular attraction in Stavanger, the breathtaking Lysefjorden is best seen by boat. Along the way you can take in famous sights, like the sheer cliffs of Pulpit's Rock and the balancing act of the Kjerag Boulder.
Built in 1821, this is Norway's largest Empire-style wooden church.
A little off the beaten path, this museum is a 30-minute boat ride from Arendal. The early-18th-century sea captain’s home now has exhibits exploring life in the region. After visiting, enjoy a swim on the beach or a walk around the island.
Resembling a shiny offshore oil platform, the dynamic Norsk Oljemuseum is an absolute must-see. In 1969, oil was discovered off the coast of Norway. The museum explains how oil forms, how it's found and produced, its many uses, and its impact on Norway. Interactive multimedia exhibits accompany original artifacts, models, and films. A reconstructed offshore platform includes oil workers' living quarters—as well as the sound of drilling and the smell of oil. The highly recommended museum café, by restaurateurs Bølgen og Moi, serves dinners as well as lighter fare.
The striking rune stone in the cemetery of Oddernes kirke says that Øyvind, godson of Saint Olav, built this church in 1040 on property he inherited from his father. One of the oldest churches in Norway, it has a Baroque pulpit from 1704 and is dedicated to Saint Olav.
A favorite with hikers and strolling nannies, Ravnedalen is a lush park that's filled with flowers in springtime. Wear comfortable shoes to hike the narrow, winding paths up the hills and climb the 200 steps up to a 304-foot lookout. There is a café on-site, free parking, and open-air concerts in summer.
The only saltwater aquarium in southern Norway, Risør Akvarium has more than 500 fish and marine animals that you can watch through massive glass windows. Kids love feeding the fish and checking out Norway's largest lobster.
A stone's throw from the fishing trawlers and store warehouses, this market is where fishermen bring their fresh catch every day. Fiskemottak means "fish landing," and the name says it all. You're likely to see types of fish you've never laid eyes on before. You will also find a fish shop here and an outdoor restaurant.
This art museum sits by the lovely Lake Mosvatnet, about 3 km (2 miles) from the city center. Its holdings, which cover the early 19th century to the present, include an extensive collection of works by Lars Hertervig (1830--1902), a great romantic painter of Norwegian landscapes. The Halvdan Hafsten Collection has paintings and drawings created between the world wars.
Housed in the only two shipping merchants' houses that remain completely intact is Stavanger Maritime Museum. Built between 1770 and 1840, the restored buildings trace the past 200 years of trade, sea traffic, and shipbuilding. Visit a turn-of-the-20th-century general store, a merchant's apartment, and a sailmaker's loft. A reconstruction of a shipowner's office and a memorial are also here, as are two 19th-century ships, the sloop Anna af Sand, and the Colin Archer yacht Wyvern, moored at the pier.
The site where Norway was founded has been memorialized by these three huge bronze swords, designed by artist Fritz Røed and unveiled by King Olav in 1983. The memorial is dedicated to King Harald Hårfagre (Harald the Fairhaired), who through an 872 battle at Hafrsfjord managed to unite Norway into one kingdom. The Viking swords' sheaths were modeled on ones found throughout the country; the crowns atop the swords represent the different Norwegian districts that took part in the battle.
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