History and traditions

day 1: oslo - brumunddal

Norwegian distillery traditions

We travel from Oslo airport Gardermoen northwards to the Hamar region approx. 1 hour from the airport. First, we visit the Atlungstad Distillery. This is a unique cultural site where you get to experience Norwegian industrial architecture, the distillery history and Norwegian aquavit production for the past 150 years. We follow the process from the moment the potato enters the building and until the precious drops are bottled. Guided tour and tasting.

Check in at Wood Hotel by Frich’s, newly opened in 2019. The hotel is the world’s tallest wooden building with its 18 floors. Dinner at the hotel in the evening.

Day 2: Brumunddal - Gjøvik - Hadeland

The shores of Lake Mjøsa

In beautiful surroundings by the shores of Lake Mjøsa, you wake up refreshed and ready for good experiences.  A beautiful morning drive alongside Lake Mjøsa, passing the city Gjøvik for our first stop for today, the Peder Balke Centre. Peder Balke (1804-1887) was a Norwegian painter. With his dramatic paintings in a limited colour scale, Balke was recognized as one of the best landscape painters in Norway in the 19th century.  From there we go to Melkefabrikken på Kapp, owned by the swiss company Nestle, 120 years ago. They made condensed milk here until 1928. We will have lunch here.

One hour driving from here we will reach Granavolden in Hadeland with two churches, (The Sister Churches) built between 1150 and 1200. Nikolai Church and Maria Church. In the middle of the historic environment and beautiful cultural landscape, right next to the Sister Churches at Granavollen, we find Glasslåven Art Centre- a protected classic red barn from the 1880s which has been converted into an art centre. The barn now houses a glassblowing studio and 14 workshops for professional artists and craftsmen. Glass artist Ulla-Mari Brantenberg has been involved since the start. Today, several artists, writers, a composer and a framer are among those who have their daily workplace here.
Dinner and overnight stay at Granavolden Gjæstgiveri.

Day 3: Hadeland - Noresund

Art, galleries and sculptures

Two large tourist attractions in Norway; Hadeland Glassverk and the Kistefos Museum are today’s first destinations, both being important cultural institutions housing various art exhibitions every year. Hadeland Glassverk has been producing glass since 1765 and is today a major attraction with many shops, exhibitions, activities, museum and various art exhibitions.

Kistefos is a unique cultural destination in beautiful surroundings in Jevnaker. Kistefos was built on the former factory area of Kistefos Træsliperi AS and today consists of an impressive sculpture park, two art galleries and an industrial museum. In 2019, the signature building The Twist opened, which has won several awards and nominations for its spectacular design.

Dinner and overnight stay in Sole hotel.

Day 4: Noresund - Modum - Noresund

Cobalt, silver and Norwegian artists

Today we drive first to Åmot to visit Blafarveværket where they produced Cobalt. From 1773 to 1893, the Blaafarveværket and the Cobalt Mines were the workplace of thousands of people who had one task: to supply the world with the most beautiful blue colour. Today you can experience the history of the preserved Cobalt Mines and the built environments through guided tours, cultural trails, art exhibitions, exciting shops and cosy eateries in green surroundings. Lunch on your own in one of the restaurants.

Next stop is Lauvlia where the Norwegian artist, Theodor Kittelsen lived. Th. Kittelsen is one of Norway’s most beloved artists and is perhaps best known for his fairy tale drawings and atmospheric paintings of people and trolls, animals and landscapes. The artist’s home is today the most personal memorial we have after Theodor Kittelsen.

From Lauvlia we travel to our final stop for today “Hagan”, one of the country’s best-preserved artists’ homes from the golden age of Norwegian painting. The painter Christian Skredsvig (1854–1924) lived here for 30 years.Skredsvig was a famous painter and perhaps the most famous of the Norwegian artists in Paris. He won the highest award, the gold medal, at the Salon in Paris in 1881 for his large painting of a French farmhouse, “Une ferme a Venoix” purchased by the French state. Skredsvig lived in Paris for six years before moving home to Norway. From Hagan back to the hotel via Norefjell. Dinner at  the hotel.
 

Day 5: Noresund - Oslo

Open landscape

First stop today is Vikersundbakken, the largest skijump in the world. From there we drive to Oslo and stay overnight in a hotel in the city centre.
We will visit Holmenkollen and Frognerparken before check in. Lunch in Frognerseteren restaurant.

Dinner in the Opera house restaurant in the evening.