Buskerud

Buskerud begins on the Drammensfjord just half an hour from Oslo and stretches along long valleys to the edge of the Hardangervidda. A trip to Buskerud takes you to the old silver town of Kongsberg, to stave churches in Numedal and Hallingdal, and to ski resorts such as Geilo and Hemsedal.

Sights in Buskerud

Kongsberg was founded in 1624 after silver was discovered, and for a long time its mines were the largest industrial enterprise in Norway. At the Mining Museum and on a ride on the mine train into the King's Mine, you can experience history underground; the Baroque church is among the largest in the country. Drammen, the county capital on the Drammenselva River, has transformed from an industrial port into a city with riverside promenades; the Spiral, a corkscrew tunnel through the mountain, leads to a viewpoint. Hønefoss to the north is the gateway to the Tyrifjord and to the Kistefos Museum near Jevnaker, with its gallery The Twist, which winds across a river. In Numedal you'll find the stave churches of Uvdal and Nore, and in Hallingdal the stave church of Torpo. Kongsberg is also known for its jazz festival in July. In the Tyrifjord lies the island of Utøya, site of the 2011 attack and now a place of education and remembrance.

Landscape and Activities

The valleys of Hallingdal and Numedal run northwest into the mountains. Geilo, on the edge of the Hardangervidda, and Hemsedal, with its alpine runs, are the best-known winter sports resorts; in summer, hiking trails, lakes, and fishing draw visitors. On the Tyrifjord, Norway's fifth-largest lake, you'll find farms and swimming spots. Hemsedal is considered one of the best alpine ski areas in Scandinavia, and from Geilo you can reach Hallingskarvet National Park. Hallingdal is home to the folk dance halling, with its acrobatic leaps.

Food, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit

Typical dishes in the mountain valleys include rakfisk, spekemat (air-dried meat), rømmegrøt (a sour cream porridge), and cheese from the mountain pastures. Drammen and Kongsberg are easy to reach from Oslo by train, and the Bergen Line runs via Hønefoss, Gol, and Geilo. The best time to visit is summer for hiking and winter, from January to March, for skiers. Many farms rent out vacation cabins, and in summer canoe trips and fishing in mountain lakes are popular draws.