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Summer at the farm Hoel Gård on the Nes peninsula, right by lake Mjøsa in Ringsaker, Eastern Norway
Rural luxury at the farm Hoel Gård on the Nes peninsula in Ringsaker, Eastern Norway
Boen gård in Southern Norway
Interior image of one of the rooms at the farm Hoel Gård on the Nes peninsula in Ringsaker, Eastern Norway
Four women relaxing by the indoor pool at Engø gård at Tjøme, Eastern Norway

Extraordinary country getaways

Need a little break from reality?

Imagine spending a few days in quiet and peaceful surroundings. No stress. No interruptions. Except maybe from a cute cat that wants to cuddle!

All over the country, traditional farms and manor houses have been transformed into fashionable accommodation just waiting to be explored.

Old, historic buildings with stories to tell …

... where traditions meet modern comfort and chic design …

... offering excellent opportunities to pamper yourself, too!

Enjoy local food straight from the farm, grown and prepared by loving hands.

Take a moment to appreciate life as you share an unforgettable meal with your loved ones.

Traditional farmhouses meet modern comfort in Norway's exclusive manor houses. Book a stay and enjoy rural hospitality at its best.

Comfort in the countryside

"High-end farmhouse holidays in Norway are a treasure trove of culinary, historic, natural and cultural experiences," says Edda Espeland, freelance journalist and editor.

Espeland has written about some of the grandest manor houses in Norway. She says that the common denominator is often a combination of tradition, innovation, and local culture.

"Some manor houses arrange concerts and theatre performances that are based on local culture and history. Others have opened museums or offer nature activities such as kayaking, climbing, skiing, and cycling", she says.

It's wonderful to be greeted by friendly hosts who make every effort to ensure you have a relaxing break from everyday life. Enjoy locally sourced food and learn more about the area's food and drink traditions. Even though you feel a million miles away from the hustle and bustle, you may be surprised by how easy it is to get to rural accommodation by train, bus, or car.

Espeland’s recommendations

Start planning! Get inspired by what Espeland considers the finest manor houses in Norway, each offering a unique experience.

Engø Gård Hotell & Restaurant

Where: Tjøme in Eastern Norway

At Engø Gård in Tjøme, you can enjoy exquisite cuisine, elegant rooms, afternoon tea and one of the finest bathhouses in the country. Stroll along the shore, join a lobster safari or enjoy a game on the private tennis court.

While you’re here:

A short drive away, you’ll find Verdens Ende (“The End of the World”). It's worth a visit for its iconic lighthouse, built with pebbles from local beaches. It is also great for fishing, hiking and a dip in the sea. Check out the restaurant at the top, too.

29/2 Aurland

Where: Aurland in Western Norway

29/2 Aurland is a modern boutique hotel right between the fjord and the mountains, ten minutes from the village of Flåm in Western Norway. Historically, Aurland was characterised by a combination of humble farmers and English aristocrats who came here to fish salmon. Today, you will find that this charming town is now also home to trendy, innovative architecture and street art.

29/2 Aurland has eight individually decorated rooms. How about spending the night in the Fisherman’s Cabin, or the Goat Barn, a converted traditional cog-jointed smokehouse with a modern twist. Try locally produced treats such as goat salami, delicious baked goods, raspberry juice, and more.

While you're here:

The hotel is a great starting point for hiking trips in the Aurlandsdalen valley. Explore the village of Aurland and snap a few pictures from the Stegastein viewing platform.

Valbjør Gard

Where: Vågå in Eastern Norway

Valbjør Gard can be traced back to the Viking Age. It is beautifully situated in a cultural landscape around 700 metres above sea level. The sheltered courtyard consists of 13 timber buildings from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The hosts run an organic farm that produces goat’s milk and sheep milk, among other things. In the farm shop you can buy the farm's own goat brie, goat sausages and local handicrafts.

While you’re here:

Valbjør Gard is the perfect starting point for hiking and cycling in Jotunheimen. In Vågå, five kilometres away, you can participate in an Edvard Munch hiking tour and visit Vågå church, which dates back to the 1100s.

Hovelsrud Gård

Where: Ringsaker in Eastern Norway

Hovelsrud Gård is a true gem of a holiday spot. Situated on Helgøya island in Lake Mjøsa, you can spend the night in its rustic barn Sommerfjøset next to the beach. Go for a stroll among fruit trees, pavilions and fountains in the beautiful garden, which has been kept in its original style since 1840. The farm has its own organic vegetables, chickens, and grain production. It was the first chicken producer in the country to be awarded the animal welfare label Dyrevernmerket.

While you're here:

Norway’s largest inland island Helgøya in Lake Mjøsa is shaped like a big heart. Visit the farm café Skafferiet for a delicious lunch in picturesque surroundings. You can also challenge yourself among the treetops in the Helgøya climbing park. Check out all the incredible farms by the lake.

Haaheim Gaard

Where: Tysnes in Western Norway

Situated an hour and a half south of Bergen, Haaheim Gaard in Sunnhordland offers 21 traditionally decorated rooms with sea views, including a few suites with a private sauna. This stately manor house is surrounded by a lush cultural garden with a chapel, rose bushes and fruit trees. The farm shop has a good selection of local flavours. Its gardener creates lavish food trays with fruit, vegetables, berries, and herbs. Haaheim Gaard arranges concerts, wine and beer tasting, and large dinner events made with local food throughout the year.

While you're here:

A stay at Haaheim Gaard can be combined with activities such as RIB safaris, fishing, hiking and mountain biking.

Herangtunet Boutique Hotel

Where: Valdres in Eastern Norway

You find the wonderful Herangtunet Boutique Hotel on a hill in the forest between Fagernes and Beitostølen in Valdres. It combines a traditional barn with a peat roof combined with modern design and exclusive vintage furniture. The hotel has five rooms and four suites, all of which are individually furnished. With a different city and country theme in each room, it is almost like checking in to another part of the world. A superb restaurant and a welcoming host make Herangtunet an exceptional hotel experience.

While you're here:

Go for a short drive to Beitostølen, where you can go dog sledding on wheels, canoe paddling, or 'packrafting', a cross between paddling and rafting.

Boen Gård

Where: Kristiansand in Southern Norway

The recently restored Boen Gård exudes luxury and tranquillity. The farm has 18 large, bright rooms plus common rooms and cabins, all of which are stylishly decorated with stoves, furniture and art from the time the farm was built. The organic kitchen is 80 percent self-sufficient with fruit and vegetables from the garden. This elegant farmhouse is surrounded by an extensive park with grazing sheep and lamb.

While you're here:

The forests around Boen Gård offer fabulous hiking and fishing opportunities. The lively summer city of Kristiansand offers plenty of shopping, restaurants and culture just 20 minutes away.

Nordre Ekre Gardshotell

Where: Heidal in Eastern Norway

This family-owned farm Nordre Ekre is located in the mountain village of Heidal, close to Gudbrandsdalen. The farm has seven uniquely decorated rooms. In the barn, you’ll find a library and a restaurant that serves divine home-cooked meals based on local ingredients.

While you're here:

The national parks Jotunheimen and Rondane are practically around the corner, which makes Nordre Ekre an excellent base for outdoor adventure. The cheese maker Heidal Ysteri has a small but tasty selection of cheeses. You can also stop by to try its rømmegrøt (sour cream porridge).

Bortistu Gjestegard

Where: Storlidalen in Trøndelag

Bortistu Gjestegard is situated in the middle of the Trollheimen mountains in the Storlidalen valley in Oppdal. In 2000, its barn was transformed into a modern country house. Bortistu has a long tradition of farm operations. Its signature smoked lamb dish has been certified as a speciality by Matmerk (the Norwegian Food Branding Foundation).

While you're here:

Storlidalen is a paradise for fishing, cycling and hiking. Trekanten in Trollheimen – the hike between Gjevilvasshytta, Trollheimshytta and Jøldalshytta – is on the Norwegian Trekking Association’s (DNT) list of the most popular mountain hikes in the country.

Sygard Grytting

Where: Sør-Fron in Eastern Norway

Sygard Grytting has been welcoming visitors for over 700 years and remains a fully operational farm in the middle of Gudbrandsdalen. Today, its offers twelve individually decorated rooms and scrumptious meals in a historic setting. With a medieval hostel from around 1300, Sygard Grytting is a natural stop for pilgrims on their way to Trondheim. Today's hosts are 16th generation owners.

While you're here:

Satisfy your cravings at the award-winning Annis sausage factory in Ringebu and at Øyens home bakery, where you can enjoy flatbread baked to perfection using grandma's recipe.

Gammel-Kleppe

Where: Vågå in Eastern Norway

Gammel-Kleppe in Vågå looks like it’s been taken straight out of a fairytale. The barn and granary have been masterfully transformed into grand suites with art and antiques. There is also a small library. The on-site chickens provide fresh eggs for breakfast every morning. Another highlight is the farm's wellness facilities, which consist of a wood-burning sauna and a cold hose shower.

While you're here:

Gammel-Kleppe is a good starting point for excursions to the national parks Rondane, Dovrefjell and Jotunheimen. Other top tips are to go rafting in the Sjoa river, join a musk ox safari or sign up for a cooking course with Norwegian celebrity chef Arne Brimi.

Annexstad Gård

Where: Østre Toten in Eastern Norway

Annexstad Gård is idyllically situated by lake Mjøsa close to Gjøvik. The farmhouse's 16 well-maintained buildings are surrounded by lovely gardens with magnificent views. The host is happy to chat about the history of the farm. From June to September, the farm shop offers everything from home-made honey and the farm’s own quail eggs to antique furniture and local handicrafts. You can also spend the night in a converted pigsty, which was built in 1902.

While you’re here:

Gjøvik has one of Norway’s few chocolate factories and a fun science centre (Vitensenteret Innlandet). There are also plenty of marked hiking trails. Last but not least, Gjøvik is the hometown of Skibladner – the oldest paddle steamer in the world that is still in operation. Take a ride on Lake Mjøsa!

Hoel Gård

Where: Ringsaker in Eastern Norway

Hoel Gård has a history that dates back to the Middle Ages. It is situated in picturesque surroundings on the Nes Peninsula, right by Lake Mjøsa. In the summer, the venerable paddle steamer Skibladner calls at the farm’s private pier, where you can arrange for your hosts to collect you in an elegant vintage car. The bar Anden Etage arranges concerts as well as wine and aquavit tastings. Be sure to pop into the Farm Museum too! Hoel Gård has a strong focus on sustainable food, and and much of its menu consists of ingredients that are grown on site.

While you're here:

For more delicious food, have lunch in the cosy Kafe Nessesundet or dinner at Mjøskanten. Set sail on Skibladner, the boat that is known as 'Mjøsa’s white swan”' At the Edel Design Gallery at Alhaug Farm, you can get your hands on exclusive, locally produced clothes.

More stately accommodation options

See the film: A rural gourmet at Kvitnes Farm

After working at several of the country's best restaurants, master chef Halvard Ellingsen moved to Vesterålen to open a gourmet restaurant at Kvitnes Gård. Here he creates heavenly meals with ingredients grown at the farm, in warm surroundings.

Step inside Kvitnes Gård in Vesterålen

Find the manors on the map

Get ready for your farm adventure.

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