Telemark

From coastal idyll to mountain views

From one of Norway’s most charming coastal towns to tall mountains and highlands, the county of Telemark is as diverse as it is beautiful. Go on a trip on the Telemark Canal and get a taste of what the county has to offer.

To find peace, the famous Norwegian painter Edvard Munch would go to Kragerø on the Skagerrak coast with its clear, blue sea. He named it the “Jewel of the coastal towns”, and Norwegians surely agree: In the summer, the small town’s population quadruples.

Far from being defined by its coastline, though, the county of Telemark stretches inland all the way to the huge, largely treeless mountain plateau of Hardangervidda, Norway’s largest national park.

Dynamic Variation:

In the valley beneath the mountain lies the charming town of Rjukan, a place with an incredibly rich industrial and wartime history and which has been added to UNESCO’s world heritage list.

Historically, Western Telemark around Dalen and Seljord is an important area for folk music and traditional storytelling, its dialect even retaining much of the Old Norse language. This is where the Norwegian tradition of skiing has its roots. The area around Bø in Midt-Telemark is also known for its cultural traditions within traditional music and artisanship, as well as for the largest water park in Scandinavia, Bø Sommarland.

There are plenty of accommodation options in Telemark, including a wide variety of camping possibilities. Getting to and around the area is easy.

Find more inspiration on Telemark’s official website.

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