Son – by the sunny shores of the Oslofjord

Just 40 minutes south of Oslo you will find the idyllic coastal town of Son, located on the sunny side of the Oslofjord.

Son is known for its old city center with wooden houses and narrow alleyways often associate with cities along the southernmost coast of Norway.

Son offers a wide variety of cafes and restaurants as well as small niche boutiques. Only 10 minutes away You will find Oslo Fashion Outlet in Vestby, a good place to visit in combination with Son.

During the summer season there is a boat connection from Oslo during the weekend.

Enjoy the good life in Son. Enjoy a restful time at Son SPA or rent a kayak and explore the surrounding area.

 

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Bærums Verk

Handelsstedet Bærums Verk has roughly 50 shops, artisans, workshops, galleries and eateries.

Verksgata, which consists of old houses for labourers from the 18th century, is open seven days a week all year round. Here you can find the artisan workshop of the smith, glass blowers, silversmiths, art galleries, eateries including pizza and pancakes, chocholate shop, delicatessen with local produce and other unique shops. The shopping mall in the old factory hosts a large selection of interior shops and chic clothes for the whole family.

Bærums Verk is a lovely place to visit for a day excursion and shopping. Walk along the river among the sculptures and the wooden houses, enjoy a good meal in one of the restaurants and cafes or visit the artisans in their atelier.

The beautiful sculpture park at Bærums Verk include 28 sculptures made by renowned Norwegian artists – a collection that expands with a new sculpture every year. Open 24/7 to the public. 

Handelsstedet Bærums Verk’s opening hours can be found on Facebook and on www.baerumsverk.no

Bærums Verk is siutuated along the pilgrim path and is a gateway for recreational routes in Bærum.

Easy access to Bærums Verk by direct bus 150 from Oslo city centre, or bus 210 from Sandvika. Public transport schedule: ruter.no

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Wear Many Hats – Ullensaker Townhall

The artwork "Wear Many Hats" on the roof of Ullensaker Cultural Center was created by TelmoMiel, it is seen from the railway station – so all people arriving with the train see this

 

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Historic Jessheim – Blue Plaques

Jessheim Station

Built in 1908. Architect: Henrik Bull. The original station from 1854 burned down in 1904 after a safe explosion. Over the years, the building has housed a post office, apartment, café, shop, and restaurant.

Herredshuset  

Built in 1901. Architect: Holger Sinding-Larsen. The timber was donated by local farmers. Renovated in 1924. Served as the town hall until 1967. It has also functioned as a community hall, school, cinema, and bank. Restored in 2003 by the Friends of Herredshuset.

Lønnebo

Also known as "The Doctor’s House." Built in 1922–23. The storehouse and horse stable date from 1909. Purchased by Doctor Rød in 1935, who ran his medical practice here. The author Anne-Cath. Vestly lived in the house during part of her childhood.

Villa Sole

Built in 1912 for tanner Finn Ruud. Designed by his brother, architect Kristian Biong, in the national romantic style. The owner was awarded Ullensaker Municipality's Cultural Heritage Award in 2011 for excellent preservation.

You can read more on the municipality’s website and find a map of the route there.

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The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

Campus Ås is home to one of the country's most beautiful park landscapes, surrounding a collection of historic buildings. Here, you might feel as if you've stepped straight into the world of Harry Potter, with charming old buildings, the oldest dating back to 1859. The park reflects the development of Norwegian garden art from the 1850s to the present day. Within this diverse park, you'll find numerous summer flowers, perennials, a rose garden, and a rhododendron garden. The university park also features impressive artwork, all of which is labeled alongside the plants. Fields, farmlands, and a unique collection of plants and trees surround the central campus, and on the west side of campus, there is a disc golf course.

 

The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) is located here, along with research institutes such as NIBIO, Nofima, and the Veterinary Institute. The university offers studies and research that address major global issues, including environmental protection, sustainable development, food production, improved public and animal health, climate, and land and resource management.

The park can be visited free of charge without a guide. Guided tours of the park and buildings can be booked through Vitenparken pho. +47 64 80 86 00.

Map over the area.

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Art tour of Fornebu

Discover the world-class art – make the trip to Fornebu.

Many millions of NOK have been invested in exquisite outdoors art at Fornebulandet, thanks to architects, builders and the municipality. Norway's old main airport, has become an art destination.

Use the Sunday for an art trip close by. Explore the area as a bicycle safari or on foot and discover selected works of art at Fornebu. The trip is excellent to combine with swimming on the beautiful beaches, a walk in the nature reserve, playing in the playgrounds and school and shopping on Fornebu S or a good meal at the local eateries.

Suggested tour – choose length and time as desired;

The "Imprints" sculpture park by Magne Furuholmen is located outside Aker's new headquarters at Fornebu. The park is the largest collection of sculptural works made by a Norwegian artist since the Vigeland Park and houses 40 large glazed ceramic vases and sculptures. Up close, one can read words and writing blocks that are engraved in the tiles, while at longer distances the expression changes.

Cross the underpass towards the sea by Telenor Arena and walk towards the Telenor building's parking lot. Take a walk across the courtyard. Here is the "Fondation Surgisante" by Buer, 92 striped columns in a grid pattern over the square, but also represents what can not be seen, a continuation of the construction below ground.

The facade on the left shows the so-called "truism", short text-based truths in "Installation for Telenor", which consists of 430 poetic and slogan-like statements. Below the stairs is Franz West's pink sculpture "Drama" a strange shape that has knotted itself.

Continue along the sea towards the Equinor building and you will see Einarsson's sculpture to the right on the grass "Untitled / Big dumb Object" consisting of five billboards standing in a row with prints of various art objects that create curiosity. "Knowing doing the planet" is the big  green bullet with a smaller bullet in the middle made by Eliasson. The inner bullet reflects the environment around it, which constantly reflects changes in the environment.

Well worth a detour to Equinor's entrance under the two protrusions is the photo and video installation "The Shimmering Solution – The Tender Pixel Storm" by Rist. In the 1,200 m2 colorful work, nature, animals and people are constantly intertwined in both abstract and realistic image sequences.

On the short side of the old terminal building towards the roundabout stands "Monkey's Fist (Apeneve)", a 12 meter high monumental bronze knot. It was sailors who developed the rope art to which this gives associations.

In addition, there is a lot of great art indoors in the various office buildings, such as decoration in the restaurants and in the old Terminal building where you can find the beautiful wall decorations in the lobby of Kai Fjell in the current Technopolis building.

In the middle of the roundabout stands "Throw" by Kåre Groven, which shows the outline of a man holding a paper plane. The thrower has become a symbol, giving strong memories from the time Fornebu Airport was here.

There are also many other fine art experiences at Fornebu and Storøya if you want a longer trip, move towards Nansenparken, a varied recreation area for everyone living and visiting Fornebu. A network of walking and cycling paths and trails link the different parts of Fornebulandet together and provide opportunities for different activities. Under the bridges near the floating tower are "sound-art installations".

At Storøya school there are great play areas and here is the sculpture "Solknippe" by T.Nordström & A.Oskarsson which looks like many pencils together.
Start your trip outside Aker's new headquarters vis-a-vis Norwegian's "diamond building". The bus stops right outside and takes only 15 minutes from downtown Oslo.

Have a wonderful day.

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Vinger church

Kongsvinger's beautiful 17th-century church is located at the foot of Øvrebyen, Kongsvinger's old town. With its characteristic onion dome, it is a favourite and beautiful photo motif. Today, the church is used for the popular concert series ‘Klang under kuppelen’, where both local and national artists perform.

Vinger church is located in Vinger parish in Kongsvinger municipality. It is built in wood and was constructed in 1697. The church has a choir loft and 600 seats. The church has protection status automatically listed (1650-1850). Architect is Peder Gundersen Norigarden

In 1697, it was decided to move Vinger Church from the flood-prone vicarage in Hov on the east bank of the river Glommen to where it stands today. You can now find it on a hilltop. The chancel that stands there was built in 1697 in a simple baroque style, the corner posts are strong and distinctive, as are the portals.

Vinger church was originally a garrison church, but the later square was used as a parade ground. At the end of the 1890s, Vinger Church underwent a major restoration. This time the work was carried out by Kongsvingers Günther Schüssler.

 

Kongsvinger Fortress

The fortress's outdoor area is open and accessible all year round free of charge.

Kongsvinger Fortress was built in the 1680s to defend Norway against Sweden. It was built on the remains of a former fortress, Vingersundet skanse, on the River Glomma and was designed to protect the interior against attacks from the east. The fortress has played an important role in several wars and has been central to the defense of Norway. Today, the fortress is a landmark and is used for cultural activities and recreation, as well as housing a museum and a hotel.

The fortress was built in the 1680s to protect Norway from Sweden.It was placed by the Glomma river and the traffic routes through Vinger to prevent the advance towards Christiania (Oslo). The fortress has been central to several wars, especially against Sweden, and was headquarters for the invasion of Sweden in 1719 and during the planned invasion in 1788.

The fortress was decommissioned as an active defense in 1823, but has been reopened on several occasions, including during the dissolution of the union in 1905. After the Second World War, the fortress was used for the internment of traitors and as a home for various military units.

Kongsvinger Fortress is a popular tourist destination, with a museum, hotel, and events as part of the town's cultural offering. The fortress has been of great importance to the town of Kongsvinger, both as a defense and as an important part of the town's identity.

You may book accomodation on the castle here

 

At the castle you will also find the Fortress Museum, which shows the history of defence from the Viking Age to the present day. In 2002, H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon opened the exhibition "The Good Helpers". During the last war, there was extensive cross-border cargo and courier traffic across the border with Sweden. The exhibition shows how the war affected the local community along the border. There is also a short video about the history of the fortress.

The picture gallery on the museum's third floor is "Fra Grændsevagten" – a photographic exhibition about the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905. The photographs depict the life, excitement and drama in and around Kongsvinger Fortress.

The museum is open 11.00-16.00 Saturday/Sunday in April and September. Exceptions are Palm Saturday/Sunday, Easter Eve, Easter Monday, 17 May and the first Saturday in June.

The ordinary opening period is from 1 May to 31 August every day between 11:00 and 16:00.
Out of season we are open by appointment. 

You may book a guided tour of the castle here.

 

 

The sculpture Signum

Gino Scarpa (1924–2022) was an Italian-Norwegian painter, printmaker, and sculptor. He was born in Venice in 1924 and was originally trained as an architect. Since his debut exhibition in his hometown in 1946, he worked as a painter, printmaker, and sculptor.

He had been living in Oslo since 1970.

Scarpa had a long career with numerous exhibitions both in Norway and abroad, and he received many public art commissions and awards. He was represented twice at the prestigious Venice Biennale and participated in a wide range of other international exhibitions.

 

Gjess – Street Art Jessheim

Jessheim enthusiast Tore Kværner had long suggested decorating the wall of the Gjensidige building, which stood gray and dull, in the middle of the main street.

Together with the owner of the building Pelle Skedsmo, Tore Kværner enlisted muralist Caspari to create a painting based on sketches by Egil Nyhus. After several rounds of different proposals, the final design was chosen in May 2022. Just a few weeks later, the finished artwork was officially unveiled during the 10th anniversary celebration of Jessheim as a town on June 10, 2022.

You can find it centrally located in Jessheim town center at Storgata 9.

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