Offisiell reiseguide for området rundt Oslo
This monumental barrow is located close to center of Jesshein and Gardermoen airport, only 6 kilometers from highway E6. The mound is larger than any other burial mound in northern Europe and its construction is alo exceptional; between soil and sand, 75000 logs are piled in three pyramid shaped layers.
The original height was more than 18 meters and the diameter about 77 meters. The burial mound was built during one winter and summerr, sometime between 533-551 AD.
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In 1870, Brambani bought a small summer house with a garden down by the river where he built his first lime factory where the Brambani farm stands today. Brambani took advantage of Kristiania's great need for lime and bricks for the city expansions at the end of the 1800s and from 1871 started several lime factories and brickworks in the Sandvika area and on Brønnøya, where the lime kiln has been restored and can be visited. The lime factories were eventually closed down due to the violent collapse in construction activity in 1899. In 1888, he also founded the country's first tinware factory that made multi-coloured lithographic prints on tinplate. This existed until 1929.
He was locally involved in the establishment of Sandvika Vel, the establishment of a waterworks on Stovivannet in 1898 and had a water pipeline built to Sandvika. In the work for street lighting in Sandvika – first with pretoleum lamps from the 1890s and in 1905 carbon wire bulbs were installed.
Brambanigården housed one of the country's first vocational schools and public baths in the basement. It was a popular offer and the need for expansion quickly arose and eventually it was expanded around the municipal building in collaboration with architect Magnus Poulsson.
The house, which today is a cozy guest house, was originally built on Hovedøya in the Oslo Fjord as military barracks in the early 1900s, but was soon moved to Tofte to serve as workers' housing for many families who worked at the cellulose factory. The vibrant life of the house earned the house the nickname " The Beehive". At that time, there were outdoor toilets, there were no bathrooms and running water came well into the 1900s. The house has more recently, after 1995, been a boarding school for the Rudolf Steiner School and for a short period of private residence, and has been run as an overnight accommodation since 2010.
Today it is a nice guest house with 12 rooms and a charming garden.
The gallery showcases the breadth of what is happening in the contemporary art field, presenting a combination of well-established artists, newly established artists, and KunstSkansen's own artists.
Any Open Calls, where we receive applications for consideration, will be announced with a specified application deadline.
See more information for the program and opening hours
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Holmsbu – lovely all year round – southern idyll 50 minutes from downtown Oslo
… SOFT BEDS, FRESH FOOD INGREDIENTS, DELICIOUS DISHES, EXCITING GALLERIES, GREAT EXPERIENCES, SMALL EXPERIENCES, AND GREAT, FINE THINGS YOU JUST FIND IN HOLMSBU. ALSO OPEN ON SUNDAYS!
Less than an hour's drive from downtown Oslo, you can walk the Culture Memorial Road, Småtråkk or other tours with captivating storytellers.
The art: Here you will experience the light and the landscape that inspired the artists in the Holmsbukolony, see paintings in the small gallery on the water's edge in Støa or visit the artist Birgit Askestad in Bugtegaten, walk through the eh … magical troll forest to Holmsbu Picture Gallery, which by the way is award-winning and preserved for its special architecture.
Food and coziness: Good food is to be found at Schulestedet in one of Holmsbus's oldest houses in Schulerudgården, with the area's nicest backyard or go to the Privaten Café, Holmsbu Badehotell or the pub Café Juno.
Experiences around Holmsbu center: Take a dip from the rocky mountains at Rødtangen Camping, rent the KOK sauna in the harbor to enjoy the warmth of the sauna followed by a refreshing bath, rent a cabin at Knatvoldstranda Camping, or get a massage and care at Holmsbu Badehotel. The experiences are varied and many. Enjoy an ice cream at the Ravnsborg Gartneri, go on a jungle safari in Holtnesdalen or stone-age memorials on the Rødangen.
In the summer months, Holmsbu is vivid with a rich cultural life. Visit the exceptionally beautifully decorated Holmsbu church, play croquet at Myhrene farm, enjoy a freshly baked pastry while greeting the sweet animals at Sand farm, grab an ice cream at Bryggekkitchenet or secure good organic vegetables for your dinner at Bergsmyrene farm, before walking the coastal path. You get maps at the tourist office in Holmsbu!
Trade: Nice shopping at Bea before finding unique things at Liten in Storgaten and get a cold drink or freshly brewed coffe to go at Holmsbu Handel.
But you can also just sit. And enjoy the tranquility and sight of the white houses, the sea and the boats. And let the hum bum … What we are trying to say is that life is delicious and full of good opportunities in the Holmsbut outlets!
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Romerike Historielag’s aim is to take care of and communicate our Romeriksculture.
The Organisation consists of 17 local historical soscieties.
The following soscieties are memebers of the organization; Aurskog, Blaker og Sørum, Eidsvoll, Enebakk, Fet, Gjerdrum, Hurdal, Høland, Lillestrøm, Lørenskog, Nannestad, Nittedal, Raumnes, Rælingen, Setskog, Skedsmo og Ullensaker. In this historical soscieties you can find lots of knowledge about known and unknown heritage at Romerike. Contact us – we will help you!
Throughout history, the west side of Oslo has attracted artists, bathers and Christiania's nobility to gather in the small towns during the summer months. No wonder the area today has 6 of Norway's Blue Flag beaches in addition to top hikes with stunning views and plenty of unspoilt nature.
A road trip through Bærum and Asker and Hurumlandet, takes you through various eras via charming summer gems such as Vollen, Sætre and Holmsbu. The area is best experienced by car but is also very popular to explore from the bike seat or by leisure boat. There is also a scheduled boat between Aker Brygge and Drøbak / Son with stops along the coast.
From industry and shipbuilding to small town charm
You can get close to Oslo and the region's cultural highlights by staying at Fornebu with sea views and bathing opportunities right outside your door. At Scandic Fornebu everything is ready for a lovely dinner, a game of shuffleboard in the bar. Explore the Fornebu peninsula with its art installations, exciting architecture, Nansenparken and magnificent coastal nature. Art lovers should also visit the Henie Onstad Art Center or Sjøholmen near Sandvika before the tour continues.
Take a tour of the old ironworks at Bærums Verk for a gallery tour and shopping, today a shopping center with over 40 shops and restaurants. The place is idyllically situated along the river Lomma. The sculpture park shows the country's foremost collection of Norwegian sculptors. Fill up the basket of delicacies for the drive from Smelters Mathus and crafts from the unique shops.
A stop in Vollen offers a whole day of experiences; unique shops with jewelery design and fashion, delicious Mediterranean lunch by the water at Vito´s or the taste of Greece at Elea. A popular activity is renting Jet Ski in the marina for a ride to the coastal pearl Konglungen and Middagsbukta, followed by sauna and sea bath at Varm in Vollen. On the other side of the bay, the Oslofjord Museum has changing exhibitions that tell about life on the fjord and boat building traditions. The Polar ship Maud was built here and is now for storage in Tofte, further south on the Hurum Peninsula.
In pleasant Filtvedt there is real danger of staying here in the beautiful white bay with a view to the lighthouse ……. but new experiences are worth the detachment.
World-class geology
You get the feeling of being in Southern Norway all the way along the long coast with small coves and beaches, maritime walks and white seahouses. Explore the unique geology where you see fossils of snails and squid in the stone urns in Slemmestad. The outfield is full of mushrooms throughout the fall, small undisturbed lakes for a dip are nice hiking destinations and you really get away from the hectic everyday life.
The painter town of Holmsbu
Rødangen and Holmsbu were early favorites among the elite of artists, known for their beautiful light. Here the coast is at some of its most beautiful where the fjord opens, the seals colonies reside on the islets and the many nature reserves manage wildlife and plant life. Rent a nice cabin and stay near this coastal pearl that oozes of life from Easter to the autumn holidays, but is well worth a year-round visit. Spend the evening with fine dining at one of the city's restaurants and cafes, listening to live music in the backyard or on the hotel's terrace before the small talk continues into the late morning.
When the morning light comes on, why not start the day in the robes before exploring the area either by renting a canoe, cycling or discovering the galleries for which the place is so famous. The hotel serves a good breakfast with sea views. Just below the hotel there is the possibility to rent the floating sauna and combine the sea bath, togetherness and sauna.
Royal scenery and farm visits
There is something soothing about the presence of the animals, sweaters knit from the finest alpaca wool and to touch the soft fur. Enjoy a day at Bergvang Gård, get close to the beautiful alpacas and ride into the forest on horseback. The Icelandic horse is fun to ride, it is small and strong. The tours take place in the beautiful area at Semsvann in Asker, in the backyard of the Crown Prince´s residence.
Wellbeeing and togetherness
Visit Holmen Fjordhotell to get care of stiff muscles and quality time. Enjoy the afternoon in the hotel's SPA with pool, steam room and jaccuzi. The evening should end with a delicious sea view meal, wine from the house's beautiful wine cellar and a game of shuffleboard.
** Have a good trip**
Follo Museum is an open-air museum with old buildings from Frogn, Ås, Vestby and Nesodden. The museum has a large collection of artifacts, a café with a museum shop and chickens, rabbits and sheep in the summer. The museum also has premises for rent.
The café is open on weekends in the winter months, as well as during the autumn, Easter and winter holidays. During the summer season, the café is open Tuesday-Sunday. The café serves waffles, cakes, soft drinks, cocoa and coffee. In the museum shop you will find a little bit of local crafts, as well as exciting local history.
Guided tours are offered by appointment all year round. The tour visits several of the museum's historic buildings: the Korsegården train station, the Old Holstad School, the farmhouse at Børsum and the Boys' Home. The audience will see various historical interiors, the development of artifacts and how people in Follo have lived throughout history. Our audio guide is available 24 hours a day.
The museum has a packed annual schedule, keep an eye on the calendar to keep up with what events and experiences they offer.
Welcome to Follo Museum!
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Here you will find small buildings from old Sandvika, with galleries, small shops, crafts and cafes. The place has its origins from the former Harreschous Hotel and Løkke Restaurant from 1927. Today, this building is owned and operated by the Bærum Red Cross. In the park is a chess sculpture, created by artist Sverre Hoel. The statue is also equipped with a chess board on which games can be played.
The place is also known for its annual Hjertefred charity event that is held around All Saints’ Day. The park also features the historic Løkke bridge, which is a cast iron bridge from 1829, built by Bærum’s Iron Works. The bridge was for a long time part of Drammensveien, and later Ringeriksveien. The bridge is famous thanks to French painter Claude Monet, who visited Sandvika in the winter of 1895. Løkke bridge and Kolsåstoppen were his favourite subjects during his stay here. Løkke bridge traverses the Sandvikselven at Løkkehaven.
Edvard Munch bought the property Nedre Ramme as a 47-year-old in 1910 and owned it all his life until his death in 1944. Munch spent a lot of time abroad in the period 1890-1909. After many years of an unhealthy lifestyle, he entered Dr. Jacobsen's clinic in Copenhagen in 1908. In 1909, a competition was announced to decorate the University's banquet hall. Munch probably had the competition for the Hall Decorations in mind when he returned to Norway that same year. He found the first motifs at Skrubben in Kragerø, while at Ramme the artist found the motifs for Forskerne and Alma Mater. They both show a mother with an infant in her arms, with several children playing and exploring around her. Alma Mater, like History and the Sun, became one of three main fields for the Aula decorations. The Alma Mater motif was one of those that Munch rehearsed and worked on the most. His latest version is from 1940. At Nedre Ramme, Munch had a large outdoor studio set up, as well as a printing press on the second floor of the building.
At Ramme, Munch sought proximity to nature, animals, sunlight and the sea. Surrounded by the sea and the forest, together with his animals and helpers, he created beautiful works with motifs of bathers and sun worshippers, people and animals in rural settings. In several of the motifs, you can easily recognize the area's rocky and coastal landscape in a vitalist style. The area and the models were rendered with the artist's modern and bold brushstrokes and sure lines. The motifs became lush, full of life and colour. Then he also wrote himself that he had found the most beautiful property along the Kristiania fjord.
"In Munch's footsteps"
The Framework Foundation for Art, Culture and Nature, together with the Sparebank Foundation and Vestby Municipality, has created a cultural trail on the property, where you can discover Munch's motifs placed in the natural landscape where they belong. You can walk this when you want on your own, and be inspired by the site-specific art on a total of 11 signs along the paths. There is a main information sign up in the forest behind Villa Munch, and the cultural trail ends at Rammelabben with the statue of "Solveig with the apple". It was created by the artist Peter Linde.
Villa Munch
The house was fully renovated in 2023 and can be rented out in its entirety. There are four double rooms with attached bathrooms, several living rooms and kitchens. To see the house indoors, you can book a tour with one of Ramme's tour guides. In Munch's living rooms, they scratched their way to the original color of the walls, and the characteristic yellow color can be found again in three of his self-portraits from his time at Ramme. The house is decorated with copies of his famous Hvitsten works. Munch's fruit and vegetable garden has been recreated, and a small French culture garden has been created that links the property to Havlystparken.
Tekst and content in cooperation with Camilla Augusta Søhol, Rammestiftelsen