Kategori: Sites worth seeing

Martin Whatson Street Art in Greater Oslo

COLORING THE STREETS IN GREATER OSLO

Discover amazing street art around in Greater Oslo done by Martin Whatson. Go and explore the art yourself!

 

Martin Whatson has painted several walls around the Oslo region in correlation with a project called SPRAY. You will find one of his pieces in this project at lille smuget in Asker. The town center is only a short walk from the train station. Whatson has also done a piece at Bekkestua elementary school. 

Check out the SPRAY video here

In Jessheim Whatson and Eric Ness Christiansen have done a huge piece together. To get to the art simply take the bus or train to Jessheim station. From there walk across the parking lot to Henrik Bulls vei. You can see Whatson's work finishing the piece on each sides of the road. 
​
Martin Whatson (b.1984) is a Norwegian street artist best known for his calligraphic scribbles in grayscale voids. Over the past decade, Martin has developed an unmistakable aesthetic combining abstract movement with figurative stencilled compositions. His works can be seen to mirror the rise and fall of the streets, as he symbolically recreates the urban environment, then vandalises it to reveal his vibrant transformations. Read more about Whatson

Information from Visit Greater Oslo 

Magnor Glassworks

Magnor Glassworks is one of Norway's best-known glassworks
The glassworks has existed for over 120 years, and still produces all its products by hand. ​​​​​​Here you can find works by a number of designers and artisans, experience concerts, visit the factory outlet and blow your own glass.

Magnor Glassworks was founded as early as 1896 in the deep border forests on the Norwegian side, Magnor, just 3 km from the Swedish border (and 12 miles from Oslo). The large forests were to provide fuel for the heat-sucking smelting furnaces. Several generations of skilled designers and glass workers have shaped Magnor Glassverk's history. More than 120 years of tradition and experience in handmade glass have come in handy and provided valuable knowledge and experience.

Development does not stand still even as the years pass, but much remains the same when molten sand is magically transformed into sparkling glass.

Tours
The tour starts with history and facts. Then further into glass production to see what we make today, we also follow the glass's cooling and grinding process. There are also options for dining.

Prices:
• Tour approx. 40 min. incl. coffee and waffle, NOK 150 per person
​​• Tour approx. 40 minutes, NOK 100 per person

Discounted items in the Factory outlet
In "Glasshytta" (the glass cabin), you will find Magnor Glasswork's own factory outlet with a large selection of products! Here you will find great gifts for all occasions, tastefully displayed in bright and pleasant premises. In addition to our entire range in crystal, we also produce our own items that are only sold at Magnor.

In the Factory Sale, you can buy our goods with a 30 – 70% discount on the recommended retail price. This discount applies to the assortment that is second sorting or same sort, this means goods that may have small defects such as air bubbles or the like.

Here you can also buy products that cannot be found elsewhere, these are often products where blowers and designers have tested their new ideas.

Coastal gems along the Oslofjord west coast

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**

The statue of Neptun Drøbak Harbour

Neptune is a new statue in Drøbak marina, which is a popular photo spot with many amusing details.

The local multi-artist Reidar Finsrud is behind Neptune, the same artist who also created the three mermaids in the same marina. The former tourist manager and current marina manager Tom Kristiansen modeled for the statue. If you take a closer look at the statue, you will see engravings of both Drøbak and Blücher, as well as all the zodiac signs.

There is also a hidden portrait of the artist himself, and Neptune points towards his mermaids and the tourist office.

Reidar Finsrud's idea is that everyone should find something they can relate to in Neptune, and that you should be able to look at the statue again and again and constantly discover new things! Take a look yourself!

Location: Pier B in Drøbak marina

Donated by Torstein Andreas Hagen Jr. and Ellen Karine "Tullen" Hagen.

Rødtangen Bedehus

The prayer house at Rødtangen is a memorial from a time when religious activity was central among most people.

In Hurum, the "free church", i.e. congregations outside the Church of Norway, was strong in the 1800s and 1900s. The proportion of inhabitants who were members of other churches was at the top of the country, in the Holmsbu area it applied to almost one in three inhabitants. The free evangelical congregations gathered many, but even the Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) came to Holmsbu and baptized people in the Drammensfjord. One of their leaders was fined by the Supreme Court for harmful activities after cutting a hole in the ice to carry out the baptism of five new members in February.

At first, religious meetings often took place in homes, but as the congregations grew, so did the need for separate meeting rooms. The first to be built was the prayer house in Holmsbu, then came the prayer house at Rødtangen in 1909. The local women's association was behind it, and this prayer house had a Lutheran profile, but with freer forms of meeting than the church's services. Sunday school and collections for missionary work were also held here, and much of the activity took place on weekdays, when the churches were closed anyway. It says something about the commitment that the prayer house was built in a place with such a small crowd. Rødtangen was at its highest in 1930 with 148 inhabitants, today there are about 40 permanent residents here.

Today, most of this business has been closed down, and the houses of worship have been sold as private homes or for other purposes. Like the prayer house at Rødtangen, which is now a community house for the entire population, owned by the Rødtangen permanent residents' association. With art exhibitions and cultural activities, this has also become a cultural center that attracts tourists and visitors who do not parish to Rødtangen.The same applies to the village's oldest prayer house, in Holmsbu, which is privately owned and lent out for events and exhibitions under the name "bdhuset".

The Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection.

Visit this unique collection of close to 40 historic aircrafts ranging from Norway’s first of 1912 vintage to jet fighters that flew at more than twice the speed of sound.

The museum, located at south-west Gardermoen, unravels the fascinating story of Norwegian military airpower in times of peace and war. 

Experience the pioneering era, dramatic years of war, the tension of the Cold War and a technical progress without parallel. Also to be seen are theme displays entertaining and educational to all age groups. 

In between you can relax in the museum’s café or visit the gift shop. There is also a separate play area for children. And why not try out the cockpit of a real jet fighter for that experience so seldom available to other than ‘the chosen few’? 
 

For opening hours and more information see www.flysam.no

Ample free parking. Welcome!

 

Member of Visit Greater Oslo 

 

 

 

 

Ramme Gaard – Edvard Munch´s House

Edvard Munch's villa at Nedre Ramme

Edvard Munch bought the property Nedre Ramme in 1910, and kept it until his death in 1944. After many years of restoration, the villa has been restored to its original condition. Entering is like stepping into another time, and you can almost feel Munch's spirit in the house.

Ramme offers Munch walks, where you can join a walk in the coastal landscape and the surrounding forest, you get to enter the villa, and finally down into the exhibition room in the picture gallery, where Edvard Munch's original art is displayed.

The light and landscape in the area inspired Munch is clear in several of his paintings, including the monumental Hall decorations and a number of bath pictures.

Edvard Munch in Ramme art gallery

This year's main exhibition in Ramme art gallery, Edv. Munch at Ramme featuring works on paper, shows works he created on paper during his time at Ramme. This includes graphics, watercolors and drawings.

See ramme.no/en for more information.

Member of Visit Greater Oslo 

The Carl Dørnberger house

Several of Dørnebergers art have been purchased by the National Gallery and he had many famous artists in his circle, including Edvard Munch and Axel Gallén, who both painted portraits of him.

Dørnberger is known to the locals at least as much for his eccentric behaviour. He always wore a distinctive Hamburg hat, he had three legs and carried two pistols in his belt, which he called "Kitty" and "Kitty's brother". He was keen to keep his shooting skills up to par so he aimed for cat tails which resulted in Son having a large population of tailless cats. One of the daughter's suitors was also shot, and Dørnerberger was charged but acquitted by the Court of Appeal because he allegedly shot to castrate him, not to kill. In the house there are bullet holes in many rooms and on the exterior walls.

While sitting on the train once, he stuck a knife through his trouser deep into his wooden leg. Both women and children in the compartment fainted.

Dørnberghuset is a special building, where the oldest part is from around 1680, and later built on in 1700 and 1900. The house is made of timber and half-timbering with original windows made of curved glass.

Rødtangen Tåkeklokke

Rødtangen had daily calls by the Juno company's ships to and from Drammen and Oslo.Throughout the ages, Rødtangen has been a favorite place for painters, and one of Norway's earliest settlements can be found here.

The pilots made a living as fishermen and pilots. Before telephone and radio communication became common, the pilots on Rødtangen themselves had to scout for boats that were supposed to be relieved. One way to do this was to find a favorable vantage point where they could spot the boats going up the Drammensfjord as early as possible.Asbjørn with the sailor's hat was always ready when the pilot arrived in his fine uniform to be driven out to the ship. The pilots elegantly climbed the rope leader that was lowered from the ship. Now he could lead the voyage safely through the narrow Svelvik Stream and on to Drammen.

There could be a lot of fog and thick haze along the coast and in 1903 the Rødtangen Fog Clock was inaugurated.A fog bell was a bell that was rung when there was poor visibility in the ship's lanes – this was to guide ships sailing in narrow waters, thus saving both ships and human lives from sinking. It was a laborious service and the clock had to be wound up manually, and you had to sit a fog watch in the house.In 1938 electricity was insatalled and a switch was installed in Olea and Asbjørn's house which could turn the fog clock on and off.

The fog clock had an important position during the Second World War when they had hidden an illegal radio and turned the clock into a news centre.