Kategori: Sites worth seeing

Kalkmølla cultural center was established in 2026 and is today a cultural center for great music experiences. The building has fantastic acoustics and you can get close to the musicians during the concerts.

The history of Kalkmølla began in the millennium when monks came to Norway and wanted to build monasteries of stone. This provided the basis for an important industry in Bærum from the millennium until the beginning of the 19th century and Bærum's municipal coat of arms is the symbol of a lime kiln, several of which can be found in the area around Sanvidka and Slependen.

The history of lime extraction began in 1916 when shipowner and captain W.B.Markussen went ashore, moved from Grimstad and onto Hamang Gård. Here, a significant limestone passage ran across the property with Franzefossen. The waterfall is named after Knut Frantzen, an active businessman in the 16th century. In the late nineteenth century and until the First World War, tanneries, small industrial activities and the extraction of masonry stone, for which the limestone is well suited, were operated with varying success. Sandvika Kalkmølle/Franzefoss lime mill grew rapidly, first with a silo and packing plant for limestone flour opposite the mill by the waterfall, then a large crushing plant and concrete factory. In 1952, the open pit was empty of lime and the limestone vein had to be pursued with mining. When the mining was closed in 1992, the mine went in 2 floors 700 meters down to under Helgerud Church.

The importance of lime lies in its ability to neutralize acid and to release and absorb CO2. The lime in the Oslo field is from the Silurian (350 million years ago) where animal and plant remains were deposited in shallow seas together with large amounts of clay. In this soup, clay and lime separated like milk and cream, forming clay shales and more or less thick limestone beds. Limestone is a mild base whose surface reacts with acid until neutrality is reached. By grinding the limestone into flour, the surface is increased and it was found that it was a good way for agriculture to counteract acidic soil. This gave the new owner of Hamang Gård the idea of ​​building a mill, with power from Franzefossen, to grind the limestone into agricultural lime. This was the start of what we know today as Franzefoss Bruk. After World War II, there was a great need for building materials to rebuild the country and the operation was developed to include other products such as stone and the factory expanded with a large crushed stone plant and concrete factory.

Sandvikselven a salmon river

Sandvikselven was one of the best salmon rivers in Eastern Norway and the community's concern about the business operation was primarily related to the anticipated damming of the river. In 1917, construction began on the dam and the salmon ladder that can be seen in the river behind Kalkmølla, a turbine gate with a turbine and generator, a crusher and a mill with a silo. Architect Kristian Hjalmar Biong added good architectural values ​​to the building. The salmon ladder became an important element in the preservation of the river. Bærum Jeger og Fiskeforening does a fantastic job of cultivating the river and today the Sandvik River is full of fish and life.

In 2026, the dream of using the old lime mill as a concert venue became a reality. A grand piano was purchased with the help of Wolfgang Plagge and the Kalkmølla Kulturstasjon foundation.

More information can be found on Kalkmølla's website and on the signs placed outside the house facing the river. Everyone is welcome to take a break on the benches outside and take in the beautiful surroundings.

Hiking and biking in the area

It is very pleasant to walk down the river from us to Sandvika, about 30 minutes car-free walk to Sandvika bus station or up along Lomma to Bærums Verk where there are exciting galleries and craft shops, restaurants and a shopping mall. The trip to Bærums Verk takes just over 1 hour.

Enjoy your visit.