Nestled amid the pristine Telemark countryside is the blues capital of Scandinavia, Notodden, a town with a strong industrial history. For many years a quiet rural town, Notodden experienced extreme growth when a hydroelectric power plant was established on its outskirts and neighborhoods were set up for its workers. The industrial days have since gone but together with Rjukan the town is a designated UNESCO area called the Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Site.
Start your discovery of the town in Tinfos, a cultural district home to industrial buildings from the 1800s and 1900s. Browse works by Christian Skredsvig and Theodor Kittelsen, among other artists, at the Telemark Art Gallery. In the same 20th-century building the Lysebuen Industrial Museum recounts the evolution of the region’s industry. The neighborhoods of Grønnebyen, Hydro Admini and Villamoen provide a glimpse into the residential life of factory workers.
Showcasing the town’s diversity is August’s Notoddeen Blues Festival. Since its inauguration in 1988 it has welcomed performances by blues legends such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Taj Mahal. Further cultural events take place at the Bok and Blueshuset, home to a blues-themed café, cinema, record store and recording studio. Multimedia exhibits and original artifacts at Notodden Blueseum highlight the growth of blues music from its beginnings in the Mississippi cotton fields.
Just a short drive to the west is the Heddal Stave Church, a medieval wooden church erected in the 13th century. Guided tours are available during the summer months. While here, visit Heddal Local Museum. It features examples of typical Norwegian buildings dating from the Middle Ages to the 1900s.
Be sure to spend time appreciating the unblemished mountain landscapes. The summit of Blefjell Mountain is accessible via a trail that winds around forests and marshlands. Go swimming and fishing at Lake Follsjø. Gronkjaer Skisenter is a free ski area with 11 groomed trails.
Notodden has its own airport, which has daily flights to and from Bergen. From Oslo you can take a bus and a direct train service operates from Porsgrunn.
