Rjukan

Why it is worthwhile to spend a few days of holiday in Rjukan after the pilgrimage, we would like to tell you on this page. More information about Rjukan can be found on the website of Visit Rjukan

Rjukan was already known as a tourist region in the 19th century due to its 104 m high waterfall. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the waterfall has been diverted into pipes for power generation, which Norsk Hydro in Rjukan needed for the self-developed Birkeland-Eyde process to produce mineral fertilisers – the first company in the world! This led not only to the modern industrial revolution in Norway. The artificial fertiliser also revolutionised global food production and laid the foundation for Norway’s path from one of the poorest to one of the richest countries in Europe. Rjukan is Norway’s first city designed by an architect and was built by Norsk Hydro in record time. Industrimagnat Sam Eyde laid the foundation stone and wanted to create an aesthetic model society. In order to bring workers to Rjukan, he also built at the highest technical level. In 2015, the industrial region of Rjukan-Notodden was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO Commission. As such, places of outstanding importance to humanity are listed, which are to be preserved.

The Vemork hydroelectric power plant at the Rjukanfossen waterfall was completed in the autumn of 1911 and was at that time the largest power plant in the world. It became the site of one of the most important sabotage missions in the 2nd century. World War, when Norwegian saboteurs prevented the Nazis from developing the heavy water needed to produce the atomic bomb. In the old premises is the Norwegian Industrial Workers Museum, where you can learn about Norwegian industrial and war history. The path used by the resistance fighters for the sabotage action is today a marked hiking trail and is also offered as a guided tour.

For more informations about the power plant Visit Rjukan

Vemork Industriarbeitermuseum        Vemork with industrial sweater                     machine hall Vemork.                                                 Sabotørene Visit Rjukan AS                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                 Photo: Bjørn-Owe Holmberg v NIA 

Who wants to knit an industrial sweater can buy the pattern on Ravelry

The Krossobahn (“Krossobanen”) is Northern Europe’s oldest cable car and takes you in five minutes from Rjukan to the foot of Hardangervidda. You can take both bikes and skis up with the Krosso cable car – to name just two examples of nature experiences on the Hardangervidda. The railway was built in 1928 as a gift from Norsk Hydro so that the inhabitants of Rjukan could see the sun during the winter months. Today, the Krossobahn is a tourist attraction that is open all year round. 

From the mountain station Gvepseborg at 886 m (cafe with panoramic window) you have a great view of Rjukan, Gaustatoppen and Gausdalen. The Krossobahn is the fastest way up to Europe’s largest national park in Hardangervidda. A 20-25 minute walk on the “Solstien” (Sun Trail) takes you to the Hardangervidda Plateau at 1100 m. The Hardangervidda is Europe’s largest mountain plateau with an area of 8000 sq km.

for more informations Krossobanen

The Gaustatoppen, which is described by many as the most beautiful mountain in Norway, rises 1883 m asl high above Rjukan into the sky. It is climbed annually by about 30,000 hikers who enjoy the fantastic view from its summit. In far view you can see east to the Swedish border and south to the coast. The panorama covers one sixth of Norway. 

Regardless of the weather, coffee, waffles and smaller dishes can be served in the over 100 year old stone hut of the hiking association. In the hut you can also have a stone stamped by yourself, as proof that you have climbed the Gaustatoppen. The best starting point for this hike is Stavsro, which is located at 1173 m asl. Here is a large parking lot with kiosk and toilets. The path is well marked with red Ts, and most take two hours to reach the summit and a little shorter time for the descent. On the way you can find stones with prints of sea waves. These stones date from a time when the sea reached up here, where today is high mountains. You can find more information and impressive pictures here

With the Gaustabans you come comfortably up the mountain. The track leads in two stages (technically separated but organizationally inseparable) in the mountain. At an altitude of 1170 m, you first take a tram-like tram 850 m horizontally into the mountain, then one climbs in the mountain to a funicular that brings you up to a total of 650 m over a length of 1050 m. Exit is then 80 m below the mountain hut at the end of a tunnel. 

The idea for the railway was developed in 1953 to develop the Gaustatoppen touristic. This idea, however, was quickly adopted by the army and intelligence services during the Cold War, which built the railway in 1959. It was not until 2008 that an agreement with the Norwegian Armed Forces was concluded and the railway opened in 2010 after extensive renovation work for public transport. The train is not open all year round. Further information can be found on the homepage of  "Gaustabanen" .

View of the majestic Gaustatoppen when you walk from Mæl towards Rjukan, the ridge in snow and then the view into the valley towards Mæl and Tinnsjø and then completely different the view of the Gaustatoppen from Gvepseborg and the Selstali Seter seen. Of course, the view into the interior of the Gaustatoppen must not be missing.