Culture Calendar 8th – 14th

This week's pick is the beautiful town of Eidsvoll, just 30 minutes away from Oslo. Though a small historic town, it has a lot to offer.

Eidsvoll, located in Viken, is a charming municipality consisting of stores, supermarkets, and other beautiful attractions. The town lies around the southern end of Lake Mjøsa and the upper part of the river Vorma. It is also the place where the Norwegian Constitution was signed in 1814. Eidsvoll is the pick of the week because, though it is very close to Oslo, it is diverse in many ways. Let us take a break from tall buildings and travel a bit towards plain farmlands, as more than half of the municipality consists of forest and agricultural lands.

If you plan to visit Eidsvoll, take the train from Oslo Station for about 30 minutes. Start your visit by going to the magnificent Eidsvoll Museum that offers many sights – such as Feiring Jernverk (iron extraction), The St. Paul’s iron mines and the Occupation Museum (World War II). The museum also offers an open-air section, and now as the hotter days are approaching, it is the best time to visit. Feel free to relax and enjoy the outdoors at the grilling and picnic areas which interspace the 29 historical buildings. If you are lucky, you may be able to find some berries and pick them up for free. Read more here.

Eidsvoll also offers the famous Gullverkstallen. The beautiful park includes trips with Norwegian horses or carriages/sleigh, as well as the possibility of trailing through the breathtaking scenery. You can either choose to ride a horse or take the sleigh ride if you have no horse-riding experience. Read more here.

Eidsvoll 1814 – is the cradle of Norwegian democracy. This was the place where the Norwegian constitution was drawn up and signed in 1814. The place encompasses a museum, café stand, and a park. The Manor House at the Eidsvoll 1814 is one of the most important national symbols in Norway. Back in 1814, the house was privately owned by the owner of Eidsvoll Ironworks. It is indeed a beautiful example of neo-classical architecture; whose design draws inspiration from antiquity's ideals. Currently, you can witness the climate art in the park outside, where you can see art created by children and adults with plastic waste. Read more here.

The ones who like trekking and want to stay away from the central city may enjoy a hike to Mistberget, a peak in Eidsvoll municipality. Although it only rises 663 meters above sea level, the top of Mistberget is one of the area's finest viewpoints. The road up is not long, about 3 kilometers walk. At the top is a 16-meter-high old watchtower, and from this, you can look out over large parts of Romerike and into the neighboring counties.

Did you ever think you would see alpacas in Norway? Nilsstua Gård in Hurdal (just 20 minutes away from Eidsvoll) is the place to be if you want to take part in alpaca hiking and buy unique products and yarns from the alpacas. A couple runs the place since 2018. The place offers a weaving course for those who are interested. Read more about the place here.

Andelva, a narrow river, is a beautiful place for resting and strolling around. At the end of it is a unique café, inside the Galleri Festivitetn. This delightful place hosts events every day; from «afternoon tea» to «new to town», so that you can interact with people and make acquaintances. The café also has a small bakery with a variety of cakes to choose from.