Travel to Skien - Norway - Europe - Culture

Skien is a great town, green and beautiful with the Hjellevannet lake as a natural oasis. During the 1970-ties the city centre went thru a renovation, and some magnificent, old facades were destroyed. But large areas with beautiful architecture are still preserved. The finest districts are probably the streets around Ibsenparken and the Snipetorp street, from the city centre to the city district Kleiva.

As one of the oldest towns in Norway and as the counties capital town, Skien presents itself as a thriving cultural & service town with nearly 50.000 inhabitants. Skien is Henrik Ibsens place of birth, and the foundation of his world famous authorship was laid in this town.

The regional theatre for Telemark and Vestfold who perform regularly every year, is permanently located in the beautiful building Festiviteten. This was built in the neo-renaissance style and opened the 20^th March 1891, on Ibsens birthday as the towns new house of culture.

Skiens House of Culture "the towns and Telemarks cultural centre" is situated in Lunde Park at the town centre. Conserts, theatre, revues, cinema and opera performances, congresses, fairs, been arranged here all year round since 1973.

The Ibsen House and Falkum gallery have art exhibitions all year round. Skien Art Society uses the old Norges Bank building for exhibitions. The building (situated at Lie) is one of the towns most beautiful, built in the late Empire style and was opened in 1849.

The Historical Museum of Telemark is in Brekke Park to the east of town and its exhibits include period furniture ranging from the Renaissance to the Victorian Age. A special section is centered on the dramatist Henrik Ibsen.

Loveid Canal at Skotfoss joins the Norsjø with the river to the sea and has 3 lock chambers built in 1854-60.

Gjerpen Church lies on the northern edge of Skien and is a beautiful Romanesque stone church built at some time in the twelfth century. It is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul and was extended in 1871-72 with the addition of two side naves and a new tower. The church belonged to the Løvenskiold Family until 1856. It was restored in 1920, at which time an altarpiece by Emanuel Vigeland was added.

Solum Church was built in 1766 with a framework of logs with rococo-style panelling on the inside and outside.

Mikaelshulen, or " St. Michaels Church in the Rock ", is a cave on the east side of Norsjø, some 30 m above the surface of the water. Masses were held there even after the Catholic era. The cave may be reached by boat and on foot, but access is difficult. There is said to have been a burial ground on the top of the rock above the cave.

Maehlum Church, a timber- built church, was constructed in 1728. The altarpiece dates back to 1618.

Kjempåsen (Giant's Ridge) is a hill fort from the migration age, 400-600 A.D. The fort and the remains of its stonewalls are a historic site. It is just north of the Elstrømbrua (Elstrøm Bridge).

Skien is the gateway to the Telemark canal. The canal was etched in the mountains for well over 100 years ago and when the canal was completed in 1892 the rest of Europe called it “the eighth wonder of the world". Five hundred men had worked for five years, blasting their way through the mountains. With a total of 28 lock chambers, the route was cleared from Skien to the ancient Norwegian town of Dalen, a sailing route of 105 km and with an elevation difference of 72 meters.