On the shores of Lake Heddalsvatnet in the county of Telemark, you'll find Notodden, a city that experienced explosive growth in population in the years following Norsk Hydro's decision to establish a factory here. The close proximity to the Svelgfos Power Plant meant that industry boomed and the town of Notodden soon developed so that employees could live locally. This is evident today from the three neighbourhoods Grønnbyen, Villamoen and Admini, developed for the workers, administrators and the CEO, respectively.
Visit the Hydro Park to see the heart of the fertiliser adventure that put Notodden – and nearby Rjukan – on UNESCO's World Heritage List. At the Tinfos cultural area, you'll find architecture dating back to the 1800s. Whilst you are in the area, don't forget to visit the Lysbuen and Telemark Galleries, which both have permanent and temporary exhibitions relating to the region's industry.
No visit to Notodden is complete without a visit to the Heddal Stave Church, Norway's largest stave church. Just a stone's throw away, you'll find the Heddal Village Square, where you can see the development of Norwegian buildings from the middle ages until the interwar years. Take a look at the region's typical interior designs painted in the Rosemaling style.
At night, Notodden offers culture and entertainment in the modern, newly built Bok & Blueshuset venue. Here you can also find the town's "blueseum", which features the "From cotton to Notodden" exhibition with a soundtrack recorded by Morgan Freeman. This music genre is very strong in the area, and the very popular Notodden Blues Festival has taken place here every year since 1988. The town is also open to other genres too, including a large range of and the range of local black metal bands.
When visiting Notodden for a weekend, there are numerous opportunities for outdoor activities in the area. There are excellent fishing opportunities during the summer and superb skiing conditions during the winter. Notodden can be reached by car or train from Porsgrunn or bus from Oslo via Drammen.
