Insider tip: Norway’s inofficial scenic route
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration presents on its website 18 official Norwegian Scenic Roads. But Norway’s landscape is too beautiful to stop counting. So, here is number 19: the first inofficial …
Norwegian Scenic Route Skien — Rjukan
The scenic route Skien — Rjukan runs approximately 178 km through Telemark from county capital Skien first to Notodden and from there in two alternative ways to Rjukan.
The scenic route Skien — Rjukan is easy to reach from the Norwegian ferry ports Langesund, Larvik and Sandefjord.
Along the route the visitor will enjoy a beautiful landscape with green forests, blue long lakes, some quite rivers and wilder flows, a white snowcapped mountain, a fell plateau with wide horizon view and finally a high waterfall.
Further attractions on scenic route
On top of the manifold landscape and nature some more attractions can be explored such as Telemark Canal, Norway’s largest stave church in Heddal, tramways to mountain tops and the UNESCO world heritage listed industrial site Rjukan and Notodden.
Activities along the route
Just experiencing nature and enjoying the drive through this landscape can be more than enough on this route.
Music enthusiasts may also enjoy open-air folklore events (music and lyrics) or visit the annual blues music festival in Notodden.
The route also allows a lot of sports activities such as canoeing, biking, hiking, skiing (winter), angling or playing golf.
Historically interested visitors can explore the industrial history of this region, e.g. by visiting the Norwegian Industrial Workers Museum. At this occasion do not miss the background of Norwegian heavy water sabotage during the world war II.
Every route’s end is the beginning of a new one
From the end point Rjukan the visitor can just drive the other way back to Skien or will find a variety of possibilities for the onward journey, e.g. Oslo, the official Scenic Route Ryfylke or Hardangerfjord.
Want more details?
Find all details of the route with more tips, links and recommendations for an onward journey on my blog post “Insider tip: Norway’s first inofficial scenic route”.
