Let’s explore the best things to do in Drammen
Drammen, located in the Buskerud County and about 30 minutes by vehicle from Oslo, is nestled up against the banks of its eponymous river. The city has been revitalized, especially along the riverside, so now is the perfect time to visit if you are familiar with Drammen but haven’t gone for a while. Along with modern apartments in chic glass buildings, there are also cafes, restaurants, stores, cultural attractions, and a river promenade.
The Ypsilon Bridge, with its two tall pylons, is one of the symbols of the new metropolis. And don’t forget the Spiralen, a 1960s tunnel with an intriguing helix design that drops you out at a lookout point above the city. A historic mine that once produced cobalt pigment for the Royal Copenhagen factory is nearby, along with Norway’s longest historical railway route.
15 Best Things to Do in Drammen (Norway):
- Kjosterudjuvet
- Spiralen
- Bragernes Kirke
- Bragernes Torg
- Drammens Museum
- Gulskogen Gard
- Austad Gard
- Galleri Athene
- Ypsilon Bridge
- Drammensbadet
- Drammens Teater
- Drammen River Cruise
- Blaafarvevaerket
- Fossesholm Manor
- Kroderbanen
1. Kjosterudjuvet
A 1,300-meter-long gorge with sheer cliffs that can reach 60 meters in height and only four meters in width at its narrowest point can be found in the rugged countryside north of Drammen.
You can climb to the Gamledammen lake by walking through the gorge along the riverbed in the summer when the river is at its lowest.
For this 90-minute trip through thick flora with breathtaking scenery around every corner, all you’ll need are some strong walking shoes and waterproof clothing. You’ll also get to climb ladders over waterfalls and hop from rock to rock.
2. Spiralen
There is something unusual at Bragernesasen, which is located just to the north of Drammen.
The Spiralen is a 1,650-meter-long corkscrew tunnel that leads to a picturesque vantage point above the city on the Skansen Ridge.
You will be 200 meters above sea level when the Spiralen has made all six full turns, ascending 22 meters with each one.
You can park your car here, start walking, or reward yourself with a treat at the cafe.
Along with an outdoor museum maintained by the Drammens Museum, the “Spiraltoppen” includes historic homes that have been moved there from all across the Buskerud County.
In 1961, the tunnel was built, and King Olav V officiated at the inauguration ceremony.
3. Bragernes Kirke
The brick-built Bragernes Kirke was dedicated in 1871 on an axis that runs through Drammen’s central square, Bragernes Torg, and the city bridge. The church is built in the then-popular neo-Gothic style, and instead of facing east as is customary, the choir faces north.
The Skansen ridge behind the tower, which is 64 meters high, serves as its backdrop.
The altarpiece, which was painted inside with a representation of the Resurrection by renowned Romantic Nationalist artist Adolph Tidemand, is a must-see piece.
There are copies of this picture in churches all around Norway.
4. Bragernes Torg
After a devastating fire destroyed much of Drammen in 1866, the city’s new center left a lot of space between buildings to give the area a sense of size.
As a result, Drammen has one of the largest city squares in Scandinavia and the largest in Norway.
As a result, you can see both sides of the valley without any interruptions as you look directly over the Drammen River.
In addition to the typical flower and vegetable stands, you might get lucky and catch the farmers’ market in the spring and summer.
Summertime in Bragernes Torg means street theater and concerts, while wintertime brings a large ice rink to the plaza.
5. Drammens Museum
The city museum has its headquarters at the 1770 manor house Marienlyst Gard, as well as outbuildings at Austad Gard, Gulskogen Gard, and the outdoor museum at Spiraltoppen.
The Marienlyst Gard, on the south bank of the Drammen River, houses decorative pieces gathered from all across the Buskerud County.
Traditional clothing, religious art, painting, handicrafts, and agricultural instruments are all included. There are also cabinets and chests with traditional Norwegian Rosemaling (flower patterns) from Numedal and Hallingdal, glassware, and Baroque silver from the 18th century.
6. Gulskogen Gard
The Drammen River was bordered by rows of opulent manor homes, including Gulskogen Grd, in the early 19th century.
Unfortunately, many were destroyed during the industrial revolution, but this one was saved and given its current Louis XVI form in 1804. The land was purchased at auction in 1794 by Peter Nicolai Arbo, the wealthiest merchant in Drammen, and it was owned by the Arbo family for several years.
The manor home is located in an English landscape park with a maze, free-ranging peacocks, and a 265-meter lime alley that hasn’t changed much in 200 years.
Paintings by PN Arbo, a notable historical artist working in the middle to end of the 19th century, enhance the interiors.
7. Austad Gard
The history of this estate dates back to the fourteenth century, and it has had a number of notable owners, including the general Ulrik Frederik Gyldenlove in the seventeenth century.
The current Neoclassical main building was erected between 1808 and 1813 on the former house’s intact foundations after it was destroyed by fire at the turn of the nineteenth century.
At the period, the politician and businessman Peder von Cappelen used Austad Gard as his summer residence while Swedish POWs were employed as slave labor.
With the exception of a lovely Art Nouveau expansion added in 1918 to the back, the home is essentially unchanged from when it was first built. Visit the store to look at silk wallpapers, antique furniture, and paintings, and explore the grounds, which contain an orchard, stream, and beautiful avenue.
8. Galleri Athene
One of Norway’s largest private art galleries is located on Gronland, among the glass structures and renovated factories on the south side of the Drammen River.
The five-story Galleri Athene hosts exhibitions of painting, sculpture, graphic art, and installations, showcasing both up-and-coming artists and well-known artists.
Live music, book launches, and art lectures are also held at the gallery.
The primary show was “Everlong” by the sculptor and installation artist Jorgen Frederik Scheel Haarstad when we wrote this article in the beginning of 2018.
9. Ypsilon Bridge
This cable-stayed pedestrian and bicycle crossing, which was created by the Arne Eggen architecture firm and opened in 2008, is the most recent addition to the cityscape of Drammen.
The “Y” shape of the Ypsilon bridge, which has two abutments on its north side at Bragernes and one on its south side at Stromso, is the reason for its name.
The pair of angled 47-meter pylons with 16 cables on either side facing the Bragernes bank are the most striking feature, though.
The Ypsilon Bridge’s 2008 debut was live-streamed on TV 2, Norway’s biggest commercial television network.
The largest swimming pool in all of Norway is in Drammen, and it is housed in a structure that resembles a rolling wave.
Five of the nine pools of the Drammensbadet are indoor; the other four are outside.
These outdoor pools are open from June through August, and if the weather is nice enough, you can lay your towel out on the grass.
Away from the chaos of the wave pool, which boasts a climbing wall and a “power channel,” there is a 50-meter Olympic-sized swimming pool inside where fitness swimmers may complete their laps. On the second level, there is a wellness area with jacuzzis, a sauna, a steam room, and a cafe in addition to the pools and a well-stocked fitness center.
11. Drammens Teater
The Drammens theatre, the main cultural hub of the city, is an exceptional structure in every way.
It was built in 1870, and its neo-Renaissance design was influenced by the theaters on Porte St.
In Paris, Martin and Chatelet.
The structure was completely destroyed by fire in 1993, and everything had to be rebuilt besides the exterior walls.
The project was overseen by architect Hans-Gabriel Finne, and an Oslo workshop created the flamboyant stuccowork, featuring a 45.3-meter stucco rosette on the ceiling.
There are lectures, comedy events, ballet performances, pop, jazz, and rock concerts, as well as classical concerts.
12. Drammen River Cruise
If you’re in town during the summer, it’s a terrific idea to embark on a river cruise aboard the MS Drammen, the city ship, as the Drammen River is an essential component of the city’s character.
You may relax on the upper deck, purchase drinks and food on board, and float ten kilometers up the river from the city center to the new bridge at Mjondalen.
Since the entire city is crammed into the valley, you can clearly see the various neighborhoods.
The city’s distillery quarter, Ovre Storgate, is where the majority of Drammen’s 19th-century Biedermeier architecture can be found. Akvavit was made there. The charming Landfalloya district, where farmers first lived in the 19th century, is located further on.
13. Blaafarvevaerket
Excavations at this cobalt mine, which belonged to a business founded by King Christian VIII, took place between 1776 and 1898. Because cobalt ore was required to manufacture the blue pigment used in porcelain ornamentation, its history is closely related to the Royal Porcelain Factory in Copenhagen.
The Blue Colour Works, which made cobalt glass and pigment on-site, eventually went out of business as synthetic substitutes were developed.
There are amazing quarries and mining exhibitions that demonstrate the technological advancement during the 18th and 19th centuries along with eight kilometers of mines to explore.
With three brand-new temporary exhibitions by renowned Norwegian and international artists presented each year above ground, the complex is also a prominent art destination.
Haugsfossen, a powerful waterfall with a 39-meter drop, is another feature that should not be missed.
14. Fossesholm Manor
There’s another in Ovre Eiker, 20 minutes distant, if you’ve grown passionate about the historical estates in Buskerud County.
Although the mansion dates to the 16th century, it was rebuilt in the Rococo style in the 1760s, and that style is still present today.
You are welcome to take a tour of the interiors, which still exude the Rococo splendor of the 18th century and are decorated with vibrant murals by the Swedish artist Eric Gustaf Tunmarck.
There is a distinct Baroque bell tower in the yard, where you may browse a variety of exhibitions on art, the Second World War Resistance, and dolls.
15. Kroderbanen
You may ride on the longest heritage train route in Norway if you travel to Vikersund, which is located on the Tyrifjorden’s southern shore.
On a 26-kilometer route that was first constructed in 1872, the Kroderbanen will transport you from Vikersund up to Krderen. The Kroderbanen was operational until 1985, when it was shut down. It wasn’t until 2011 that it was revived as a May–October visitor attraction.
Traveling in antique carriages drawn by a steam engine, the stations still resemble those from the turn of the 20th century.
When you get in Kroderen, the station is a stunning example of heritage with exhibits about the line, a gift shop, and a cafe that still has a 1920s feel.
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