Øvre Eiker
Municipality · Buskerud
About Øvre Eiker
Summer exhibitions of contemporary art in Vestfossen's former cellulose factory, and salmon fishing at Hokksund below Hellefossen on the Drammenselva.
What to do and where to stay in Øvre Eiker
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Vestfossen KunstlaboratoriumHistory & culture
Contemporary art in the old Vestfos cellulose factory from 1886, opened in 2003 by artist Morten Viskum and run as a summer programme from May to September.
Fabrikkgata 11C, Vestfossen · 1–2 h · May–September
2Fossesholm HerregårdHistory & culture
One of Norway's largest 18th-century manors, extended by Jørgen von Cappelen in 1763, with a hall painted by Erik Gustaf Tunmarck and a 1773 rococo clock pavilion.
Fossgata, Vestfossen · 1–1.5 h (guided tour) · summer
3Fiskum gamle kirkeHistory & culture
Stone church from about 1250, dedicated to St Olav, among Norway's smallest medieval churches, beside Fiskumvatnet, with a 1650 pulpit and early-1700s altarpiece.
Darbu, by Fiskumvatnet · 20–30 min · all year (outside); inside at concerts and events
4HellefossenNature
The lowest falls on the Drammenselva, first mentioned in 1386 and painted by J.C. Dahl in 1838; the salmon fishery below them once belonged to Haug church.
Drammenselva just north of Hokksund · 15–30 min · salmon season summer; falls all year
5Smedbrua on Gamle KongsbergveiLocal oddity
Stone-vaulted bridge from 1767 on the Kongsberg road of 1624–27, Norway's oldest public road, and probably the oldest stone-vaulted road bridge in the country.
On Gamle Kongsbergvei, Øvre Eiker (exact spot to geocode) · 15–30 min · all year
6Fiskumvannet nature reserveNature
A wetland reserve of 1,173 decares, protected in 1974, at the north end of the Eikeren lake system, with a local heritage trail and the old Fiskum church on its shore.
Fiskumvatnet, between Darbu and Vestfossen · 1 h · spring and autumn for birds; all year
7Haug kirkeHistory & culture
Hokksund's church, said to be consecrated in 1152, keeps its medieval west tower and has a Cappelen family burial chapel and a Jürgen Ahrend organ from 2004.
Hokksund centre · 20 min · all year (inside at services and concerts)
8Eikeren from VestfossenNature
An 18 km lake, up to 158 m deep, on the border with Holmestrand; its north end and the Fiskumvannet arm lie in Øvre Eiker, a short drive south of Vestfossen.
North end of Eikeren, south of Vestfossen · 1 h to half a day · summer
9Hakavik power stationLocal secretLocal oddity
Since 1922 it has made power only for the railway, one of two such plants in Norway, with a large 1920s station building, pipelines and an old tramway. Working plant: stay outside the fences.
Hakavik, on Lake Eikeren
10Hassel ironworks and the Skotselv heritage trailsLocal secretHistory & culture
One of Norway's oldest ironworks (1649–1854), known for cast-iron stoves such as a 1691 plate with a war elephant. Local heritage trails follow it and the old ironworks road to Eidsfoss.
Skotselv (the ironworks road runs on to Eidsfoss in Holmestrand)