Øvre Eiker: Manor House, Glass Art and Trails

In Øvre Eiker, cultural history, art and trails through nature come together. Fossesholm Herregård near Vestfossen is an 18th-century-style manor house with a long history. The museum is open daily during the summer season and accessible by appointment outside this season. Check seasonal access before your arrival.

Manor House, Art and Local History

Fossesholm Herregård is also home to the Nedre Buskerud Hjemmefrontmuseum. It presents local conditions and events from the years of occupation, 1940 to 1945. Here, the manor house’s long history sits alongside the themes of a specific historical period.

The Nøstetangen Glassmuseum displays glass art from Norway’s first glassworks at Nøstetangen, as well as from other glassworks and glass artists. Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium has a different artistic focus: the contemporary art centre is located in the former Vestfos Cellulosefabrik, which operated from 1886 to 1970. Glass art and contemporary art thus offer different ways to explore the region’s collections and exhibitions.

Buildings and ensembles also shape the landscape. Aker-Smørgrav-Berg is a cultural landscape of national interest, with well-preserved buildings typical of the late 19th century. Gamle-Hokksund has timber buildings worthy of preservation. The medieval Fiskum gamle kirke is well preserved and worth a visit. Together, these places offer different points of interest if you are interested in architecture, art or history.

At Eiker Arkiv, you can explore local history. The archive was founded in 2003 as a collaboration between Øvre Eiker Municipality, Drammen Municipality and Eiker Historielag. It is staffed on Fridays from 11:00 to 15:00 at the Øvre Eiker Library; check the hours before visiting, as staffing times may change. Another collection awaits you at Norsk Motorhistorisk Senter in Burud: the exhibition there features vehicles and other items from the 1950s and 1960s.

Hiking Trails, Lakes and Natural Areas

For time outdoors, there are trails with a range of destinations. A marked 4.3-kilometre circular trail runs across wet terrain on Ullandsåsen. There is a trail register box at the highest point. The wet terrain is a practical consideration to bear in mind when planning your visit.

A hiking trail runs around Lauvtjern, with access from Lerberg/Harakollen, Ullern or Kolbrek. Another route connects Fiskum gamle kirke with Anfindshølen. A trail leads from Fredfoss to Røkebergtjern. There are also marked hiking trails there in the direction of Mjøndalen and Konnerud. These trails can be distinguished by their respective starting points and destinations, without having to assume a particular type of tour.

A walking and cycling path runs along the river from Loe Bruk towards Steinberg and onwards to Mjøndalen and Drammen. The options at the lakes also vary: you can walk or cycle around Eikern. Hoensvannet can be circumnavigated on foot and is also suitable for swimming. Myrehogget on Holtefjell is the highest point in Øvre Eiker.

Nature reserves add to the range of landscapes. Kolbergtjernmyra nature reserve protects an undisturbed marshland with varied vegetation and an important bird habitat. Fosseteråsen nature reserve is a protected forest area covering 2,111.3 decares; it was protected in 2015. When planning, you can choose between trails, lakes, marshland and forest, depending on what you would like to focus on.

If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, choose a location based on the places and activities you plan to visit.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Skotselv, Hokksund, Nes, Hol, Nore Og Uvdal, Sigdal, Hurum, Lier.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Buskerud.