Rjukan: UNESCO Heritage and City History

Rjukan combines industrial history with distinctive architecture and outdoor activities. Highlights for your stay include Vemork, the preserved railway station, the Sun Mirror, walking routes through the town and winter ice climbing. If you are planning a hotel stay, you can decide whether to focus on history, walks or a visit to Rjukanbadet.

Industrial history in Vemork and Rjukan

Vemork was once the largest power station in the world and is now part of the Rjukan–Notodden Industrial Heritage Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rjukan’s development is also closely linked to heavy industry: the town was home to Norway’s first heavy industrial enterprise. As a company town, Rjukan included workers’ housing and social facilities. Rail and ferry connections linked the town to ports where fertilizer was loaded. Together, these aspects offer insight into the economic and social history of this industrial town.

The Heavy Water Cellar in Vemork features an interactive exhibition; its content may change. The Norwegian Industrial Workers Museum in Vemork presents an exhibition about the Second World War and Rjukan’s industrialization. The two exhibition themes have different focuses: the war years on the one hand and the development of industry on the other. Check the latest visitor information before your visit.

Preserved buildings and stories of the town

Rjukan railway station is a preserved complex of buildings, tracks, technical installations and railway vehicles. It can be explored outdoors throughout the year; check the latest visitor information before you travel. Rjukan Church tells a different story: after a fire during the filming of “The Heroes of Telemark” in 1965, it was rebuilt and renovated in a modern style.

On the guided Hydrant Safari through Rjukan, the distinctive hydrants lead to stories about industry, architecture, community building and influential figures. This walking tour focuses not just on a single building, but also on what hydrants reveal about the town and its development.

Routes, mirrors and nature

Two starting points can help you choose a route: the hiking trail between the town of Rjukan and Gaustatoppen starts at the railway station. The walk through the town centre starts at Torget and can lead via Kjærlighetsstien into a nature reserve. Check the latest information about trail conditions and signage before setting out.

The Sun Mirror is installed on a mountainside at 742 metres above sea level and lies about 450 metres above the market square. Its three computer-controlled mirrors track the sun’s movement and reflect its rays onto the square. The elevation figures describe different reference points: its position above sea level and the approximate height difference from the market square. Rjukanfossen, which is 104 metres high, also contributed to an increase in tourism in Rjukan.

Swimming and winter activities

Rjukanbadet has children’s and sports pools, a climbing wall, a therapy pool, a steam room, a sauna, water slides and diving boards. The outdoor area, open year-round, includes a 33-degree pool, a whirlpool and a current channel. As operating details may change, check the latest information before your visit.

Those interested in ice climbing will find more than 192 frozen waterfalls in Rjukan. During a particularly long and stable winter season, they offer good conditions for ice climbers. This seasonal activity is quite different from the year-round facilities in the outdoor area at Rjukanbadet and may therefore play a distinct role in planning your stay.

Discover more destinations: Austbygdi, Miland, Hovin I Telemark, Tinn

Go to the main travel overview: Tinn.