Skien tourist information
Skien is Telemark´s capital, and oldest and largest city in the county. Skien has approximately 50,000 inhabitants, 30,000 of whom live within the original city limits.
The history of Skien goes back to about the year 900. The city is located right at the point where the mouth of the Telemark watercourse, flowing down from the Hardanger mountain plateau, meets the Skien Fjord.
In earlier times, this watercourse was Telemark's most important transportation route. Skien was a natural port for goods, which were destined for the inland, and a re-loading port for inland products, including whetstones that were to be shipped out. The timber trade was also of extreme importance to the city's commercial interests and for some years Skien was the centre of Norway's timber trade. Timber is still an important foundation for Skien's industrial activities, which include one of the country's largest paper producers.
Skien has been devastated by fire at least once every century since the 1500s. The last major fire, in 1886, laid waste the entire centre of town. Extensive re-construction after this disaster means that the building style of that period still dominates the area. One area, Snipetorp, escaped the fire and older buildings can be seen here. Among these is the house Knud Ibsen moved to after he was forced to leave his countryseat, Venstøp. His son, Henrik, the later world-famous dramatist, lived here for a short period before embarking on the sloop "Lykkens prøve" ("Trial of fortune") for the town of Grimstad where he was to begin work as an apprentice pharmacist.
The fact of Skien being Henrik Ibsen's birthplace is something one will certainly notice during a visit to Skien. Just north of town lays his childhood home, Venstøp, with its "Dark attic". In addition, the city's community centre has been named "Ibsen House", and one also finds the Rica Ibsen Hotel, commemorative busts and memorials, an annual Ibsen Festival, street names and plaques, and extensive collections of Ibseniana in the city's museums. All of this indicates that the city is aware of its responsibility for the spreading of information about its favourite son.
A large statue of Henrik Ibsen has been erected in the park bearing his name on an impressive site with the city's beautiful church as a background. This church, with its twin steeples and imposing frontage, is an important landmark in the city. It was completed in 1894, eight years after the last fire that had destroyed the previous building. The present church has a distinctive interior incorporating glazed bricks and beautiful stained glass windows. The organ with its 70 voices and nearly 6,000 pipes is one of Norway's largest. The church has a seating capacity of about 1,500.
On a bluff overlooking the city centre lays lovely Brekke Park, home to Telemark Museum. Venerable Brekke Park was landscaped in the English fashion about 1815 according to the wish of its then owner, Minister Niels Aall. It represents a most successful blend of urban and rural culture. The park paths, ponds and flowerbeds form a charming setting for the various attractions, among them stately Søndre Brekke Manor. The manor was built about 1810 and forms the heart of Telemark Museum. The museum's open-air collection of buildings re-erected in the park comes from all over Telemark. Other museum collections are shown in the main exhibition building.
A nature reserve, with more than 210 species of bird and numerous fish species, has been established around Børsje Lake. A marked trail, starting near the Gjerpen Old Peoples' Home and the Manse, leads to the reserve's observation tower.
Other important historic sites can be found in Gjerpen some 5 kilometres from the city centre. These include sites with rock carvings dating to the Bronze Age. The carvings depict a variety of subjects such as ships, armed men, battle scenes, ceremonial horns and long processions of human beings. Prehistoric burial mounds can also be seen in the area.
Polar explorer Hjalmar Johansen was another native-born son of Skien. He gained world fame after accompanying Fritjof Nansen to the North Pole. He also participated in Roald Amundsen's expedition to the South Pole. A statue honouring Johansen has been erected in Lunde Vale, a short walk from the centre of town.
If you visit Skien during the summer, make sure you use this opportunity to take a unique journey on one of the attractive boats cruising the Telemark Canal. These are the M/S "Henrik Ibsen" and the Queen of the canal herself, the M/S "Victoria". These authentic passenger boats leave from Hjelle Docks in Skien and cruise the watercourse up to Dalen, 100 kilometres leading right into the heart of Telemark. Plans are being made for a route in the opposite direction between Skien, Porsgrunn, Brevik and Langesund. This route constitutes the coastal section of the Telemark Watercourse.
by Norwegian Tourist Board All rights reserved.
Skien aerial map
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