Norway
backThe lower part of the county Buskerud is beautiful place were it is good to live, but it is still not very developed for tourism. On the contrary, the upper part of Buskerud is a famous skiing area, with a lot of winter activities. We would like to draw your attention to all the various attractions our part of the county has to offer.
Drammen is the capital of the county Buskerud, and is easily reached from Oslo. It is beautifully situated between two hills and divided by the river “Drammenselva”. It is the county’s center for commerce, culture and communication and has been for hundreds of years which our ancient stone carvings are a magnificent proof of.
The hills and woods on both side of the city give great opportunity for hiking and recreation. The river is famous for its salmon fishing, and the sight seeing boats give you a great view of the city. In winter cross- country skiing is very popular but the two slalom slopes are also much used all winter long. In the city itself the shopping possibilities are great, with big selection of stores. Along the river side strolling is very popular. The city has also many spectacular attractions. Attractions such as upon air museum, “spiraltoppen”- the seven long turns spiral round tunnel, to the ridge of Bragernes Hill.
Traditionally, industry, especially paper and pulp industry, has dominated the city. When all these factories were shut down around the middle of the last century, the city changed. People had to find jobs elsewhere and many got new jobs in Oslo, but fortunately they kept on living in Drammen. Shipping has also been a great importance and still is today. The city has changed much and has become a centre for commerce, transportation and many different kind of industry. Drammen has the biggest population in Buskerud with its 58 000 inhabitants.
Kongsberg area is one of the municipalities and town in the county in South Buskerud. Including the surroundings rural districts, the administrative area is 792 km². The town was founded in 1624 under the same name Konings Bierg by Danish/Norwegian king Christian IV as a mining community, and was granted its royal charter of trade amounting to official township in 1802.
It lives about 23 000 people here. Must of the people are living around the city centre.
The town is divided by the river Numedalslågen, which has three waterfalls in the town itself. Kongsberg is particularly known for its old silver mines, from which roughly 1350 metric tons of silver was extracted between the discovery of silver ore in 1623, and the last year of mining, in 1957.
The town is known for many great ski jumpers. Birger Ruud and his two brothers, as well as many others townsmen, won numerous medals in Winter Olympics and other international championships in the 1930s and 40s. Their medals and equipment can be seen at the Kongsberg Skiing Museum which is co-located with the Norwegian Mining Museum in central Kongsberg.
Kongsberg today is internationally renowned for its high technology. Most of the town`s industries are in the fields of defence technology, offshore and maritime systems, auto part production and optics.
When you travel down the valley you can follow the large lake “krøderfjorden” all the way down to the city, Drammen. In the lake you will experience the small and charming “islands” and they are situated close to each other. The shore of the lake is an excellent sight. From rocky, as well as moist and even long clean beaches of with sand.
In the forest, the nature is untouched. Close vegetation and no specific path to follow. You will be left to your natural compass!
Population: 2200 persons.
Square meters: 375 km2.
City of administration: Noresund
Distances from Noresund:
Airport, OSL: 110 km.
Oslo: 100 km.
Drammen: 78 km.
Kongsberg: 82 km
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