Vikersund
Vikersund is a town of 3,200 people (2022) in Buskerud.
Understand
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Historically, Vikersund has been important in wood processing and the paper industry. Timber was floated on Tyrifjorden, further out Vikerfossen and down the Drammenselva from Vikersund.
Get in
[edit]Vikersund is 30 km south of Hønefoss and 40 km northwest of Drammen.
The trunk road 35 passes by Vikersund.
Vikersund station is connected to the Bergen Railway via the Randsfjord Railway (Randsfjordbanen). Norway's longest museum railway, the Krøderbanen, runs 26 km between Vikersund and the town of Krøderen in Viken.
Get around
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Map of Vikersund
See
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- 1 Vikersund ski jump (Vikersundbakken). Vikersund ski jump is the biggest in the world, along with Kulm in Austria. Jumps at 250 meters has been done (world record). The huge hill is visible from far away.
- 2 Krøderen Line (Krøderbanen). Trains run Jun-Sep and Dec. Krøderbanen is a railway between Vikersund and Krødsherad that ran ordinary operations from 1873 to 1985 (passengers until 1958). Now maintained and operated as museum railway. Until the Bergen railway was constructed in 1909 the Krøderen Line connected the ships on Krøderen Lake to Tyrifjorden lake, Drammen and Oslo. Krøderen end station shown on map. Adult: one-way 170 kr, return 250 kr; child (from 4 years): one-way 85 kr, return 120 kr; child (0-3): free.
- 3 Cobalt Works Museum (Blaafarveverket), Malmveien 620, Modum (from Hokksund: bus route 100/101 on to Åmot bus station and route 105 from Åmot to Blaafarveværket; Carlsen Tourist Buses offer trips here during summer ☏ +47 67 91 20 50 or post@fcturistbusser.no). Mid-May to Aug, two weeks in Dec, some holiday openings. Blaafarveværke was established in the 1770s. It was one of the largest industrial companies of the country in the mid-19th century. The works mined cobalt ore and manufactured by smelting blue cobalt glass (smalt) and cobalt blue (cobalt aluminate) pigment. At the time, it employed more than 2,000 workers, and in its heyday supplied 80 percent of the world market for cobalt pigments. the cobalt mines and associated facilities are open for visitors. Buildings are also used for art exhibitions. The site is free, tickets are required for mine tours.
- 4 Haugfossen (Road 287 from Åmot). Haugfossen is a waterfall in Simoa river. It is the tallest waterfall in East Norway and used to run the engines at Blaafarveværket process plant beneath the waterfall. Road 287 passes close to the waterfall which is easily accessible. free.
- 5 Ruins of Vike Church (Vike kirkeruin), Vikerkleiva, 3370 (east of Vikersund). It was referred to as the parish church in 1456, but is believed to have dated from the 1200s. The church was presumably abandoned around the Protestant Reformation. The walls stood until late 1700s, but later they were used as a quarry.
Do
[edit]Vikersund is home to the Vikersund hoppsenter (jumping centre) with seven jumping hills.