10 Things to do in Vinje Municipality That You Shouldn't Miss

Mosstrond Church on the island of Hovden, was built in 1923 after the old church was destroyed by fire in a thunderstorm on Midsummer's Day in 1919. The new church was decorated by Sveinung Svalastoga, and has become a very special place of worship. Open on agreement. Guided tours to the church and the island of Hovden in the summer season, see below: Sightseeing tour to the Hovden Island: On Thursdays in the summer, cruises with a local guide operate from Skinnarbu to the island of Hovden, with its unique church at Mosstrond, beautifully decorated by the artist Sveinung Svalastoga from Rauland. This church has a unique and beautiful funeral custom: local people help to bury the coffin. Havard Giboen, the renowned Hardanger fiddle player, is buried here. The guide will tell about the history and present story of the rural comunity of Mosstrond.

Summer time tourist information at Tenestetorget in the local council building in amot. Open 20.06-20.08: Mon-Fri 08.00-15.30.

The valley of ’Smorklepp’ in Vinje has made a lasting impression on the artist Henrik Sorensen. Right in the middle of this natural wilderness you can visit this unique and impressive gallery built with local rock and view a large collection of paintings by Sorensen. Harald Kihle is another artist who is displayed in the gallery. Sorensen and Kihle both worked and lived in the valley of Smorklepp.

The M/B Fjellvaken takes you on a wonderful trip across Lake Mosvatn from Skinnarbu to Mogen Turisthytte, a 40 kilometre trip. The boat passes mountain farms and sails through beautiful scenery on its journey, which lasts about 2 hours. Mogen is an ideal starting point for hiking on the Hardangervidda mountain plateau. The boat can also be chartered for extra trips and sightseeing trips.

Mjonoy is a distinctive venue with arts, crafts and traditional cultural attractions and cuisine. Here you will find a traditional wood-fired stone oven bakery, a felting press, cabins for rent, cultural events, a farm shop and a crafts exhibition. The centre was Vinje's millennium project and has won a Norwegian cultural heritage award.

Raulandsfjell Alpinsenter in Raulandsgrend has 2 lifts, 7 slopes and lies between 700 and 1065 m.a.s.l. Total piste length: 5,4 km. 2 blue, 2 red and 3 black slopes. Off-piste: Yes. Chair lift: No. Snowboard: Yes. Raulandsfjell Alpinsenter has two ski lifts, and the largest height difference is 365 metres. Choose from six slopes ranging from 200 to 2100 metres in length. Excellent conditions for skiers who like to build up some speed! Raulandsfjell has cleared a number of off-piste slopes. Raulandsfjell Alpinsenter has ski hire, ski school and can produce artificial snow. The children's slope has a marked alpine skiing run, moguls and jumps. If you need a break from skiing, Raulandsfjell can amongst others offer soccer games on TV and a ski shop selling equipment and clothes. Inside by the fire place is a good place to relax in between skiing sessions. The cafè/restaurant at Raulandsfjell serves excellent meals. We also offer a mid week buffet on Wednesday and a pizza buffet on Fridays. After ski every Saturday from 15-20 in Turegut Evening skiing Monday and Friday 18:00-21:00 throughout the season. Evening lift pass: Adults NOK 180, youths 7-15 NOK 140. We also arrange courses in kiting for those seeking adventures outside the ski slopes.

Nesland Church, beside the road from amot to Dalen, is a wooden church built in 1847. It contains many artefacts from the old stave church that stood on the same site, including a crucifix, a font, portals and a pillory. The church was restored in 1927 and decorated by the rose painter oystein Vesaas. The altarpiece was painted by Dagfin Werenskiold. Open on agreement.

Vinjestoga is the childhood home of the poet, journalist and linguist Aasmund Olavsson Vinje. Here you can listen to stories about life in the home, about how Vinje became one of Norway’s foremost poets, and about the journalist Vinje. The house lies along European route E 134 along Vinjesletta in Vinje municipality. It is a typical peasant’s cabin from the 1800’s. Here, Aasmund grew up.

Straume Art Gallery in oyfjell is a beautiful gallery situated in the heart of Western Telemark in Vinje municipality. The vision and goal for the gallery is to create an arena for artistic expression, to create a meeting place for the local community and to be a house filled with varied activities.