Astruptunet

About the museum

Sandalstrand, today known as Astruptunet, was the home of Nikolai and Engel Astrup for fifteen years. The artist bought the old husmannsplass (smallholding) in September 1912 and moved there in January 1913. The farm lay on a steep slope in poor condition, with no access road and dilapidated buildings. Astrup built a road, a new barn, several houses and a studio, and laid out the garden in turf terraces, which he called “green walls”. Here a nursery, vegetables, berry bushes, fruit trees and rhubarb grew, which he called “the grape of the north” (nordens drue).

In the 1920s the farmstead itself became a central motif in his art, through 24 paintings and two woodcut motifs in different versions. Engel Astrup lived on the site until she died in 1966, and she had run the farmstead almost as a museum since the 1930s. The year before, she sold the property to Jølster kommune, together with movables and artworks, and the municipality undertook to look after the property and its interior.

The museum officially opened in 1986. The collection includes Astrup’s printing plates, several artworks by both Nikolai and Engel, textile works and a selection from the Reksten Collection, which was bought in 1991, including the painting “Juninatt kl. 3”. Today Astruptunet is a department of Musea i Sogn og Fjordane.

Highlights

• The artist home of Nikolai and Engel Astrup
• The garden with turf terraces and rhubarb
• Gallery with original art
• Astrup’s collection of printing plates and graphics
• Location above Jølstravatnet

Permanent exhibitions

• Kunstnerhjemmet og hagen – The preserved houses, the studio and the farm garden where Nikolai and Engel Astrup lived and worked.
• Galleriet med originalkunst – Original works by Nikolai and Engel Astrup, including paintings, graphic art and textile works.

Founded

1986

Operated by

Musea i Sogn og Fjordane

Admission & discounts

The gallery price is NOK 140 for adults. Guided tours are given throughout the opening hours; the last tour starts one hour before closing time, and it is worthwhile to see the exhibition first.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The farm lies on a steep slope. The access road from the car park is a steep, narrow gravel road without railings, the original road laid out by Nikolai Astrup, and it is not recommended for wheelchair users. Contact the museum in advance to find a suitable solution.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The artist home lies on the south side of Jølstravatnet (fylkesvei 5690). Cross the road from the car park, go through the gate and follow the gravel road up the slope.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café with homemade sveler (Norwegian pancakes) and waffles and coffee, and in summer also ice cream. Museum shop in the gallery, and a selection in the café with napkins, shopping bags, T-shirts, postcards, posters and books about Astrup and other artists.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit