Folldal Gruver
Mining community with roots back to 1748: museum, a train trip into the mine and cultural trails, on one of the sites selected by Riksantikvaren (the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage) as technical and industrial heritage.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Folldal Gruver is a mining community with a history going back to 1748. The site consists of about 70 buildings, mine tunnels, slag heaps and waste tips, and it is one of 15 sites in Riksantikvaren's conservation programme for technical and industrial heritage.
Mining began after the farmer Ole Husum discovered ore in 1745. The first period of operation lasted until 1878, and after a pause the engineer Worm H. Lund resumed operations in 1906. A power station, cableways, workshops, workers' housing and a director's villa were built, and the mine became a community of its own. Long-running conflicts and strikes marked the years that followed. Mining on Tverrfjellet near Hjerkinn took over in 1968 and ended in 1993.
Today the area is an active museum with exhibitions, marked trails, a café and overnight accommodation. The main attraction is the train trip into the mine, and the museum also has an exhibition on nature, wildlife and national parks in the region.
Highlights
- Train trip 600 metres into the mountain to Worms hall
- Museum on the history of mining and the people who ran the mine
- Exhibition on nature, wildlife and national parks
- Cultural trails through the mining community from the 20th century
- Nature trail for children and a virtual mine tour
Permanent exhibition
- Museet på Folldal Gruver – Exhibition on the mountain's secrets and the people who ran the mine, and on nature, wildlife and national parks in the region.
- Founded
- 1748
- Operated by
- Stiftelsen Folldal Gruver
Admission & discounts
| Adults | NOK 235 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | NOK 150Children aged 3–15 on the combined ticket; children aged 0–3 enter free of charge. |
| Groups | NOK 185 per personBus groups, per person, combined ticket with train trip and museum; must be booked in advance. |
| Mine train trip – adult over 15 | NOK 190 |
| Mine train trip – child aged 3–15 | NOK 100Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Museum only – adult over 15 | NOK 100 |
| Museum only – child aged 3–15 | NOK 70 |
| Museum only – bus group, per person | NOK 80Must be booked in advance. |
Combined ticket for the train trip and the museum: NOK 235 for adults over 15 and NOK 150 for children aged 3–15.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
A nature trail for the youngest, where children and adults together solve tasks about animals, plants and stones.
Getting there & parking
The site is within walking distance of Folldal town centre.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
Gruvekroa serves traditional food based on regional ingredients and a simple café menu. Overnight stays in Rallarstua and Direksjonen.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
Gruvekroa can be rented by private individuals outside the high season.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided train trip into the mine. On the website there is a virtual mine tour made by the Geological Survey of Norway (Norges geologiske undersøkelse). |
