Norsk Bergverksmuseum

About the museum

Norsk Bergverksmuseum goes back to a royal decree of 15 March 1841, which established a mineral collection and a book collection at the Kongsberg Silver Works. From this decree grew the world's largest collection of silver wire. The Silver Works was founded in 1623 after two shepherd boys found silver, and King Christian IV founded Kongsberg as a mining town the following year. In 1770 the Silver Works was Norway's largest enterprise, with over 4,000 employees. The last silver was smelted in 1958, after 335 years of operation.

The museum opened on 4 August 1945 in the old smelting works, Smeltehytta, after the mine foreman Bjarne Sanness had proposed a silver works museum in 1938. The Royal Mint has shown collections since 1948, Kongsberg Skimuseum opened in 1987, and an exhibition on Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk (Kongsberg Arms Factory) came in 2000. In 2003 the museum took over the management of Norges Banks myntsamling (the Norges Bank coin collection).

Today the main building in Smeltehytta is closed until June 2027 while the museum creates a new main exhibition. In the meantime visitors can take the mine train into Kongens gruve (the King's Mine) in the Silver Mines at Saggrenda, about eight kilometres outside Kongsberg centre, and visit Geolab, a learning space for children.

Highlights

• The world's largest collection of silver wire
• Kongens gruve with mine train and guided tour
• Mine safari to Gottes Hülfe in der Noth
• Adit walk in Christian 7. stoll
• Activity area with silver panning
• Geolab for children

Permanent exhibitions

• Kongens gruve – mine-tog og omvisning – Mine train into the silver mine and a guided tour about the silver find, the history of the mine and life in the mine.
• Aktivitetsplassen – Outdoor area at the Silver Mines with activities such as silver panning.

Founded

1945

Operated by

Norsk Bergverksmuseum

Admission & discounts

The prices apply to the mine train and a guided tour of about one and a half hours. Group visits with a guide are booked by e-mail, and departures outside the timetable have separate prices.

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 mine tour is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with reduced mobility or visually impaired people. Participants must be able to climb five floors of stairs and walk out through the tunnel in an emergency.

Kids & families

Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 5+

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

Geolab has laboratory programmes for children and children's birthday parties. The activity area has silver panning. Children from 3 years can take part in the mine tour; the recommended age is 5 years.

Getting there & parking

The Silver Mines are at Saggrenda, about eight kilometres outside Kongsberg centre.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The Sakkerhusbutikken shop at the Silver Mines.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum offers group bookings and rents out function rooms.

Plan your visit