Vest-Telemark Museum Eidsborg
Open-air museum at Eidsborg with over 30 buildings, a stave church from the 1100s, a modern museum building, an activity park and a café.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Vest-Telemark Museum Eidsborg is the main site of Vest-Telemark Museum, which has run museums in the region since 2003. The farmstead lies by county road 45 at Eidsborg in Tokke, beside Eidsborg stave church from the 1100s. The modern museum building opened in June 2012 with a café, shop and exhibitions.
The farmstead has over 30 buildings, among them Stålekleivloftet, dated to around 1182 and regarded as one of the world's oldest surviving timber buildings. The farm environment includes both the house of the wealthy farmer (storbonde) and the house of the cotter (husmann), and visitors can try timber framing in a workshop.
The exhibitions show folk art and rosemaling (rose painting), a large knife collection, the history of Tokke power station and the trade in Eidsborg whetstones (eidsborgbrynet). The whetstones were exported from the district for centuries and shipped by water to Skien. Statkraft's visitor centre on site tells the story of renewable energy.
Highlights
- Eidsborg stave church from the 1100s with guided tours
- Stålekleivloftet from around 1182
- Over 30 buildings on the farmstead
- Activity park with a 105-metre model of the Telemark Canal
- Exhibitions on rosemaling, knives and the whetstone trade
Permanent exhibitions
- Folkekunst og rosemaling – Exhibition on folk art, rosemaling and knives from Vest-Telemark.
- Brynehandelen og Tokke kraftverk – Exhibitions on the trade in Eidsborg whetstones and on the building of Tokke power station.
- Founded
- 1949
- Operated by
- Vest-Telemark Museum
Admission & discounts
| Adults | NOK 200 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | NOK 180Concessions (honnør) and students |
| Children & teens | NOK 100free up to age 5 · Children aged 6–15. |
| Seniors | NOK 180Concession (honnør). |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · A companion enters free of charge with a companion card. |
| Students & apprentices | NOK 180 |
| Groups (10+ people) | NOK 180 per personFrom 10 people, plus a guide fee of NOK 900. |
| Families | NOK 500Family ticket per day (4 or more people). |
| Annual pass, personal (free admission to 11 museums) | NOK 600 |
| Annual pass, family | NOK 900 |
| Rowing boat rental in the activity park | NOK 60 |
The ticket covers the museum and the stave church. The activity park is included. With a ticket to one of Vest-Telemark Museum's museums you get half price at the next museum the same day. Prices apply to the 2027 season.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Accessible for wheelchair users. Pets are not allowed inside the museum.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | NOK 500 · Family ticket per day (4 or more people). |
- Family tours & workshops
- Stroller-friendly
- Playground / play area
Activity park with a model of the Telemark Canal, a farmyard with craft activities and a playground.
Getting there & parking
By car
Free parking
Free parking at the museum, also for buses.
Take county road 45 from the E134 at Høydalsmo and follow the signs. From Dalen, drive county road 45 towards Høydalsmo.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
Museum café Eidsborg serves traditional and modern food and is open daily in the main season. Groups can book outside the season. Free WLAN. Museum shop with books, handicrafts and souvenirs.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The café offers catering and premises for events.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours of the stave church three times a day in the high season. Groups of at least 10 people can book a tour all year (booking@vtm.no). |
