Voss folkemuseum

About the museum

Voss folkemuseum was founded in 1917 and opened in 1928 at Mølstertunet, an old farm that lies high and open with a view over Vossevangen. The farm is probably older than the Viking Age. In 1521 there were two tenants at Mølster, and their houses are grouped in a rekketun (row farmyard), a farm layout that was common in the Voss districts. The yard has 16 small and large buildings that stand where they were originally erected, with nothing moved to or from the site. The two families moved out in 1926 and 1927, and in 1923 the yard had been protected by Riksantikvaren (the Directorate for Cultural Heritage).

In the museum’s exhibition building the basic exhibition “Utsyn mot Voss” (A View Towards Voss), completed in summer 2021, presents the history of Voss over the last 500 years. It opens with the old peasant society, wedding traditions and folk costume, and follows two major turning points: the opening of the Vossebanen (Voss Line) in 1883 and the Second World War. The exhibition also has sound recordings with local musicians and films from Ekstremsportveko (the Extreme Sports Week).

The museum is part of Stiftinga Hardanger og Voss museum (the Hardanger and Voss Museum Foundation) and manages several other sites in the area, including Oppheim gamle prestegard, Nesheimstunet and Dagestadmuseet. In addition it has a library, a photo collection, a café and a museum shop.

Highlights

• Mølstertunet, a protected farmyard with 16 buildings, all still on their original site
• The basic exhibition “Utsyn mot Voss” on Voss’s history over the last 500 years
• Guided tours inside the houses at Mølstertunet
• Collection of bringeklut (embroidered cloths), wedding traditions and folk costume
• Café and museum shop with a view over Vangen and Vangsvatnet

Permanent exhibitions

• Utsyn mot Voss – The basic exhibition tells the history of Voss over the last 500 years, from the peasant society and wedding traditions to the Voss Line and the Second World War.
• Mølstertunet – Protected farmyard with 16 buildings showing building traditions and ways of life in earlier times.

Founded

1917

Operated by

Stiftinga Hardanger og Voss museum

Admission & discounts

Tickets are sold online. The guided tour is included in the ticket. Membership of the museum association costs NOK 250 (single) or NOK 400 (family) and gives free access to the grounds and exhibitions, and 10% off concerts and events arranged by the museum.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• 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

Lift up to the permanent exhibitions on the 2nd floor, exhibitions with low display cases, an accessible toilet, entrance doors with automatic door openers, and parking at the museum. Mølstertunet consists of old buildings on a farmyard.

Kids & families

In winter there are sledding slopes by the museum, with free loan of sledges (akebrett).

Getting there & parking

By car: follow the signs from Skulestadmoen or Voss centre. On foot or by bike: follow the signs from the centre, close to the railway station.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café and museum shop on the 1st floor. The café serves coffee, tea, cocoa, cakes and ice cream; in summer there are seats outside. Groups who want coffee and cake must book in advance.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit