Plan your autumn holiday now!

The autumn half-term in our region is in week 40. This means that Sunday 4 October is the last day of opening at Blaafarveværket and the Cobalt Mines this summer. During the autumn half-term, all parts of the museum will be open every day from 11.00 to 17.00.

Late summer and autumn are lovely here, and at the Kobolt Mines there are some magical days when the autumn colours have arrived and the view out over the village and Tyrifjorden is shrouded in a light mist.

Come and explore the cobalt mines

A trip into the Cobalt Mines is exciting for the whole family. We have three different tours, so there’s something to suit everyone.

Historical mine tours run every day during the autumn half-term holidays (weekdays at 12 noon and 2 pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 12 noon, 2 pm and 4 pm). Here, we follow in the footsteps of the miners in the Clara Stoll. Along the way, you can try out both the «floating» glass floor and the 32-metre-long underground suspension bridge. The tour lasts 1.5 hours and is wheelchair accessible. Find out more about the tour and book tickets here.

The Children’s Mine Tour is a great introduction to the Cobalt Mines. This one-hour tour runs every day during the autumn half-term at 1 pm and 3 pm and is tailored to the children’s interests. That doesn’t mean, however, that it isn’t exciting for parents and grandparents too. Here, you’ll follow the guide through the mine shafts and into the enormous open-cast mines. You’ll also encounter Theodor Kittelsen’s gnomes and trolls along the way. Find out more about the tour and book tickets here.

The Mine Safari is our longest and most spectacular tour. It takes place on Sundays at 12.30 and lasts 3 hours. On this tour, the guide takes you into the heart of the cobalt mines. Experience the enormous chambers where cobalt ore was extracted to produce the world’s most beautiful blue dye. This tour has a minimum age of 8 years and involves walking up and down stairs and ladders. An underground elevation difference of approximately 100 metres testifies to a unique network of mine tunnels and rock chambers. Find out more about the tour and book tickets here.

Art exhibitions – last chance during the autumn half-term holidays

This summer’s art exhibitions have been well received, both by the public and by art critics. «The Anniversary Exhibition – Norwegian Highlights from KODE Bergen at Blaafarveværket» is a fantastic opportunity to discover renowned Norwegian artists. Names such as Edvard Munch, Harriet Backer, Christian Krohg, Erik Werenskiold and others are a guarantee of quality.

What makes it extra special this year is that we are able to display Edvard Munch’s «Morning» from 1884. It was painted at Blaafarveværket whilst Munch was attending Frits Thaulow’s art school at Haugfoss and staying at Madame Reiff’s guesthouse.

Admission to the art exhibition is free for children under 15, and we have produced a special activity book to inspire the children as they explore the exhibition.

Gunvor Nervold Antonsen’s exhibition «In Us» The timber barn at Nyfossum is truly the perfect setting. Antonsen’s monumental wooden sculptures, exquisite reliefs and enormous textiles complement the timber walls perfectly. The director’s residence at Nyfossum, dating from 1826, is situated next to the timber barn and takes you back 200 years in time with its period décor from the era when Friedrich Roscher, technical director of Blaafarveværket, lived here. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and our cosy storehouse shop, Nyfossum is a little gem that’s well worth a visit. Admission is always free.

The Kittelsen Museum at the Cobalt Mines is also a must-see when you visit us. It houses the largest collection of works by the fairy-tale artist’s Theodor Kittelsen’s originals is located here, and we can guarantee an exciting visit for both children and adults. Admission is always free here, too.

Children’s Farm, shops and restaurants

There’s plenty going on at Barnas Bondegård during the autumn half-term too. Do pop in and say hello to the calves, pigs, goats, ducks, chickens and rabbits before they head home for the winter. The Children’s Farm always has free entry and follows Blaafarveværket’s opening hours.

Many people visit us several times during the summer season, and a freshly baked waffle or pancake is often one of the reasons. Enjoy the last waffle of the year at Gruvekroa or Thranestua at Haugfoss during the autumn half-term. Bødtkerkroa at Værket is, of course, also open every day.

Our shops always have plenty of exciting things to offer, and there’s always something new throughout the autumn to suit the season. At Landhandleriet in Haugfoss, we always have good old-fashioned sweets and freshly ground coffee and tea, as well as lots of other things you won’t find in many other places. Madame Reiff’s Shop and Den Blå Butikk are also well worth a visit, even if it’s just to have a look round.

Hiking areas and accommodation tips

The cobalt mines are a great starting point for a walk. In recent years, we have been working hard on Skuterudåsen's waterways which is a walk through the cultural heritage sites left behind by the operations at the Kobolt mines. You can read more about it here. There is also a lovely walk between Haugfoss and the Kobolt mines, which has been signposted by the DNT which you can read more about here.

Did you know that we have some exciting places to stay nearby? It’s perfect if you’d like to experience everything we have to offer. After all, just one day wouldn’t be enough. Have a look at this page where we’ve put together a guide to places to stay near Blaafarveværket and the cobalt mines. There’s everything from tourist cabins to tree-top cabins, log cabins and hotels!

With all these possibilities on offer, all that remains is to say WELCOME to us during the autumn half-term! Why not take inspiration from the Tanberg family, who went on a trip spanning three generations!