Åmot – Rauland – Arabygdi – Haukeli – Åmot
The tour takes you through magnificent landscapes, living cultural monuments and small stops that give you a resting pulse. It’s a long trip, and you should allow for the whole day.
On the way up to Rauland, you drive past traditional farms and open mountain landscapes. The two-storey roof is shiny and reflects Raulandsfjella in the crust – a beautiful sight that sets the mood for the rest of the trip.
In Rauland you can visit the sculpture collection of artist Dyre Vaa (1903-1980). Here you will find a variety of sculptures, paintings, graphics and drawings. Vaa is known, among other things, for his work Man Meets Nature on the Anker Bridge in Oslo.
Follow the path down to the Skinnarland Collection, which contains more than 100 works by Knut Skinnarland (1909-1993). Here you will find sculptures, drawings and graphics, as well as a copy of his studio in Rauland. The museum also has annual special and hall exhibitions.
Before continuing your journey along the beaches of Totak, you should visit Telemarkstunet at Raulandsakademiet. The yard is a collection of replicas of old houses from Rauland, and here the calm quickly descends. Goats working, children playing freely, and activities such as stilt walking, horseshoe throwing and a nature trail make this a great stop for young and old alike. If you’re feeling peckish, you can enjoy rjomegraut and cured meats in Årestoga – or be enticed by the scent of freshly baked sunshine balls from the stone oven bakery in Eldhuset.
Now the journey continues towards Arabygdi. The road here is narrow and atmospheric, with Totak on one side and Raulandsfjella on the other. In Arabygdi you’ll find Myllarheimen, where the legendary fiddler Myllarguten spent the last years of his life. The memorial in the courtyard is by Dyre Vaa.
Just past Myllarheimen lies the enigmatic Urbøuri, probably the largest stone clock in Northern Europe. It lies across the valley and has given rise to many legends through the ages. One of them tells how the Viking god Thor, in a rage, smashed his hammer into the rock, causing masses of stone to fall and fill the valley floor. In his search for the hammer, Thor threw stone after stone aside – and this is how Torsvegen came into being.
Torsvegen is a marked hiking trail of about 1 km that runs through the stone wall. This is an easy and exciting walk in the middle of a unique landscape. Urbøuri also played an important role during the fighting in April 1940, when stone entrances and caves were used as fun stations for Norwegian resistance forces.
The journey continues to Haukeli, before heading back towards Åmot along the European highway. Approximately 23 kilometers from Haukeli you come to Smørklepp, where the distinctive Smørklepp Art Museum is located. The museum is built in natural stone and designed by architect Bjart Mohr. Here you can see a large collection of paintings by Henrik Sørensen, particularly known for his evocative depictions of nature in Telemark, as well as works by Harald Kihle.
Down by the river lies Mjonøy, known for its freshly baked yeast pastries and a popular open-air café with local produce and generous portions. The courtyard is surrounded by old houses, and hammocks in the shade make this a perfect place for a well-deserved break.
Afterwards, you can visit the Vinje Center, a national center for poetry and journalism based on the lives and works of Aasmund Olavsson Vinje, Aslaug Vaa, Tarjei Vesaas and Halldis Moren Vesaas.
The tour can be rounded off with a visit to Midtbø, the homestead and artist’s home where Halldis and Tarjei Vesaas lived.
