Notodden is a city and a municipality in Telemark in Vestfold and
Telemark county, 120 km southwest of Oslo. The municipality is
located by Heddalsvannet and at the eastern channel of the Telemark
Canal. The municipality borders Seljord and Hjartdal in the west,
Tinn in the north, Flesberg and Kongsberg in the east, and Sauherad
and Bø in the south. The highest point is Tverrgrønut, 1,306 masl.
The neighboring towns are Rjukan and Kongsberg.
The name
Notodden originally comes from the homestead Notodden (which
belonged to Tinne farm) at the mouth of the Tinnelva by
Heddalsvatnet. A person from Notodden is called a notodding.
Notodden was separated from Heddal as a separate city in 1913 and
celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2013. Its current municipal
boundaries were given to the city in 1964 when the municipalities of
Heddal and Gransherad (except Jondalen) and part of Hovin became
part of Notodden municipality.
The municipality is the most
densely populated in Aust-Telemark and is the headquarters of the
Aust-Telemark District Court, which is under the Agder district.
Notodden police station is under the Telemark police district and
the municipality is also part of the Kongsberg region.
Notodden city, which is the municipality's administrative center,
has 9,055 inhabitants as of 1 January 2020. Notodden is on the
UNESCO World Heritage List through Rjukan – Notodden industrial
heritage.
Heddal Stave Church (Heddal Stavkirke) — The Crown Jewel
This is
Norway’s largest and one of the most impressive surviving stave
churches, a must-see landmark located a short drive (about 5–10 minutes)
west of Notodden’s center in the village of Heddal.
Built around
1200–1250 (with some uncertainty from dendrochronology and records), it
is a triple-nave wooden structure made primarily of Scots pine
(ore-pine), measuring about 25m long, 17m wide, and 29m tall, with three
distinctive towers. It seats around 180 people and remains an active
parish church of the Church of Norway.
Key features:
Construction: Supported by massive staves (vertical wooden posts) on a
stone foundation. It combines elements of different stave church styles
(e.g., towering central nave like Borgund and arcaded elements).
Decorations: Intricate portals with ribbon interlace and Christian
symbols (dragons and pagan motifs are subdued compared to older
churches). Medieval wall paintings (restored) in the chancel and nave,
plus 17th-century overpainting.
History: Dedicated to the Virgin Mary
originally. It fell into disrepair post-Reformation, underwent
criticized 19th-century restorations, and was sensitively restored in
the 1950s. A legend claims a troll named Finn built it in three days.
Visiting: Open seasonally (typically May–August, with guided tours in
English). Tickets include entry to nearby Heddal Bygdetun. A café (Kafe
Olea) and exhibitions are in the adjacent barn. It’s popular for
weddings and photos, especially with its scenic rural setting amid
fields and mountains.
Rjukan–Notodden Industrial Heritage Site
(UNESCO World Heritage)
Notodden forms part of the Rjukan–Notodden
Industrial Heritage Site, inscribed by UNESCO in 2015 for its pioneering
role in early 20th-century hydropower and artificial fertilizer
production. This was a transformative achievement that helped modernize
Norway and addressed global agricultural needs.
Hydro Industrial Park
(Hydroparken): The birthplace of Norsk Hydro’s fertilizer production
using hydropower from the Tinnelva River. Explore early industrial
architecture, the Industrial Promenade, and remnants of factories. It
showcases how Sam Eyde and Kristian Birkeland harnessed waterfalls for
electricity and the Birkeland–Eyde process for fixing nitrogen from the
air.
World Heritage Centre & Telemark Art Museum
(Telemarksgalleriet): Housed in a beautiful early 19th-century
industrial hall. Exhibits cover the industrial story, art, and
innovations that laid foundations for Norway’s welfare state.
Company
Towns: Grønnebyen, Villamoen, and Admini — worker and staff housing from
the early 1900s, reflecting social planning of the era.
Tinfos
Cultural Heritage Site: Additional industrial remnants and history.
Broader context: Linked to Rjukan via rail, ferries, and power lines.
The site includes power plants, transmission systems, and towns in a
dramatic landscape of mountains and rivers.
This heritage
illustrates Criterion (ii) and (iv) for technological exchange and as an
outstanding example of new global industry.
Other Notable
Landmarks and Attractions
Heddal Bygdetun (Heddal Rural Museum /
Open-Air Museum): Just 300m from the stave church. Features 15 historic
buildings, traditional rural life exhibits, art, and bunads (folk
costumes). Admission often bundled with the church.
Bok & Blueshuset
(House of Books and Blues): Notodden’s cultural hub and “art and culture
center.” Includes a blues museum, café, cinema, record store, and
events. Notodden hosts one of Europe’s largest blues festivals (Notodden
Blues Festival) annually in August, earning it the title “Blues Capital
of Scandinavia.”
Notodden Church (Notodden Kirke): A more modern
church in the town center.
Tinnfossen Waterfall: Scenic natural
attraction nearby.
Railway Heritage: Notodden Station, Tinnoset Line,
and Bratsberg Line — tied to industrial transport.
Best Time to Visit
Summer (June–August): Ideal for hiking, water
sports on Heddalsvannet, and outdoor exploration. Days are long (up to
19 hours of daylight), with mild temperatures around 15–20°C (59–68°F).
The Notodden Blues Festival in early August is a major highlight,
drawing international acts and crowds—it transforms the town but books
up fast.
Shoulder seasons (late May/early September): Recommended for
fewer crowds, good weather, and lower prices. Hiking remains excellent.
Winter (December–March): Snowy and beautiful for cross-country skiing at
Grønkjær Ski Center. Expect freezing temperatures and shorter days.
Avoid peak festival week if seeking quiet; book accommodations months
ahead otherwise.
Weather is changeable year-round—layer clothing and
bring waterproof gear.
How to Get There
Notodden has a small
airport (NTB) with limited flights (e.g., to Bergen), but most visitors
arrive via Oslo.
From Oslo: Bus + train combinations take 2–3.5
hours. Direct trains from Porsgrunn or buses from Oslo Bus Terminal.
Driving is about 1.5–2 hours (around 130–160 km depending on route).
Public transport: Reliable via Vy or local services. Use Rome2Rio or the
Entur app for planning.
Car rental: Useful for day trips to Heddal
Stave Church, Rjukan, or hiking spots. Parking is generally easy.
Local movement: The town center is walkable. Bikes or short taxis work
for outskirts.
Festivals and Events
The Notodden Blues
Festival (early August) is the big one—Europe’s premier blues event with
big names, street vibe, and food stalls. Book everything early. Other
smaller concerts, cultural events, and seasonal markets occur year-round
at Kulturhus or Blueshuset.
Food and Drink
Expect hearty
Norwegian fare with local twists. Look for fresh fish, reindeer,
berries, and waffles. During the blues festival, street food and pop-ups
thrive.
Cafés and casual spots in the town center (Torvet square) or
Bok & Blueshuset.
Try local specialties at farm stays or waterside
restaurants.
Alcohol is pricey; buy at Vinmonopolet if self-catering.
Supermarkets (e.g., Rema 1000, Coop) are well-stocked for picnics.
Accommodations
Hotels: Thon Hotel Notodden (central, breakfast
included) or Brattrein Hotel (park setting).
Camping/Glamping:
Lystang Camping by the canal/lake—popular for motorhomes and cabins.
Farms/Guesthouses: Bolkesjø Gaard for a rural experience.
Apartments/Airbnb: Good for longer stays or budgets.
Prices rise
sharply during the blues festival. Shoulder seasons offer better value.
Check Visit Telemark for options.
Practical Tips
Costs: Norway
is expensive. Budget €75–110/day per person (accommodation, food,
activities). Use the Entur app for transport tickets; public options are
efficient.
Safety: Very safe town. For hikes, check weather, use
proper gear, and follow marked trails. Tap water is excellent. Standard
precautions apply (e.g., inform someone of plans for remote areas).
Language: English is widely spoken.
Sustainability: Respect
"Allemannsretten" (right to roam)—leave no trace. Notodden promotes
eco-friendly tourism.
With Kids: Family-friendly hikes, swimming
spots, museums, and parks like Nesøya.
Accessibility: Many central
areas and some trails are doable; check specifics for churches/museums.
Packing: Layers, waterproof jacket, comfortable shoes, binoculars for
nature, and festival gear if attending Blues.
Notodden Municipality is located in the traditional district of
Aust-Telemark within Vestfold og Telemark county (formerly Telemark),
southern Norway, bordering Buskerud county to the north. The town of
Notodden serves as the administrative center, with coordinates
approximately 59°37′46″N 9°11′29″E. The municipality spans a total area
of 983.89 km² (about 912 km² land and 71.89 km² water, or 7.3% water
bodies), ranking as the 118th largest in Norway.
It lies inland at
relatively low elevations compared to much of Norway but features
significant topographic variety shaped by glacial history, river
valleys, and mountain massifs. The town and main settlement sit at the
northern end of Heddalsvatnet lake, where the Tinnelva river enters it,
historically favoring fishing, transport, and later hydropower-based
industry.
Topography varies markedly. Central and southern areas
around the town and lakes are low-lying valley and basin terrain with
average elevations around 216 m (range roughly 10–684 m in mapped
central zones). The northern part rises into mountainous terrain,
including portions or proximity to the Blefjell massif (highest point
Bletoppen at ~1,340–1,342 m, though the peak itself is often associated
with neighboring Tinn municipality; Blefjell offers hiking accessible
from Notodden). Overall municipal elevation range extends from near lake
level (~10–20 m) to over 1,300 m in northern highlands.
Near the
town, elevation changes are significant even within short distances
(hundreds of meters over a few miles), creating slopes, hills, and
plateaus ideal for hydropower. The terrain includes forested valleys,
lake basins, rolling hills, and steeper quartzite-dominated
slopes/plateaus in the north. Glacial carving during the last Ice Age
formed the lakes and U-shaped valleys common in the region.
Hydrology is a defining feature. Key water bodies include Heddalsvatnet
(a large lake at the southern edge of the main settlement) and Tinnsjå
(bounding the area to the northwest/north). Major rivers are the
Tinnelva, which flows through the municipality with the notable Tinnfoss
waterfall (featured in the municipal coat of arms), and the Heddøla. The
Tinnelva drains from higher plateaus (including the Rjukan area
upstream) into Heddalsvatnet. These systems provide substantial
hydroelectric potential due to elevation drops, powering early
20th-century industry.
Geology reflects the Precambrian bedrock
dominant in south-central Norway's Telemark region (part of the
Fennoscandian Shield/Baltic Shield, Archean to Proterozoic age). Common
rock types include gneisses, migmatites, granites, metavolcanic rocks,
amphibolites, and quartzites. Blefjell specifically features hard
quartzite bedrock, contributing to rugged, erosion-resistant mountainous
terrain. Glacial deposits, moraines, and post-glacial features (lakes,
deltas, sea-level changes during deglaciation) overlay the ancient
bedrock. The area experienced heavy Pleistocene glaciation that sculpted
the current landscape.
Climate is classified as humid continental
(Dfb), with cold winters and mild summers—Notodden is among Norway's
warmer inland towns in summer due to its low-altitude, sheltered
position. Data from Notodden Airport (temperature/wind since 1970,
precipitation from nearby station):
Annual average daily mean
temperature: ~5.7°C
Mean daily maxima: ~11.3°C (summer peaks around
21–23°C in June–August)
Mean daily minima: ~1.4°C (winter lows around
-7 to -8°C in January)
Record high: 33.3°C (July 2018); record low:
-29.7°C (January)
Annual precipitation: ~741 mm (monthly 32–86 mm,
somewhat higher in late summer); ~104 days with ≥1 mm precipitation
Other sources report higher annual rainfall (up to ~1,100 mm),
likely due to station differences or periods; winters bring snow cover,
and summers are relatively sunny and warm for Norway.
Surrounding
natural features include boreal forests, alpine zones in higher
elevations, and the Blefjell mountain landscape (hiking, plateaus,
quartzite ridges). The municipality lies near but not directly in major
national parks like Hardangervidda (further north/west, associated with
the Rjukan plateau source of hydropower). The area supports diverse
ecosystems from lake wetlands to montane habitats.
Human
geography and influences: The geography—lakes for transport/fishing,
rivers with waterfalls for power, and proximity to high plateaus—drove
settlement at the Tinnelva–Heddalsvatnet confluence. Early industry
exploited hydropower (Norsk Hydro established in 1905 for
saltpeter/fertilizer production using electricity from distant Rjukan
sources via pipelines). This created the Rjukan–Notodden Industrial
Heritage Site (UNESCO World Heritage since 2015), covering factories,
power infrastructure, and transport routes across ~5,000 ha core +
buffer. The terrain enabled efficient hydro development (high head from
plateau drops) but also poses challenges like landslides or flooding in
valleys. Modern economy reflects this legacy alongside tourism, hiking,
and smaller-scale activities.
Before the industry
As recently as 1865, only
approx. 350 people in what is today Notodden city. The area was then
part of the agricultural village Heddal, but on the site Notodden
itself there were only a dozen large farms with many smallholdings
under them.
Eventually it turned out that the place's
strategic location - at the top of the Skiens watercourse and with a
short distance to Kongsberg in the east - meant that Notodden
developed into a communication center for Aust-Telemark. Important
events were the new road to Kongsberg in 1839 and the opening of the
Norsjø – Skien Canal in 1861. At this time, steamships were already
crossing Heddalsvannet and Norsjø, but with the canal there was also
a connection to Grenland and the sea. In 1871, train operations
began between Kongsberg and Oslo, and thus the road from Notodden to
the capital was not long.
Notodden also noticed the
burgeoning tourist traffic in the second half of the 19th century.
Rjukanfossen was a magnet for many travelers, and Notodden became an
intermediate station - with a short journey to both Oslo and Skien.
The development of communications was a condition for the growth
of industry. The large waterfalls with potential hydropower along
the Tinnelva combined with a massive supply of forest led to
increased interest from business leaders in the Grenland area.
Tinfos grinding mill was founded in 1873, and in the following years
cardboard and paper production was also started. After a couple of
decades of varying financial success, Tinfos was taken over by
Ole.H. Holta, a timber trader from the neighboring municipality of
Sauherad. With this acquisition, Holta established a group (Tinfos)
that exists to this day.
The industrial city of Notodden
By the year 1900, Notodden had become the natural center of Heddal,
and with the help of industry, trade and communication, the
population approached 1,000 inhabitants in the municipality.
Engineer and entrepreneur Sam Eyde had for some time acquired
several waterfall rights, and now he was looking for new methods to
utilize his hydropower. A chance meeting with Professor Kristian
Birkeland led to a patent on the use of an electric flame for the
production of nitrogen compounds. In short, Birkeland had invented a
method for making fertilizer (the Birkeland-Eyde process) and with
the help of Eyde, Eyde's French bank connections and the Swedish
major investor Marcus Wallenberg, Norsk Hydro-Elektrisk
Kvælstofaktieselskab was formed in 1905.
An important
employee for Sam Eyde in the development of waterfalls and industry
was engineer Sigurd Kloumann.
Notodden will be its own town
With Norsk Hydro and Tinfos as locomotives, a large-scale industrial
development started in Notodde and at a very high pace. The city's
population went from approx. 1000 to approx. 5,000 inhabitants in
ten years, and it quickly became clear that the infrastructure in
the city center failed to keep up with developments. The shortage of
houses was precarious, and the cries for modern facilities for
water, sewage and fire brigade became louder.
During these
years, a desire arose from the townspeople that Notodden should
become a separate town and thus be separated from Heddal
municipality. The parties, on the other hand, could not agree on how
the boundaries should be drawn, so the matter had to be decided by
the Storting in the end. It was decided that Notodden would receive
city status from 1 January 1913.
Fall and growth
In the
years after the first industrial development and almost up to World
War II, the city experienced an economic stagnation and gradually
decline. Much of the production was now moved either closer to the
large waterfalls (Rjukan) or closer to the market. (Grenland and
Herøya). In addition, new methods within fertilizers (the less
energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process) took over from the
Birkeland-Eyde process.
After the war, the situation
improved, much because there were better times on the world markets
and because Norsk Hydro found other uses for its building stock.
Among other things, a separate sack factory was started, which
provided many jobs in the municipality. In the peak year of 1960,
workers from Tinfos and Norsk Hydro supported 38 percent of
Notodden's population.
After the industry
After 77 years
of operation, the cornerstone company Tinfos Jernverk was closed
down in 1987. By then, Norsk Hydro had already rationalized away or
moved jobs from the city for a couple of decades. This meant the end
of Notodden as a traditional industrial city.
The city has
since established itself as a trade and service city for
Aust-Telemark and the surrounding areas. In recent years, however, a
number of new industrial companies have been established, especially
in high technology, offshore and the defense industry.