Travel with Vesterheim

Tours to Norway

For more than 30 years, Vesterheim has been providing exciting and educational tours to Norway. These tours offer unique opportunities based on the museum’s ties and relationships with the artists and institutions of Norway.

Tour guests have the opportunity to benefit from the insight and expertise of Vesterheim’s staff and Norwegian guides. Staff members spend countless hours researching new contacts and locations that will allow us to show you the “behind-the-scenes” areas and people of Norway. We pride ourselves on giving an experience that is exceptional in every way. Vesterheim is pleased to share with you the 2011 schedule of tours to Norway.

Vesterheim looks forward to having you travel with us to Norway!

Send in your deposit form today to reserve your place for these popular tours. For more information contact Michelle Whitehill, Coordinator of Tours to Norway, 563-382-9681, ext. 240 • mwhitehill@vesterheim.org.

2011 Tours

Print out a deposit form for 2011 tours

Historic Hotels and Architecture

Tour Guide:
Mari Anne Roppe
Tour Leader: Michelle Whitehill

Late June/Early July 2011

Experience historic Norway first-hand! Stay in the country’s most enchanting and unforgettable first-class hotels, from a fairy-tale castle overlooking a city to a charming wooden lodge nestled along a mountain lake. Take advantage of Vesterheim connections to tour “behind-the-scenes” at some of Norway’s finest museums.
Savor extraordinary traditional and local cuisine at gourmet restaurants and at private and rarely experienced quaint inns.

Travel from Oslo through Norway’s fjord country and visit 12 historic hotels, the Hadeland Glass Works, Maihaugen, Bjerlegard, Lom Stave Church, Voss Folk Museum, Hardanger Folk Museum, Hardanger Pewter Factory, the Industrial Museum, Hardanger Nature Center, Heddal Stave Church, the Porsgrund China Factory, and more.

Mari Anne Roppe is a native Norwegian from the Toten area. With over 30 years experience in leading tours throughout Norway, she brings unparalleled insight and enthusiasm.

Michelle Whitehill is Vesterheim’s Coordinator of Tours to Norway and has lead tours to Norway in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Her organization and friendliness allow participants to sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip.

Kirsten Roverud Heine has been a part of the Vesterheim team for nearly 12 years. She has traveled extensively in Norway and has been involved in several Vesterheim tours.

 

Textile Study Tour to Norway and Iceland

Tour Leader:
Laurann Gilbertson
Tour Guide:
Ingebjørg Monsen

Late June 2011

Learn about weaving, knitting, embroidery, and folk costume as we travel in Norway through Sunnhordland, Jølster, Nordfjord, Gudbrandsdal, and Valdres, and to Iceland. Highlights include a special viewing of geometric coverlets in the Bergen Museum collection; a tour of the Hillesvåg spinnery; a visit to the headquarters and resource center of the Bunad and Folk Dress Council; and a lesson in the history of the iconic lopapeysa sweaters by the Handknitting Association of Iceland.

Enjoy four days of weaving and knitting classes in the studios of Bergen Husflidslag (Handcraft Association). These studios are located in the heart of Bergen, just a few blocks from the main harbor, with its open-air fish and produce market, shops, and historic warehouses.

Ingebjørg Monsen has provided textile instruction, facts and fun on the previous four textile tours.

Laurann Gilbertson is Vesterheim’s Textile Curator. She has planned and led four popular Textile Study Tours (2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009).