Folk Art Study Tour to Norway
Vesterheim invites practicing folk artists and folk art enthusiasts to join us in 2025! We will explore and study traditional Norwegian folk art with a special emphasis on rosemaling. Join us as we journey through southern Norway experiencing the beauty of many rosemaling styles including Aust-Agder, Vest-Agder, Østerdalen, Hallingdal, Gudbrandsdalen, West Telemark, Peder Aadnes Valdres, and Numedal painters, as well as many styles of painting and carving in the Gundersen Collection and National Folk Museum in Oslo. We’ll make stops in the towns of Kristiansand, Kongsberg, Eidsborg, Rauland, Geilo, and Lillehammer.
The tour will include museum visits, presentations by scholars, studio visits with traditional artists, and historic sightseeing. A unique hands-on experience is also being planned. At every point along the way, we’ll delight in the spectacular scenery, delicious food, and warm hospitality that is Norway.
Day 1, Mon., June 2: Kristiansand (D)
The tour begins at the Radisson Blu Caledonien Hotel with a meet and greet before the welcome dinner. Overnight Radisson Blu Caledonien Hotel.
Day 2, Tues., June 3: Kristiansand (B, L)
After breakfast at the hotel, we will prepare a matpakke, a light lunch/sandwich to take with us on the bus. We leave for Mandal and a visit to the Mandal Museum to examine pieces from their rosemaling collection. We drive back to Kristiansand for a visit to the Kristiansand Museum. Dinner on your own. Overnight Radisson Blu Caledonien Hotel.
Day 3, Wed., June 4: Kristiansand-Skien-Porsgrunn-Kongsberg (B, L, D)
This morning we leave Kristiansand for Kongsberg, with stops in Skien and Porsgrunn to visit the Brekkeparken Museum, have lunch, and visit the studio of artist Mona Stenseth. We continue on to Kongsberg and enjoy a group dinner at the Clarion Collection Hotel Kongsberg. Overnight Clarion Collection Hotel Kongsberg.
Day 4, Thurs., June 5: Kongsberg (B)
Our morning begins with a visit to the Kongsberg Church to see the incredible Rococo Baroque interior and meet local artist Even Tråen, who is an expert in the Numedal-style rosemaling. After lunch, we visit Lågdal Folk Museum to see their collection of rosemaling. If you are a knitter, you may enjoy their collection of knitted and embroidered mittens. Lunch and dinner are on your own. Overnight Clarion Collection Hotel Kongsberg.
Day 5, Fri., June 6: Kongsberg-Eidsborg-Rauland (B, L, D)
This morning we drive to the Vest Telemark Museum in Eidsborg to see examples of Telemark rosemaling including their stunning display of trunks with rosemaling. After a group lunch at the museum, we will drive on to Rauland for dinner at the Rauland Academy. Overnight at the Rauland Academy.
Day 6, Sat., June 7: Rauland-Atrå-Geilo (B, L, D)
After breakfast at Rauland Academy, you can prepare a matpakke (sandwich) to take with you for lunch. We depart for Atrå to visit the church with a pulpit painted with rosemaling by Øystein Orekås and Tinn Handverksenter. After lunch, we drive to Geilo. Group dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the Vestlia Resort Hotel.
Day 7, Sun., June 8: Geilo (B, D)
Exploring the Gunderson Collection at Vestlia, a folk art collection that rivals any museum in Norway. Norwegian rosemaling artist, Anne Hesvik, will join us to give further insights into items in the collection. Lunch is on your own at the hotel. In the afternoon, we visit the Hol Bygdemuseum. Evening dinner and overnight at the Vestlia Hotel.
Day 8, Mon., June 9: Geilo-Gol-Dokka-Lillehammer (B, L, D)
Depart for a 30-minute drive to the Ål Kulturhus to look at items representing the Hallingdal style of rosemaling. Next, we leave for a 60-minute drive to Gol and lunch at the Pers Hotell. Rosemaler Tove Ness has been invited to join us for lunch. After lunch, we drive 90 minutes to Dokka and the Lands Museum to see a special room painted by Peder Aadnes. We end our day with a 60-minute drive to Lillehammer. Group dinner and overnight at Clarion Collection Hotel Hammer.
Day 9, Tues., June 10: Lillehammer (B, D)
Enjoy a visit to Maihaugen, an open-air museum with over 200 buildings that is one of the largest in Northern Europe. We will also see the collection of rosemaling and carving that is part of the permanent inside display. The museum was founded by Anders Sandvig, who in 1925 organized the Amerikagaven, a large number of gifts from Norwegian museums to Vesterheim Museum in celebration of the 100 year anniversary of Norwegian emigration to the United States. We will see specific items in Maihaugen’s collection of rosemaling and carving that are part of the permanent inside display, as well as explore the museum on our own. Lunch is on your own at the museum cafe. We’ll return to the hotel for an evening group dinner. Overnight at Clarion Collection Hotel Hammer.
Day 10, Wed., June 11: Lillehammer-Elverum-Lillehammer (B, D)
Start the day with a two-hour drive to Elverum and the Glomdals Museum situated next to the Glomma River, the longest river in Norway. Lunch is on your own at the museum cafeteria. In the afternoon, we have a class from the Telemark rosemaler, Geir Kåsastul. You will have the opportunity to learn from Geir and do some painting on flat, fast-drying objects that you can take with you. Return to the hotel for a group dinner. Overnight at Clarion Collection Hotel Hammer.
Day 11, Thurs., June 12: Lillehammer (B, D)
Today we will visit Bjerkebæk, the home of author of Kristin Lavransdatter and Nobel laureate Sigrid Unset. Undset’s home and garden have been restored to how they looked when Undset lived there in the 1930s. Lunch and the afternoon are on your own, with a group dinner at the hotel. Overnight at Clarion Collection Hotel Hammer.
Day 12, Fri., June 13: Lillehammer-Oslo (B)
Depart Lillehammer for Oslo. When we arrive, we check into the Thon Hotel Bristol, just one block from Karl Johans Gate in the heart of the city. Lunch and dinner are on your own, and the afternoon is free for you to explore Oslo’s rich offerings, such as the Nasjonalmuseet, the Munch Museum, the Oslo Opera House, or the Akerhus Fortress. Overnight at Thon Hotel Bristol.
Day 13, Sat., June 14: Oslo (B, D)
Enjoy our final day of the tour with a visit to the National Folk Museum to explore their rich collection of rosemaling. Lunch is on your own at the museum cafe. Farewell dinner at the hotel. Overnight at Thon Hotel Bristol.
Day 14, Sun., June 15: Oslo (B)
An early morning shuttle coach will take us to the airport.
Price:
Double occupancy: $5195
Single Supplement: $1200
Minimum 30 participants; Maximum 35
Please read Tour Terms and Conditions
Price Includes:
– Hotel accommodations for 13 nights
– Daily breakfast (B) 5 lunches (L), 10 dinners (D)
– Ground transportation in a comfortable motor coach
– Gratuity to bus drivers and local guides
– Admission fees to museums and attractions
– Use of a personal listening device
– Vesterheim luggage tags, name badges and tour information
Please Note: The tour will involve standing, walking (including cobblestones and uneven terrain), and stairs. There may not be elevators at all sites. You will handle your own luggage.
Reserve Your Spot on Tour
For more information about upcoming tours:
Rolf Svanoe
563-382-9681, ext. 240
Vesterheim is aware of concern about the impact travel has on the environment. We are committed to encouraging travel and cultural exploration, while taking responsibility for a fair share of the environmental cost tours incur. Starting in 2025, for each tour to Norway, Vesterheim will invest in the National Philanthropic Trust: Rick Steves’ Europe Climate Smart Fund. Read more here.
Tour Guide
GUIDE: Patti Goke
Patti Goke of Saint Cloud, Minnesota, has been rosemaling for over 35 years and has taken many classes with American and Norwegian artists. One of her rosemaling experiences was painting in the Raftevold Hotel in Hornindal, Nordfjord, Norway. Patti is a Vesterheim Gold Medalist, Vesterheim Rosemaling Letter editor, and cofounded Nordic Canvas Folk Art Studio with Kim Garrett. She was the guide for Vesterheim’s 2014 and 2016 Folk Art Tours to Norway.
Tour Leader
LEADER: Andrew Ellingsen
Andrew Ellingsen is the Director of Folk Art Education at Vesterheim. Prior to joining Vesterheim, Ellingsen taught elementary music and worked as an instructional coach in Iowa and Minnesota for nearly 20 years, teaching students ranging from early childhood all the way through graduate studies, most recently teaching elementary music in the Decorah Community School District. In addition to his work for Vesterheim, Ellingsen is a folk artist who makes Sámi-inspired jewelry.