Kviteseid muncipality has approximately 2.500 inhabitants and covers a area of 708,5 km2. The district capital is Kviteseid by the Bandak watercourse which has a landing stage where the Telemark boats call. There is also a guests jetty with a service building fitted with showers, toilets, etc. Other features include hotels, a hostel, camp site, houseboats for hire, an administrative centre complete with doctor, police, chemist, bank and numerous shops. The canal journey from Lunde to Kviteseid with an idyllic ferry journey in the Fjågesund, is an experience to be remembered.
MORGEDAL
Morgedal is famous throughout Norway as the “cradle of skiing”. Sondre Norheim lived at Øvrebø, a cotter’s cottage at the top end of the village and now a museum. He was an enthusiastic and gifted skier who was responsible for two revolutionary developments. The first was a simple heel binding which fitted the boot to the ski and the second was the to the ski itself, with a slight narrowing of the mid-section which made it easier to manoeuvre. That was all that was needed to make skiing a sport which, for the first few decades, was dominated by the people of Morgedal.
One of these was Olav Bjaaland, who, in his capacity as expert skier and craftsman, accompanied Roald Amundsen to the South Pole. The village has a hotel, boarding house and camping site. A new attraction, the “Norwegian Skiing Experience”, should be finished by November 1993 when the Olympic flame is lit at Øverbø.
VRÅDAL
Vrådal lies 250 meters above sea level. In Vrådal the two lakes Nisser and Vråvatn meet, and are connected with two locks. Together the two lakes cover over 60 km. Surrounding these lakes there are mountains and forest, as far as you can see. In Lake Nisser there are 27 islands. Many of them with lovely beaches.
Vrådal, with only 400 inhabitants, has a supermarket, two sporting stores, souvenir shops, hairdresser, silver smith and restaurants at the two fully licensed hotels. We also recommend a trip to the municipal centre “Kviteseidbyen” 15 Km away. Here you find more shops, a pharmacy, medical doctors and the famous Waldenstrøms Café.
Vrådal is a fresh water eldorado, popular for bathing, fishing, rowing, canoeing and water sports. Picnic on the island is an unforgettable experience in a stress less atmosphere. In the summer you’ll find more than 80 Km of marked roads and paths for hiking, leading to mountains peaks over 1.000 meters above sea level and passing point with spectacular view. Our three natural paths give you info of local history, vegetations forestry and wildlife management. Vrådal offers many activities, for instance our vintage ship the M/S Fram, which takes you on cruises among the islands and through the locks. Vrådal Lock Museum is open all summer.
In the winter, alpine skiing and snowboarding are the main activities. Vrådal Panorama Skicentre is proud of running the first chairlift with seats for 8 persons. In additions the skicentre operates 4 other lifts and 15 Km of ski slopes. The high capacity of the lifts results in no queues for the skiers. Cross country skiers enjoy at least 20 Km of trails. If you prefer to walk, you can rent snowshoes and go hiking.
RURAL MUSEUM
The old courtyard consists of 8 fine buildings collected from communities in the district The principal atkaction is the Flekstveit Cottage, from Flekstveit in Lårdal which was once Vest-Tele mark’s biggest estate, and which has been beautifully decorated by Talleiv Målar. Also to be found are storehouses with fine carvings, hay lofts, stables and cowsheds as well as a cotter’s farm.
UTSONDHALLI
Utsondhalli is part of the rural museum, although at a separate site. It was raised in honour of the sculptor Gunnar Utsond (1864 – 1950), who came from this district. It contains sculptures, plaster casts and drawings by this fine artist. His most famous work, the «Helferd», stands at the Sjømannsskolen in Oslo.
NORWEGIAN SKI ADVENTURE
Welcome to a Journey Through Skiing and Cultural History. Introduction with transparence Program, Exhibitions, Filming about Sondre Norheim,the father of modern skiing. Cinema performance with Grand Multi-screen Finale. Fun, speed and excitement on skis. Cafeteria and souvenir/taxfree.
TELEMARKSKANALEN
The Telemark Canal stretches 105 kilometres from Skien to Dalen. There are six municipalities which are known as Canal Municipalities: Skien, Nome, Kviteseid, Tokke, Sauherad and Notodden.
The Telemark Canal is the only canal system in Norway connected to the sea. 18 lock levels divided over 8 lock systems litt boats 72 metres above sea level to the lake of Flåvatn. From here beautiful lake and river reaches take the traveller on to Dalen, 150 km inland, in the heart of the mountains of southern Norway. The contrast between the broad agricultural districts, the wilderness and the old industrial sites makes the Telemark Canal one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Europe.
In addition, the water is clean and the fish live well! The Telemark Canal was completed in 1892 and 500 men had worked for 5 years to bring this waterway into the heart of Telemark. The canal is a living heritage site, and has kept its nineteenth century air, with manual operation of most of the lock gates. The beautiful old walls and lock systems have been preserved in their original form. Along the hanks of the canal you can still see the old lock-keepers’ houses, the smithies, the sawmills, the watchmens’ cottages and the jetties with warehouses and other buildings.
THE PASSENGER BOATS
Experience the ancient cultural history, the bustling crowds and travel through the locks as people did over 100 years ago. Enjoy the journey from the deck of one of the nostalgic canal boats: M/S Victoria, M/S Henrik Ibsen or M/S Telemarken. The boats run between may and september.
THE LOCK GATES IN VRÅDAL
Two lock gates built in 1914. Frame and needle.
M/S FRAM
The veteran ship M/S Fram runs scheduled and charter trips on the Vråvatn and Nisser lakes. The ship takes 90 passengers. Restaurant, Post Office aboard. The boat is in traffic between approximately mid-May to mid-October.
STRAND SOMMERLAND
Rental of horse, forest and mountain tripscanoes, rowing boats, sail boats and windsurfing boards on the Nisser.
HOUSEBOATS FOR RENT
Houseboats for rent in Kviteseid. Contact Kviteseid canal boats.
SUMMER MARKET
Sales fair and other activities.
SKIING
Vrådal Panorama Skicentre have alpine skiing and snowboarding as the main activities, running the first chairlift with seats for 8 persons. In additions the skicentre operates 4 other lifts and 15 Km of ski slopes. The high capacity of the lifts results in no queues for the skiers. Cross country skiers enjoy at least 20 Km of trails. If you prefer to walk, you can rent snowshoes and go hiking.
CYCLING
You can hire cycles and tandems at Straand Hotel, 2 cycle routes with Vrådal as the starting point is described in the Suggestion to 12 day trips from Vrådal brochure.
Downhill cycling in Downhill cycling for all levels! Vrådal Mountain Bike Park is located at the skicenter in Vrådal. During the summer season you can take your bike on a gondola to the top of the skicenter and follow the terrain slopes down the mountain. The longest trail is 4 kilometer.
A number of marked trails, nature trails, maps.
SAFARI
The Safari tour will tell you all about our big gest wild animal, the elk, how it is hunted, as well as giving you a taste of elk meat and freshly-boiled black coffee. The chances of seeing an elk are very good. The tour is organised one day a week and lasts approximately 3 hours.
Guided tour through the forest to the beavers’ kingdom. There is a good chance of seeing a beaver. 2 tours a week lasting approximately 2 hours.
HUNTING
Hunting beaver, small game and roe deer.
FISHING
Fishing lake in Kviteseid full of trout and chal close to Storstraum lock (near the skiing centre).
Beside Vrådal Ski Centre you will find a put and-take pond where you can catch both trout and char. Benches, tables and barbecues for those of you who want to eat your fish for lunch.
GOLF
Vrådal Golfclub is a golf course with 6 holes and a variation of difficulties. Driving range, 6 hole short course in woodland 2 km north of Vrådal town centre. Golf equipment, etc. available for hire.