Øvre Eiker covers a area of 456,8 km2 and have approximately 18.000 inhabitants, Hokksund is the administrative centre, and largest town in Øvre Eiker. The inhabitants live in the villages Skotselv, Vestfossen, Darbu and the small town of Hokksund. Øvre Eiker is approximately 15 km to the west of Drammen and lies in Buskerud, Norway.

Fossesholm Manor in Vestfossen is the main attraction. You are also welcome to try the vast opportunities for sports, hiking, water sports, biking and fishing in tarns and rivers. 17th century Eiker was an important centre with rich mineral resources nearby, including the largest Nordic Viking gold find. In 1624 the first Norwegian public road was built from Kongsberg to Vestfossen upon a royal decree.

HOKKSUND

Hokksund is the administrative centre, and largest town in Øvre Eiker. The river Drammenselva flows through the town, 500 meters from the centre. Hokksund has developed on both sides of the river. Forestry has traditionally been the principal industry, but engineering, especially electrical as well as the cement industry, have become important within the past century. Half of the municipality live in Hokksund, where the Town Hall, a typical specimen of Scandinavian architecture of the 1960´s, dominates the centre. It also contains a swimming pool, library and service centre. A beautiful landscape surrounds the Eiker countryside. The old part of Hokksund and the Eiker countryside are things you must visit. Eiker is also famous for the Nøstetangen glassworks and Hassel ironworks, silver mines and burial mounds.

HISTORY

17th century Eiker was an important centre with rich mineral resources nearby, including the largest Nordic Viking gold find. The first Norwegian public road was built from Kongsberg to Vestfossen upon a royal decree of 1624. 18th century Hassel ironworks stoves and Nøstetangen glass products are today famed as unique pieces of art. An estate since the Middle Ages, Fossesholm was expanded to 5O.000 acres in 1541, making it the largest farming and forestry property in the country. In the period 1647-51 the estate belonged to the vice-regent, Hannibal Sehested. The buildings as we see them today are the result of the last enlargement and decoration in the rococco style in 1763.

The oldest buildings in the Eiker area are to be found at Old Hokksund (Haugsund) with well preserved 18th century houses. Sculpture exhibitions are organized in summer in front of the Town Hall and art exhibitions in Tingstua and at Steinberg east of Hokksund; special services and concerts at Fiskum Old Church.

HELLEFOSSEN

Where the Drammen river runs through Hokksund, it is considered one of the best salmon rivers in Norway. Hellefossen has again become one of the best Salmon Rivers in Norway where the fishermen take out over 10,000 kilos salmon and sea trout each year and as many as 42 species of fish have been registered. There are ample opportunities to catch various species of fish in the fjord up to the mouth of the river. The river itself is also a fine place to fish. Hellefossen is one of the best places and the most popular area, with a large sale of angling cards during the season. The salmon weighing between 10 and 20 kg are no unusual phenomenon!

A fishing licence may be bought valid for specific zones and specific time periods such as Hellefossen. These licences are for sale at Hokksund Båt og Camping. A salmon festival is organized every year in the beginning of August. You can buy fishing card for one day, week or the whole season. Season is from May 15 to September 15.

NØSTETANGEN MUSEUM

Nøstetangen Glasværk was Norways first glass manufacturing company. The glasswork were in operation in Hokksund from 1741-1777. They had a guiding position in the art industry, which was based on the skills of craftsmen from Germany and England. With the help of multimedia presentations, web-based displays and collections of original Nøstetangen glass, Nøstetangen Museum presents the history of the glassworks. The exhibits are partly owned by the museum and partly lent from other public and private collections. In 1999 the museum was awarded the Cultural Monument Prize. The main building houses not only the museum, but also a number of bright, friendly rooms in which art exhibitions displaying the works of well-known professional artists are organized during the summer months.

NØSTETANGEN GLASS

In the district court judges stables in Hokksund (beside the Nøstetangen Museum), you can watch the molten glass being formed. The designs extend from cups and glasses based on old Nøstetangen models to modern coloured glassware, which you can buy in the little glas shop.

HAUG CHURCH

Haug Church at Hokksund was originally built in 1152, is a Medieval stone church consisted of the west tower, nave and chancel. Haug Church was enlarged and constructed in brick after a fire in 1818. The church was extensively repaired and redecorated from 1961 to 1962. The organ was built by the German organ builder Jürgen Ahrend in 2004.

JONAS LIE

Jonas Lie (1833-1908) was born november 1833 in Hokksund and grew up in Tromsø. As a youth Jonas Lie was a naval cadet in Stavern and lived in the naval barracks. This setting became the basis of his famous novel “The commander`s Doughters” (Kommandørens døtre) which immortilised him in Norway. In his later years, Jonas Lie and his wife Thomasine retired to Stavern, to their house “Elisenfryd”. Stavern, (Norway´s smallest town), was home to many of Norway´s most known and celebrated artist including Herman Wildenvey and Jonas Lie.

Jonas Lie is one of the so-called “The Four Greats” in Norwegian literature, along with Henrik Ibsen, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and Alexander Kielland.

VESTFOSSEN

Vestfossen is a former industrial town with traditions dating back to the 16th century. At that time, the manor house known as Fossesholm became the center of a land collecting effort for the purpose of creating a large-scale sawmill industry. Later, other types of industry emerged. The most influential among them were the textile factory of Fredfos Uldvarefabrik and the Vestfossen Cellulose, a former paper company founded in 1886 as a pulp mill, which declared bankrupt in 1967.

An industrial crisis which occurred around 1970 lead to the fall of these factories, and large parts of the local industrial infrastructure was unused for a long time. After the year 2000, a cultural effort led to the establishment of several cultural institutions here, most notably the contemporary art gallery of Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium founded by artist Morten Viskum. Vestfossen now calls itself “the capital of culture”.

FOSSESHOLM MANOR

An estate since the Middle Ages, Fossesholm was expanded to 5O.000 acres in 1541, making it the largest farming and forestry property in the country. In the period 1647-51 the estate belonged to the vice-regent, Harnibal Sehested. The buildings as we see them today are the result of the last enlargement and decoration in the rococco style in 1763. Today a cultural centre, art exhibitions and concert are organized at Fossesholm, also featuring exhibitions of dolls, the War Resistance, a shop for hand-crafted articles and a café.

DARBU

Darbu is a village located on the Sørland Line Railway, about midway between Kongsberg and Hokksund. Fiskum Church at Darbu is built in 1866 and was burned down in januar 1902. You can find the Fiskum Church on Fv 73. The most important heritage is Fiskum Old Church (Fiskum Gamle Kirke).

FISKUM OLD CHURCH

Fiskum old Church is a medieval, Romanesque church dating from approximately 1200 A.D. The church was dedicated to Saint Olav. Fiskum Old Church was constructed in a rectangular shape and built of stone. It was one of the smaller local churches and used only occasionally in summer. The church consists of a short nave and a lower and narrower, the right end of choir. The church is built of stone fracture in lime mortar and plastered inside. The pulpit dates from 1650. The altarpiece and baptismal font date from approx. 1713. The tower contained 3 bells in 1629, which were changed into to two clocks during 1685-1689.

SKOTSELV

Skotselv is a village with a population approximately of 684 inhabitants, which 8 people live within the border of the neighbouring municipality of Modum. It has a railway station on the Randsfjordbane. The main attraction in Skotselv is unarguable the “Dyvelgården”, an old mansion representing the celluloid area of the village. Another important place to the village is the public school. With a history of over 250 years of practice it is one of the municipality´s oldest schools. This illustrates the important role the village had with its Iron Mill. A popular walking area is along “Bingenselven” with its beautiful park suitable for camping and outdoor grilling.

BAKKE CHURCH

Bakke Church at Skotselv and Fiskum Church at Darbu, were opened in 1883 and 1866, respectively.

LAKE EIKERN

Lake Eikern offers many fine opportunities for water sports. Sundhaugen is a small paradise, between the lakes of Eikern and Fiskum. The water from Fiskumvannet lake comes from “Storebroren” Eikeren. Fiskum river runs out in Vestfossenelva river. Sundhaugen, offers beaches and diving boards and other possibilities. At the lake Fiskum bird reserve, more than 200 different species have been observed. The lakes are also populare for those who wish to try sailing or other boat activities. Join the ferry M/S Eikern on a tour of one of Norways most beautiful landscapes (Vestfossen – Fiskumvannet – Eikern – Eidsfoss).

M/S EIKERN

The boat M/S Eikern takes you on a journey through one of Norways most beautiful landscapes. We arrange cruises and sightseeing trips for companies and groups. M/S Eikern have a nice cafeteria with a capasity of 35 persons. On request we serve different types of food. On sundeck there are approx. 30 seats, where you can enjoy the fantastic view. The capasity is 63 passangeres. During the summer months, there are open trips for individuals every sunday, starting from Vestfossen to Eidsfoss (every sunday in July and the three first in August).

BERGANS RUCKSACK

Is located in Øvre Eiker. This company can´t deliver enough of their products. The Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen, used Bergans equipment on all his major expeditions. Bergans carrying system became standard equipment in the Norwegian army as early as in 1914. Over the years, a dozen other armies have used Bergans backpacks. Numerous Bergans patents have been born since Bergans was established in 1908 (no other rucksack manufacturer has such long experience).

EIKER GÅRDSYSTERI

Eiker Gårdsysteri lies in Skotselv and have high quality production facilities to produce handmade cheese with a characteristic taste. Café Hemsen on the premises are for hire.

KAROLINES FARM PARK

Twenty different kinds of animals in a free environment. Groups accepted outside normal opening hours. Safe riding for young and old. Therapeutically adapted. Meals, grilling, beach, playground.

FISHING

Where the Drammen river runs through Hokksund, it is considered one of the best salmon rivers in Norway. A fishing licence may be bought valid for specific zones and specific time periods such as Hellefossen. These licences are for sale at Hokksund Båt og Camping. A salmon festival is organized every year in the beginning of August. One of Norways best rivers for Salmon Fishing. You can buy fishing card for one day, week or the whole season. Season is from May 15 to September 15.

GOLF

Golfclubs in Buskerud.