Grenland with its 100 000 inhabitants is Norway’s fifth largest city area and consists of the Bamble, Porsgrunn, Skin and Siljan – a Norway in miniature that goes all the way from the sea to the mountains. People travelling along the south coast of Norway tend to cross straight over Langesundsbukta and completely ignore the beautiful islands on the inside. Which is a pity because this is beautiful little piece of Norway, that now is being discovered.

Going in to the fjord Langesund is the first city on port side. An agreeable little summer city that offers great concerts in the Wrightegaard, a well known concert scene. The lucky ones are in Langesund during the Sea fish festival in August. Right outside the port it is very deep, with great possibilities of catching the big fish. Langesund also arranges Europe’s largest Bacalao Festival! Everything is big and bigger in this nice little summer city.

Fun in Brevik

When you keep going inside the fjord you can see Stahelle on port side and Brevik on starboard. Here by Brevik and Stathelle the Telemarks canal starts, which is one of the main tourist attractions in Grenland. Every year in June Brevik arranges NM in ice fishing! In August they are arranging Norway’s largest flee market with 40 garage sales and 25 stands around in Brevik.

Culture and industrial tradition

Porsgrunn is celebrating their 200 years as a city this year. There are 34 000 people living here. Porsgrunn has proud industrial traditions thanks to Norwegian Hydro’s industrial adventure on Herøya, and Porsgrund’s porcelain fabric has 140 000 visitors every year! Through the years it Porsgrunn has developed an exiting theatre environment. In June every year they arrange Porsgrunn international theatre festival.

Henrik Ibsen’s birth place

Skien is the capital of Telemark. There are 50 000 people living in Skien and it is the largest of the four cities. Skien is proud to be the birth place of Henrik Ibsen, who lived there for the 15 first years of his life. Skien is known for their beautiful old tree houses with the idyllic small flower back yards.

Good to know:

Grenland consists of the four communes Bamble, Porsgrunn, Skien and Siljan. Skien is the capital of Telemark and is located about 13mile from Oslo, and about 25minutes inn from E18 if you want to go.
Torp airport is about 6mile, or 40 minutes drive from Skien. From Geiteryggen, Grenland’s own airport, you can fly with the little airline Vilanden to Bergen, Stavanger, Molde or Stockholm/Skavsta. www.vilanden.no
Central in the city is Thon Hotel Høyers. It has 73 rooms and a rich and nice conference sector. Price from 1 125Nok for a single room. Thon booking: +47 23 08 08 00 www.thon.no
If you go by Langesund, Langesund Bad og Gjestegård is a good place to stay for a couple of nights. They have 32 rooms and some cabins and offer a lovely traditional atmosphere from the old spas at the beginning of the 1900’s. prices from 795Nok for a double room, included breakfast.
At Fossum Hovedgård, owned by Løvenskiold, you can combine course and conference at idyllic Bestul hunting cabin with challenging experiences. www.l-fossum.no
For more information about Grenland, contact www.visitgrenland.no