What to See in Kongsberg - Top Sights and Attractions

Museum in Kongsberg, Norway. The Norwegian Mining Museum is located at Kongsberg in Viken county, Norway.

Norwegian Mining Museum documents the history of the former Kongsberg Silver Mines (Kongsberg Sølvverk). The museum was established in 1938, and opened to the public in 1945. The museum documents the development of mining throughout the period the silver mines in Kongsberg were in operation.

As early as the 15th century, there was mining in the area. Copper ore was then taken out. Around 1540, silver-containing lead ore was also found. Silver deposits at Kongsberg were first discovered in 1629 with mines were in operation until 1958.

The cultural heritage dates from the 18th century, but there are traces of mining through the entire period of operation. The mining captain's house, cottages, stables, foundation for a water wheel as well as the system of aqueducts and dams are preserved. Situated close to the entrance of the silver mines are shelters once used by the miners. These buildings were built between the period 1867 and 1874. A mine train pulled by diesel locomotives takes visitors 342 meters below the surface and 2.3 km into the mountain. Inside the former mine there is a guided tour. An interesting device is the mine elevator which was built in 1881.^[2]

Church in Kongsberg, Norway. Kongsberg Church is a building and congregation of the Church of Norway located at Kongsberg in Viken county, Norway.

Kongsberg Church, a large baroque church, was designed by Joachim Andreas Stukenbrock and the construction period lasted from 1740 to 1761. It has a simple exterior with a richly decorated rococo interior. Kongsberg Church was constructed of brick and designed with a cruciform floor plan. The design of the church was inspired by Garnisons Church in Copenhagen.

Virtually all fixtures in the church are of wood, but pillars and surfaces have been marbled. The whole church has a cool blue color as a result. On either side of the altar and pulpit are the pillars that bear the organ gallery above. The Baroque organ is from 1765 and made by organ builder Gottfried Heinrich Gloger. In the 1850s it was restored by Paul Brantzeg and in 1932 by Josef Hilmar Jørgensen. In 1928, Tinius Olsen gave a major donation to the restoration of the organ which had suffered water damage in the late 1880s. The baptismal font was carved out of marble extracted from Holmestrand in Vestfold. The chandeliers were produced at Nøstetangen glassverk in Hokksund during the second half of the 1700s.

The sanctuary includes ceiling decorations by Eric Gustav Tunmarck. Among the driving forces behind the decoration and interior of the church was mining engineer Michael Heltzen.^[3]