Geilo, Norway

While Geilo is young as a town, the area’s human history runs deep – and visitors can explore local culture from Viking times to today. Just outside the centre, Fekjo Cultural Heritage Park preserves Viking Age burial mounds amid a tranquil lakeside setting. Archaeologists in the 1920s uncovered grave goods here (an iron axe head, a bronze needle, a key) dating to the 10th century, indicating the presence of Norse settlers over a thousand years ago.

An easy walking path leads through Fekjo’s meadows, with signposts explaining the site’s significance. Nearby, the old stone walls and coal pits in the ground are remnants of medieval iron ore extraction – this valley was active in bloomery iron production during the Middle Ages.

For a glimpse of more recent rural life, visit Geilojordet, an open-air museum in the heart of Geilo. This historic farmstead has preserved wooden buildings – storehouses, stables, a traditional mountain cabin – that show what an 18th–19th century farm in Hallingdal looked like. There’s no entry fee, and in summer Geilojordet often hosts a café and storytelling theatre, making it a lovely spot to relax while learning about local heritage.

Children will enjoy the onsite playground fashioned from old farm structures. The region’s folk culture is also celebrated in music, dance and art. Hallingdal is famous for the Halling dance, an acrobatic folk dance where dancers kick down a hat held high on a pole – you might catch a performance of this during festival events. Traditional Hardanger fiddles and local musicians often feature at Geilo Kulturkyrkje (Geilo’s cultural church), a modern wooden church that doubles as a concert and exhibition venue for the arts.

The town’s main church is relatively new (consecrated in 1979), but a short drive away in Hol you can find Hol Old Church, a medieval stave church site – though the original was lost, a replica now stands there commemorating the region’s early Christian era. For museum enthusiasts, Hol Bygdemuseum in nearby Hagafoss displays local farm history and folk artifacts, and Dagali Museum (30 min south) has a collection of 19th-century farm buildings and exhibits on mountain life and even World War II events. All these museums are part of the Hallingdal Museum network and typically open in summer.

Geilo’s cultural tapestry isn’t limited to history – there’s a lively contemporary scene too. Local artists showcase paintings, textiles and ceramics in small galleries about town, and you’ll notice whimsical wooden sculptures installed along some hiking trails (art in nature is a theme here). The town also takes pride in its culinary culture (as detailed in the Dining section) and hosts annual festivals that celebrate wine, food, and music, giving visitors a chance to join in the local camaraderie.