Kongsberg is a small town with a very rich history. In the past, it was one of the largest silver mining centers in Norway, and today you can visit the Mining Museum with a historic mine.
The city was founded by King Christian IV at the beginning of the 17th century. It was initially a mining settlement that quickly grew in the center of silver smelting, and until 1686 there was even a royal mint operating here.
Today's Kongsberg is primarily a technological industry center, and the mining traditions are reminiscent of the miner's monument and the Norwegian Mining Museum. It consists of a mining open-air museum, a historic silver mine, where you can see the working conditions of the miners, and an exhibition in Sakkerhusene about the history of the village.
Kongsberg's attractions also include the Lågdals Museum. It is an open-air museum, which is almost 100 years old, where you can see traditional houses from the vicinity of the city along with their furnishings. The open-air museum functions as a small, show village and farm animals are raised here, and animators perform the daily activities of the villagers. There are also open-air events and shows related to the annual agricultural work.
In winter, the Kongsberg Ski Resort is nearby. Skiers have at their disposal 10 downhill runs and over 50 km of cross-country tracks leading through picturesque forests.
