Last Sunday my wife and I drove up northwest of Oslo for an autumn colour photo hunt. I have promised a post about it and was the perfect time except for the foggy weather. We where hoping for some sun as we reached higher elevation, but no luck. We ended up at Kongsberg 80 Km (50 miles) from Oslo and an exciting reunion with a town I lived in the late 70’s. So in this post you will see that fall has reached Norway, but most of all you will have a guided tour down some important history in Norway.
The water fall running right in the centre of the town is a landmark not to be missed. In modern times it has been tamed for making electricity, but still quite an eye catcher. So let me give you some more examples:
Regardless the sun, we still where hunting for the beauty of fall and saw this mirror church we could not resist capturing. I went crazy with my Nokia mobile phone camera and will give you some artistic examples just for fun:
At the tourist information office I met two nice and knowledgeable young ladies and got a brochure from where I provide you with some interesting facts: The history of Kongsberg as a town and an important part of Norwegian history started in July 1623. A young shepherdess, Jacob Christoffersen and Helga Verp, found sliver in Sandvær’s northern mountain region. Roamers tell that they found it as they observed sparkles when a cow butts the rocks. The children’s parents kept the find a secret and began melt and sell silver themselves. After a while though, they had to disclose where the silver had been found. The place was examined and explored; a report was submitted to the King in Copenhagen (Norway was in union with Denmark), Christian IV (1577 – 1684). He took personal possession of the silver deposits of course and mining commenced on 18th of October, 1623. The following year he ordered that a mining town should be built locally and called it Kongsberg (Kings Mountains). Shortly after and for a while, it was Norway’s biggest city after Bergen and was planned to be the capital. History has shown other wise though.
The first coins – called “Speciedaler” – produced from Kongsberg silver where made in Copenhagen in March, 1624. Keen linguists will note the similarity to “dollar” :-) The first coin to be stocked at Kongsberg was a 4-mark piece in 1686 and still in production today at the Norwegian Royal Mint.
The girls at the tourist information office also reminded me of the Royal crowns carved just outside the city and we decided to go there and have our lunch. You see all royal visitors to the Silver Mines at Kongsberg have had their royal crowns and initials carved into the mountain side. This tradition was initiated when King Fredric V visited Kongsberg in 1749. All kings of Norway, both from the union with Denmark and after that with Sweden are carved, ever since the founder of the city, King Christian the IV.
Although it was an ordinary Sunday and we where hunting the fall colour, it was a special day for us; our 7 year anniversary. My sweet and beloved wife had packed the backpack with something nice for our lunch and we sat on the bench enjoying the treat, the mountains, the nature and the Kings crowns. That’s what I call quality time and at historical ground.
I do hope you can have a glimpse of fall in the pictures, but also enjoyed some important part of the history of Norway. Please visit Kongsberg Turistservice hoempage – there is much more to explore and experience!
I haven’t given up the pure fall colour hunt, but you now know that I can’t promise anything on behalf of the goddess of the weather:-) I do hope we will get some sun soon to brighten up the reds and golds for you!
wooooowwww!beautiful!!i wanna go there!
well,someday,if i have a chance.
you have a lot of adventures,Renny!
and thanx always for sharing with us ^_^
Thanks for taking us along :)
Great pix and a great story!!
Whoa! Such peace and tranquility….I could feel the calmness right away.
This reminded me of my trip to Niagara Falls over at the America Fall – beautiful.
Thanks for sharing Norway with us :D
This was beautiful! I love the waterfall right in the middle of town.
Happy 7th anniversary to both of you!
May your love last your lifetime!
What a neat thing to have a waterfall running through the town! We have a river in ours and our backyard goes right down to it but it’s not like a waterfall.
I’m glad you spent such a nice day to celebrate your 7th! Congrats and may you be blessed with many more!
We’ll try to send you some of our sun from Canada! (LOL since it just poured ALL day!)
Happy Anniversary, Renny and Diane! May you enjoy many more together. :-)
That waterfall is beautiful, and also the mirrored church. As for fall color, it will be at least a few weeks before we have much fall color here. The foliage is very late in changing to fall colors this year.
Wonderful post buddy. Happy Anniversary to you guys!
That is one incredible Nokia mobile phone, Renny. It takes fabulous photos! And there are so many things in this post to “write home” about: your anniversary, the special lunch made just for the two of you, the return to a place you lived previously, the spectacular waterfall, the mirror church (and YOU in it!), the coins, the crowns, etc. I think I saw something like the crowns stamped into the rocks while on our cruise but I’m not sure where. Was it Norway? I’ll have to go back and look. But it’s all so soulful. Thanks.
belated happy anniversary!
thanks for the history. it’s fascinating to learn history of a place that goes back so far. it looks like a really lovely and unique place as well.
too cool! I love to learn about new places to see. Future trips will have to include a stop or two in your area!
Very nice countryside. I love the river picture. What was the small tree’s name in front?
Hey, Happy Anniversary to you both! Wish you a lifetime happy and prosperous marriage.
@Ghee: I do hope you’ll have the chance soon! I would love to share it with you in person too you know!
@Teena: Glad you like the tour and I love to take all of you along you know!
@Shionge: Glad you got the spirit and you know with all the visits and comments it’s a pleasure to share my country!
@Sue: Thanks for your good wishes. I’ll pass them on to my wife too of course.
@MotherOfInvention: Glad you like the post and pics and yes the water fall is exceptional beautiful. Thanks for your good wishes too and please let the pics coming!
@Diane: Thanks for your good wishes too! Glad you liked the pics and as you can see the foliage is late in Norway this season too.
@Grish: Thanks, thanks and thanks buddy!
@Ginnie: Yes, I am quite happy about the richness in the experience too and just love to share stories like this with you, you know. I’m not sure where you might have seen it, but as long as I know, this is only in Kongsberg and far from the coastline as you where cruising. Please check and get back to me!
@Lime: Thanks for the wishes. Glad you liked the story to and I agree, Kongsberg is fascinating and an important part of Norway’s history.
@TravelItaly: I’m so agree with you and that’s why I love to visit your blog too, you know!
@A Decent Man: Thanks. The one in front is a maple tree. Thanks for your good wishes too!
Like yourself, I’ve been hunting for that perfect autumn foliage to snap a photo of. The weather is just so gloomy in Oslo and most of the trees have yet to change colors!
That is an interesting structure for somewhere outside Oslo. :-) Thanks for this virtual tour!
Oh! Wow! A maple tree.
For some reason I thought they we indigenous only to North America.
looks like a fun an exciting trip! Yeah we had fog and rain all weekend also. Looks like most places did… ;-)
Nice pics!!! the mirror church captured my interest, the architectural structure’s great…so delicately built I guess.
Belated happy anniversary to you and your wife , God bless your family, Renny.
thanks for the tour…:) I enjoy it.
happy anniversary to you and diane! may God bless you and your relationship more. and may both of you inspire a lot of other couples :)
i don’t know but the picture that depicts autumn is only the first pic. hehehe.
WOW! Happy anniversary to both of you! What a lovely pictures and now I know more about Kongsberg. Odd is actually born there.
Happy Anniversary to you two!
You were having my favorite meats.
Prochuto and salami on rye! Ummmmm.
I am a rye bread kinda gal.
What is the stuff that looks like chocolate?
The church is amazing. I guess we have to take for granted that mirrors of old are lined with silver.
Only the good ones now a days are silver.
I love this kind of history.
Happy Anniversary!
I have to ask, is all of Norway this beautiful? Your pictures are always so captivating!
@Mark: Yes, the fall is coming slowly this year. Glad you liked the tour!
@Richard: Oh, no, there is a lot of maple trees in the northern Europe. Maple syrup is very popular too – I love it on pancakes.
@ExpatTraveler: It was exciting – hope you’ll have the chance one day!
@Nona: I’ve never seen a church like that and could not resist you know. Glad you liked the tour too and thank you so much for your good wishes – passed on to my wife too of course!
@Tin-tin: Thanks for the good wishes my friend! The food made the whole scenery fussy you know.
@Charles: Thanks my friend for your good wishes. Glad to hear you liked to hear more about Odd’s home town:-)
@Lynn: Thanks for the good wishes! How great that we share the same bread taste and cold cuts then!
The chocolate thing is cakes – my favourite, and wife knows of course :-)
I don’t think there was any silver in the church – sorry.
So glad you liked the story!
@Jen: Thanks!! I’m flattered about the question and tempted to say yes, Norway is beautiful, but then again I’m kind of patriotic:-)
Interesting facts (as always). You could have been a good journalist. I am always learning new things in your blog.
Happy 7th wedding anniversary. Time is flying by when you are happy, isn’t it?
changing colors and falling leaves in autumn,Norway is beautiful!
the glass church,WOW!
happy anniversary to both of you!
happy anniversary to you & dianne!More blessings to both of you!
That mirror church is so pretty! very unique! happy weekend dear renny:)
happy 7th anniversary to you and your wife..!
love the pics to bits.. so cool..
have a nice day! *hugs*
cheers,
aiRah
Oh well,what can I say?i need to work harder and earn more money to go there,haha!
it works though,as an inspiration,travelinggggg!!!
happy weekend,Renny!
Hello Renny, Happy Wedding Anniversary to you and the missus :-)
you got one fantastic telephone there, which model is it?
have a fine weekend, Renny.
@Sidney: I’m glad you liked the post! Yes, time is flying and precious:-)
@Yorokobee: Thanks for your good wishes and appreciations!
@Cheh: Thanks for your good wishes and I’ve passed it to Diane of course.
Happy weekend to you to dear and thanks for the gift – I’ve got snail mail!!!
@aiRah: Thanks for the good wishes and I’m glad you liked the pics too. Have a lovely weekend!
@Ghee: So I will go on inspiring you then – and then one day we meet in Norway! Happy weekend to you and your family too:-)
Renny, these photographs are extrordinary!!! I want to know the exact name and number of the Nokia you have…I’ve never seen such beautiful wonderful photos taken with a camera phone….Of course the “taker” is part of it, no doubt…but, this is the first Camera Phone that looked worth having to me….Would you email me please….!
myrtillo1984 at yahoo dot com.
Thank you very much and thank you for giving us this gorgeous tour of your part of Norway! More, More More, please!
Renny…You are now on my blogroll!
Also, I left your link on another blog friends blog—she is from Norwegian Ancestory and lives here in the U.S. and I thought she might really enjoy seeing all your pictures and reading all about the land of her “roots”. (lol)
Happy anniversary. Congratulations!
btw, gorgeous area. Neat church.
Thnk you for your comment on my blog, Mr. Terella. I always like your posts, especially those pictures. You have a very beautiful country. Hope someday I could visit Norway. Cheers.
@OldOldLadyOfTheHills: Thank you so much for showing interest and all the compliments. I am flattered. My Nokia is a 6680 – I know you’ve got mail:-) Thanks also for inviting others and even with Norwegian roots to my blog. Hope she find some of interest to her too.
Your favour of linking me is returned of course!
@Pearl: Thanks for your good wishes to my wife and I – and your compliments too!
@A Decent Man: Your welcome and I’m glad you find my blog interesting too. Hope you come and see us one day!