There are many Open Air Folk Museums in Europe, but the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in Oslo is this kind of place I wish to visit again and again (to see it at least once in every season of the year).
Norsk Folkemuseum
Human life is short, and the world is big and incredibly interesting, so I always try to see as much as possible in every place I go (update: I used to do it, but in 2016 I finally discovered the way of slow travel and I’m very happy about it 🙂 ), but spending almost whole day in Norsk Folkemuseum was definitely a pure pleasure (I have similar feelings about Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam ♥ ).
Few words of explanation about my interest in folk culture and folk museums: when I was a child my mother started to work in the biggest Polish Folk Architecture Museum, so I used to spend a lot of time wandering around folk cottages, farmyards, churches, bee-gardens, windmills and so on. Back then I thought that it was the only museum of this kind in the world (really I thought so! 🙂 ). I heard from my mom that there is one, big Open-Air Folk Museum in Sweden, from where everything has started, but you know, as my small world was limited to my hometown only, it was a little hard to believe 😉
When I got to Oslo during my first backpacking trip, I couldn’t resist visiting Folkemuseum. This is definitely one of the best places to visit when you are there (another incredible museum in Oslo I do recommend is the Munch Museum). In the meantime I have also visited Rocca al Mare skansen in Tallinn. Bokrijk in Belgium, Skansen in Stockholm, Shirakawa-gō in Japan (update: visited in February 2016) and Open-Air Ethnographic Museum in Riga are still on my bucket list (I won’t let them wait too long I hope!).
OK, enough of talking! Just take a look.
Isn’t it nice to go back in time for a while?
Living museum of cultural history
The Norsk Folkemuseum is one of the oldest museums of this type in the world – it was established in 1894! It’s a living history museum. You can meet real people working in the field, cooking traditional meals or performing traditional crafts of the region. In the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in Oslo visitors have a possibility to try a home-made bread, buy local handcrafts, listen to the live folk music or watch regional dances. I recorded one here. I’m not sure, but most probably they play a Polska dance.
Stavkirke
When talking about traditional, wooden architecture of Norway, it is impossible not to mention the famous Norwegian stave churches. Long ago these medieval, wooden Christian churches used to be common in the whole North part of Europe. Unfortunately most of them didn’t survive till now due to many fires. Luckily they are still present in Norway, where about 1000 Stravkirke were built. Some believe they were the first type of church to be constructed in Scandinavia. Stavkirke were heavily decorated with typical for the Northern cultures carving patterns.
And finally, something for every fan of jewellery and the Vikings series 😉
Have you been to the Norsk Folkemuseum?
I wish to visit the place once again. Would you like to join me? 😉
I’ve never been in Oslo or in Norway by this matter, but it’s one of the beautiful countries that I’ve been longing to see. Your post is very interesting and reminds me of the Village Museum in Bucharest, Romania. Lots of beautiful photos too.
Oh yes, I heard about this museum. Romania is still on my bucket list but first I need to visit painted churches before all this beautiful paintings will disappear 🙂
What a lovely story told through your photos, I especially enjoyed the photo of the children. Thanks for sharing, this is a place I hope to get to one day.
Thanks for comment Lyn 🙂
I still have at the back of my mind that I need to write a post and thank you for nominating me to the Versatile Blogger Award. Will do it soon, promise 🙂
Ooh, this looks wonderful. Must get myself to Norway someday 🙂
Definitely Esther 🙂 Norway is a place worht visiting! 🙂
Looks like a really lovely place and you wrote about it so well! Such beautiful pictures too! Will definitely have it on our list when in Norway 🙂
Thanks 🙂 My friend just returned yesterday from her trip to the North and her feelings were very similar 🙂
Love the wooden churches and small houses with grass on the roof 🙂
Did you hear about the Tyrolean Farm Museum? Seeing this, I think you might be interested… there are plenty of real traditional farms open air, and I think there are activities in summer. It is located in Tyrol, Austria, in the Alps.
Wow, never heard of Tyrolean Farm Museum, it’s great. It reminds me a bit of Bavaria in Germany where I stayed in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It’s really beautiful region of Europe 🙂
This looks like a great place to explore and wander around. Lots of intricate detailing.
Oslo itself ia great, but a little expensive 😉
I would totally join you! I’ve wanted to visit this place ever since I saw a picture of the sod-roof houses, but I had no idea there was so much more to it.
Summertime or the beginning of Fall is the best season to visit Oslo 🙂
Great photos!! Awww, this really makes me homesick!! I have never been to this Folkemuseum even though I am from Norway. Whenever I go to Oslo, going to museums is not my priority :). But this looks really nice! Will definitely consider visit it some day.
Ohhhh :))) What part of Norway are you from Maria? 🙂
Great read, thanks for hooking up on #SundayTraveler
Those roofs completely caught my heart, Isabella! I can’t miss this blog anymore 🙂
Thank you Lily! It’s really nice to hear that 🙂
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I am working just few km from this museum. Wonderful place 🙂
Wow! Wish I had known about this place when I was there.
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Great photos, brings back memories. I was in Oslo Folk Museum in January 2010 (I posted some photos from there). The trip was great, but we had to finish earlier as my boots lost the heel in the snow. 😀 I’ll have to go there again. 🙂
I always liked folk museums. I was in Sierpc and somewhere near Babia Góra, for sure.
Hahah, oh no, no heels when traveling 🙂
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Bardzo ciekawe i inspirujące miejsce 🙂