Åmdals Verk Gruver

Åmdals Verk Mines

Useful Information

Location:	Åmdalsvegen 42A, 3882 Dalen. Åmdals Verk, Tokke, Telemark. From Vrådal follow RV38 30 km towards Dalen. (59.3711457, 8.0330993)
Open:	25-JUN to 15-AUG Tue-Sun 11-17, tours at 11:30, 13, 15. [2026]
Fee:	Adults NOK 80, Children (6-15) NOK 40. Groups (10+): Adults NOK 90. [2026]
Classification:	Copper Mine
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:
Guided tours:	L=1,200 m (by foot), 600 m (by train), D=90 min.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Birger Bastiansen (1986): Åmdals gamle kobberværk 1540-1945, NAGS-nytt, Norges Amatørgeologer Sammenslutning, 1986/1, pp 4-15. Freddy Egsæter (1984): Rallardag ved Åmdals verk 8/8-84, NAGS-nytt, Norges Amatørgeologer Sammenslutning, 1984/2, pp 35.
Address:	Åmdals Verk Gruver, Vest-Telemark Museum, Åmdalsvegen 42A, 3880 Dalen, , Tel: +47-35-06-90-90. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1540	mine founded, after when King Christian III of Denmark-Norway sent German miners to Telemark.
1945	mine closed.

Description

The mine at Åmdals Verk is one of the oldest mines in Norway. It was founded in 1540 by German miners, who were brought to Telemark by King Christian III of Denmark-Norway. He tried to develop the mining industry in Norway. As a result ther are numerous German names in the mine, like «Hoffnung» and «Ingeborg-sjakt».

Today there is a museum, which is a reconstruction of an old skeidehuset. The museum shows mining tools, photographs, drawings and documents related to the mining. A topographic model of the mine area and models of mine buildings and mining machines show, how copper was processed. There is also a geologic exhibition and a mineral collection.

The underground mine tour starts several times a day, and the visitors use a 600 mm gauge railway to enter the mine. Then a 1,200 m tour shows the mining of the copper ore. Impressive are the parts of the mine which followed the 45° seams, because the passages are diagonal. Wooden stairs allow to walk on the roof-like floor of the mine. There are also two nearly hour-long guided tours of the Forge per day.

The museum and show mine are a section of the Vest-Telemark Museum Eidsborg.