Glasergruva

Useful Information

Location:	Hynivegen 492, 3721 Skien. Valebøvegen 3282, north of Skien. Start at parking lot for Sti til Ulvskollen hiking area. About 2.1 km hike one way. Hynivegen, 3284 from Skien, turn left at Bakken, parking lot after 2 km. Hike to the mine 1.7 km one way, signposted. (59.2525560, 9.5319450)
Open:	no restrictions. [2026]
Fee:	free. [2026]
Classification:	Iron Mine Gea Norvegica Unesco Global Geopark
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	L=40 m.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Glasergruva, Hynivegen 492, 3721 Skien, Tel: +47-.
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

1538	iron ores reposrted by Hans Glaser.
1539	opening of Glaser Mine.
1543	Fossum Ironworks opened.
1867	mine closed.

Geology

Description

Glasergruva (Glaser Mine) was named after Hans Glaser, King Christian III’s master miner. He explored the area around Skien in 1538 and reported rich iron ore deposits with the sentence "God Almighty has abundantly shown His grace with the iron ore that is present in many places and widely spread fields in Skien." Glasergruva is thus the oldest iron mine in Norway and laid the foundation for the establishment of the important Fossum Ironworks. It was opened in 1539 and was operated until 1867. This mine and others nearby, like Breigangen and Bruberggruva, produced iron ore for almost four centuries.

The Glaserstollen (Glaser Adit) was built before the use of gunpowder, it was dug manually using an iron ramrod and a hammer combined with fire-setting. It accessed the mine behind and was 260 m long, but is now blocked by a collapse after about 40 m. This entrance section is freely accessible. The property is owned and maintained by the Løvenskiold family. The mine is protected as a cultural monument and a geosite of the Gea Norvegica Unesco Global Geopark.

The area is a hiking area named Sti til Ulvskollen, and there are numerous hiking trails, and viewpoints like the Ulvskollen (405 m asl). The adit is rather short and despite the educational signs by the GeoPark, the site is not very spectacular. Visiting only Glasergruva does not make much sense. A visit is recommended if you like hiking and plan a half or full day hike which includes viewpoints and other mining remains.