Telemark () is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

and a current electoral district in

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

. Telemark borders the counties of

Vestfold Vestfold () is a county and a current electoral district in Norway. Located on the western shore of the Oslofjord, it borders Buskerud and Telemark counties. The county administration is located in Tønsberg, Norway's oldest city, and the larg ...

Buskerud Buskerud () is a Counties of Norway, county and a current electoral district in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Innlandet, Vestland, Telemark and Vestfold. The region extends from the Oslofjord and Drammensfjorden in the southeast to Hardanger ...

Vestland Vestland is a Counties of Norway, county in Norway. The county is located in Western Norway, and its administrative centre is Bergen, where the executive and political leadership is based. The County governor (Norway), County Governor is based in ...

Rogaland Rogaland () is a Counties of Norway, county in Western Norway, bordering the North Sea to the west and the counties of Vestland to the north, Telemark to the east and Agder to the east and southeast. As of 1 January 2024, it had a population of 49 ...

and

Agder Agder is a counties of Norway, county () and districts of Norway, traditional region in the southern part of Norway and is coextensive with the Southern Norway region. The county was established on 1 January 2020, when the old Vest-Agder and Au ...

. In 2020, Telemark merged with the county of

to form the county of

Vestfold og Telemark Vestfold og Telemark (; ) was a county in Norway, which existed from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023. The county was the southernmost one of Eastern Norway and consisted of two distinct and separate traditional regions: the former counties of ...

. On 1 January 2024, the county of Telemark was re-established after

was divided again. The name ''Telemark'' means the "

mark Mark may refer to: In the Bible * Mark the Evangelist (5–68), traditionally ascribed author of the Gospel of Mark * Gospel of Mark, one of the four canonical gospels and one of the three synoptic gospels Currencies * Mark (currency), a currenc ...

of the

Thelir The Thelir or Thilir (Old Norse: ''Þilir''; Norwegian Bokmål: ''teler''; Norwegian Nynorsk: ''telar'' or ''teler'') was a North Germanic tribe that inhabited the region now known as Upper Telemark in modern Norway during the Migration Period an ...

", the ancient North Germanic tribe that inhabited what is now known as

Upper Telemark Upper Telemark () is a traditional district in Telemark county in Norway. The area includes the inland areas of Telemark. More than two-thirds of the total area of Telemark—more than —belong to the traditional region of Upper Telemar ...

in the

Migration Period The Migration Period ( 300 to 600 AD), also known as the Barbarian Invasions, was a period in European history marked by large-scale migrations that saw the fall of the Western Roman Empire and subsequent settlement of its former territories ...

and the

Viking Age The Viking Age (about ) was the period during the Middle Ages when Norsemen known as Vikings undertook large-scale raiding, colonising, conquest, and trading throughout Europe and reached North America. The Viking Age applies not only to their ...

. In the Middle Ages, the agricultural society of Upper Telemark was considered the most violent region of Norway. Today, half of the buildings from medieval times in Norway are located here. The dialects spoken in Upper Telemark also retain more elements of

Old Norse Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...

than those spoken elsewhere in the country. Upper Telemark is also known as the birthplace of

skiing Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow for basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International S ...

. The southern part of Telemark,

Grenland Grenland is a traditional district in Telemark county, in the south-east of Norway. "Grenland" has referred to varying locations throughout history. In modern times, Grenland refers to the areas of the municipalities of Skien, Porsgrunn, Bamble, ...

, is more urban and influenced by trade with the

Low Countries The Low Countries (; ), historically also known as the Netherlands (), is a coastal lowland region in Northwestern Europe forming the lower Drainage basin, basin of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta and consisting today of the three modern "Bene ...

northern Germany Northern Germany (, ) is a linguistic, geographic, socio-cultural and historic region in the northern part of Germany which includes the coastal states of Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Lower Saxony and the two city-states Hambur ...

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

and the

British Isles The British Isles are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner Hebrides, Inner and Outer Hebr ...

. Telemark has been one of Norway's most important industrial regions for centuries, marked in particular by the

Norske Skog Union Norske Skog Union was a paper mill located in Skien in Norway. The mill was part of the Norske Skog Corporation and opened in 1873 with the name Union Co. The mill had two paper machines that produced 240,000 tonnes of newsprint and book paper. ...

paper mills in

and the

Norsk Hydro Norsk Hydro ASA (often referred to as just ''Hydro'') is a Norway, Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company, headquartered in Oslo. It is one of the largest aluminium companies worldwide. It has operations in some 50 countries around th ...

heavy water and fertilizer production in

. Telemark county was re-established on 1 January 2024, following a vote of the county council of Vestfold og Telemark on 15 February 2022 to split the newly established county into its respective counties that existed before the merger took place; Telemark and Vestfold.

History

Telemark county was established as the fief Bratsberg in the late Middle Ages, during Norway's union with Denmark. With the introduction of absolute monarchy in 1662 it became a county, and it was renamed Telemark in 1919 and was a county until 2020. The county administration was in the port town

Skien Skien () is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Grenland, although historically it belonged to Grenmar/Skiensfjorden, while Grenland referred the Norsjø area and Bø. The administrative ...

, which was in the early modern period Norway's most important city, ahead of Christiania. Telemark consists of several distinct historical regions. It takes its name from the largest of them, which is now called

, but which was historically simply called Telemark. Telemark is named for the

(Þilir in Old Norse), the ancient North Germanic tribe that inhabited what is now known as Upper Telemark since the

and during the

. The Norse form of the name was ''Þelamǫrk''. The first element is the genitive plural case of ''Þilir'' while the last element is ''mǫrk'' "woodland, borderland,

march March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March. The March equinox on the 20 or 2 ...

". Traditional Telemark, i.e. Upper Telemark, is located in the inland and comprises more than two thirds of it according to its traditional definition. Both in medieval times and later (Upper) Telemark was the region of Norway with the most self-owning farmers. It retained Norse culture to a larger degree than any other region in Norway, with respect to its more egalitarian organisation of society, religion, traditional values and language. Thus the people of Telemark were often described during the Middle Ages and early modern era as the most violent in Norway. The dialects of Upper Telemark are also the dialects of Norwegian that are closest to

. The farmers of Telemark were marked by a strong-willed conservatism and belief in their traditional values that often defied the central authorities of Denmark-Norway; for example they held on to aspects of both

Old Norse religion Old Norse religion, also known as Norse paganism, is a branch of Germanic religion which developed during the Proto-Norse period, when the North Germanic peoples separated into distinct branches. It was replaced by Christianity and forgotten ...

and later of

Catholicism The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

longer than other regions in Norway. (Upper) Telemark traditionally lacks cities entirely.

and the Skien fjord are flatter regions located closer to or at the coast. Historically Grenland referred to what is now called

Midt-Telemark Midt-Telemark is a Districts of Norway, traditional district of Norway situated in Telemark county. It is made up of two municipalities: Midt-Telemark (municipality), Midt-Telemark and Nome, Norway, Nome. The largest population centres in the regio ...

, but over time the name Grenland has come to refer to the Skien fjord area. The latter is traditionally characterized by its cities and its involvement in seafaring and trade. It also includes several larger agricultural properties and estates, as well as industry. The culture and social structure are more urban, far less traditional, more influenced by contact with continental Europe and far less egalitarian. The most important city of the region,

, was historically one of Norway's most important cities, although its importance declined after the Napoleonic Wars. The playwright

Henrik Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright, poet and actor. Ibsen is considered the world's pre-eminent dramatist of the 19th century and is often referred to as "the father of modern drama." He pioneered ...

was a native of Skien, and many of his plays are set in places reminiscent of the city and area. During the Dano-Norwegian union the traditional regions of Telemark and Grenland/the Skien fjord became the fief (''len'') and later county (''

amt Amt is a type of administrative division governing a group of municipalities, today only in Germany, but formerly also common in other countries of Northern Europe. Its size and functions differ by country and the term is roughly equivalent to ...

'') of Bratsberg (Bradsberg). The fief and county was named after the farm Bratsberg, since this was the seat of the governor. In 1919 Bratsberg county was renamed Telemark. Despite this, Grenland retains a separate identity that is distinct from Telemark proper; the minority in the Storting voted for the name Grenland–Telemark in 1918. Upper Telemark, particularly

Kviteseid Kviteseid is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional districts of Vest-Telemark and Upper Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Kviteseidbyen. Other villages in Kviteseid ...

, is known as the birthplace of

as a modern sport. Telemark lent its name to

Telemark skiing Telemark skiing is a skiing technique that combines elements of Alpine skiing, Alpine and Nordic skiing, Nordic skiing, using the rear foot to keep balance while pushing on the front foot to create a carving turn on downhill skis with toe-only ...

, a style invented by

Sondre Norheim Sondre Norheim, born Sondre Auverson, (10 June 1825 – 9 March 1897) was a Norwegian skier and pioneer of modern skiing. Sondre Norheim is known as the father of Telemark skiing. Background Sondre Auverson was born at Øverbø, a little ...

, and the characteristic Telemark landing of

ski jumping Ski jumping is a winter sport in which competitors aim to achieve the farthest jump after sliding down on their skis from a specially designed curved ramp. Along with jump length, competitor's aerial style and other factors also affect the final ...

. Telemark is also known as the centre of the ''

Bunad ''Bunad'' (, plural: ''bunader''/''bunadar'') is a Norwegian umbrella term. In a broader sense, the term encompasses household, householding equipment, and livestock as well as both traditional rural clothes (mostly dating to the 18th and 19th ...

'' movement. Telemark has more buildings from medieval times than any other Norwegian region.

Geography

Telemark is located in southeastern Norway, extending from the

Hardangervidda Hardangervidda () is a mountain plateau ( Norwegian: ''vidde'') in central southern Norway, covering parts of Vestland, Telemark, and Buskerud counties. It is the largest plateau of its kind in Europe, with a cold year-round alpine climate, and o ...

mountain plateau in the North to the

Skagerrak The Skagerrak (; , , ) is a strait running between the North Jutlandic Island of Denmark, the east coast of Norway and the west coast of Sweden, connecting the North Sea and the Kattegat sea. The Skagerrak contains some of the busiest shipping ...

coast in the South. Telemark has a varied and scenic landscape, including a rugged coastline, valleys, lakes, hills mountains, and mountain plateaus. Southern Telemark is the location of the Gea Norvegica

UNESCO Global Geopark UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp) are geoparks certified by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council as meeting all the requirements for belonging to the Global Geoparks Network (GGN). The GGN is both a network of geoparks and the agency of the United Nati ...

(UGG), established in 2006. The UGG carries significance to Norway with an abundance of

larvikite Larvikite is an igneous rock, specifically a variety of monzonite, notable for the presence of thumbnail-sized crystals of feldspar. These feldspars are known as ''ternary'' because they contain significant components of all three endmember fe ...

along the Oslo Rift,

Paleozoic The Paleozoic ( , , ; or Palaeozoic) Era is the first of three Era (geology), geological eras of the Phanerozoic Eon. Beginning 538.8 million years ago (Ma), it succeeds the Neoproterozoic (the last era of the Proterozoic Eon) and ends 251.9 Ma a ...

fossils, geological artifacts of

glacial retreat The retreat of glaciers since 1850 is a well-documented effect of climate change. The retreat of mountain glaciers provides evidence for the rise in global temperatures since the late 19th century. Examples include mountain glaciers in western ...

from the

last glacial maximum The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), also referred to as the Last Glacial Coldest Period, was the most recent time during the Last Glacial Period where ice sheets were at their greatest extent between 26,000 and 20,000 years ago. Ice sheets covered m ...

, and rocks from the

Sveconorwegian Orogeny The Sveconorwegian orogeny was an orogenic system active 1140 to 960 million years ago and currently exposed as the Sveconorwegian orogenic belt in southwestern Sweden and southern Norway. In Norway the orogenic belt is exposed southeast of the f ...

. It is the first UGG in Scandinavia.

Infrastructure

The international road E18 goes through the southern parts of Telemark, namely

and the municipality of

Kragerø Kragerø () is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional districts of Grenland and the smaller Vestmar. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kragerø. Villages in Kragerø include H ...

. E134, another important motorway and the fastest route between

Oslo Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...

and

Bergen Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo. By May 20 ...

, goes through the municipalities of

Vinje Vinje is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Vest-Telemark which is part of Øvre Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Åmot. Other villages in the muni ...

Tokke Tokke is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the Traditional districts of Norway, traditional district of Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Dal ...

Seljord Seljord is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional districts of Upper Telemark and Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Seljord. Other villages in the municipalit ...

Hjartdal Hjartdal is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Upper Telemark and Aust-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sauland. Other villages in the municipality ...

and

Notodden is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Aust-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Notodden. Other population centres include the villages of Bolkesjø, G ...

. RV36, stretching from

Porsgrunn is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the Traditional districts of Norway, traditional district of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the Porsgrunn (town), city ...

to Seljord, links the E18 and E134 motorways. Telemark is well served by railways. The

Sørlandet Line The Sørlandet Line () is a railway line between Drammen (though this is connected to Oslo by means of the Drammen Line) via Kristiansand to Stavanger. The line is long between Oslo and Stavanger. History The railway was constructed in several ...

runs through the traditional districts of Vestmar and Midt-Telemark, serving the municipalities of

Drangedal Drangedal is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Prestestranda. Other villages in Drangedal include Bø i Tørdal, ...

Nome Nome may refer to: Country subdivision * Nome (Egypt), an administrative division within ancient Egypt * Nome (Greece), the administrative division immediately below the ''peripheries of Greece'' (, pl. ) Places United States * Nome, Alaska ...

, Bø and

Sauherad Sauherad is a List of former municipalities of Norway, former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It was part of the Districts of Norway, traditional region of Midt-Telemark. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 2020. ...

. Grenland is primarily served by the

Vestfold Line The Vestfold Line () is a railway line which runs between Drammen and Eidanger in Norway. The line connects to the Drammen Line at the northern terminus at Drammen Station and continues as the Bratsberg Line past Skien Station. The line is excl ...

, but also has connections through the

Bratsberg Line The Bratsberg Line () is a railway line between Eidanger and Notodden in Telemark county, Norway. It opened in 1917, connecting the Tinnos Line, the Sørland Line and the Vestfold Line; allowing Norsk Hydro to transport fertilizer from their pl ...

which runs between

and

. From Langesund, Fjordline operates ferry services to

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

and

. The main bus lines in the region are operated by Telemark Bilruter, serving western and middle parts of the region, and

Nettbuss Vy Buss, formerly branded as Nettbuss, is the largest bus company in Norway, owned by Vy. It was established on 10 February 2000 as the continuation of the bus operations from former NSB Biltrafikk. In addition to bus services in major parts o ...

which serves the middle, eastern and southern parts of the region. Drangedal Bilruter serves the

Vestmar Grenland is a traditional district in Telemark county, in the south-east of Norway. "Grenland" has referred to varying locations throughout history. In modern times, Grenland refers to the areas of the municipalities of Skien, Porsgrunn, Bamb ...

region.

Population

The largest population centres are

Rjukan Rjukan () is a List of towns and cities in Norway, town in Tinn Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The town is also the administrative centre of Tinn Municipality. The town is located in the Vestfjorddalen valley, between the lakes Møsvatn ...

and

. Other important places are Bø,

Fyresdal Fyresdal is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Moland. Other villages in Fyresdal include Kilegrend, Øvre Bir ...

and

Coat of arms

The

coat of arms of Telemark Telemark () is a county and a current electoral district in Norway. Telemark borders the counties of Vestfold, Buskerud, Vestland, Rogaland and Agder. In 2020, Telemark merged with the county of Vestfold to form the county of Vestfold og Telema ...

is from modern times (1970). It shows an old type of

battle axe A battle axe (also battle-axe, battle ax, or battle-ax) is an axe specifically designed for combat. Battle axes were designed differently to utility axes, with blades more akin to cleavers than to wood axes. Many were suitable for use in one ha ...

, significant for the county. The county coat of arms valid from 1 January 2024 is a redesigned version of the county coat of arms for Telemark county from 1970 until the county merger in 2020.

Notable telemarkinger/teledølar

Myllarguten Torgeir Augundsson (1801 – 21 November 1872), better known as Myllarguten (meaning ''the Millerboy''), is arguably the most acknowledged Norwegian folk musician to this day, and by far the most legendary. In his own local dialect, his given nam ...

(1801–1872), legendary fiddler born in

Aasmund Olavsson Vinje Aasmund Olavsson Vinje (6 April 1818 – 30 July 1870) was a Norwegian poet and journalist who is remembered for poetry, travel writing, and his pioneering use of Landsmål (now known as Nynorsk). Background Vinje was born into a poor but w ...

(1818–1870), author born in

(1825–1897), father of

born in

Morgedal Morgedal is a village in Kviteseid Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located in the mountains along the European route E134 highway, about to the northwest of the village of Brunkeberg (Telemark), Brunkeberg and about to t ...

August Cappelen Hermann August Cappelen (1 May 1827 – 8 March 1852) was a Norwegian painter. Cappelen was best known for his melancholic, dramatic and romantic landscape compositions. Background Hermann August Cappelen was born in Skien, Norway. He was the ...

(1827–1852), national romantic painter born in

Snowshoe Thompson John Albert Thompson (born Jon Torsteinsson Rue; April 30, 1827 – May 15, 1876), nicknamed Snowshoe Thompson, an early resident of the Sierra Nevada of Nevada and California, was a Norwegian-American considered to be the father of California s ...

(Jon Torsteinson-Rue) (1827–1876),

American pioneer American pioneers, also known as American settlers, were European American,Asian American, and African American settlers who migrated westward from the British Thirteen Colonies and later the United States of America to settle and develop areas ...

and father of

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

(1828–1906), author born in

John Anders Johnson John Anders Johnson (April 15, 1832November 10, 1901) was a Norwegian American immigrant, businessman, and Republican politician. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly, representing eastern Dane County. Biography Johnson was bo ...

(1832–1901), American politician *

Thorbjorn N. Mohn Thorbjorn Nelson Mohn, born Torbjørn Nilsen Moen (July 15, 1844 - November 18, 1899) was an American Lutheran church leader and the first president of St. Olaf College. Background Torbjørn Nilsen Moen was born in Sauherad, Saude, Norway on Ju ...

(1844–1899), American Lutheran church leader and first president of

St. Olaf College St. Olaf College is a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American pastors and farmers led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after the King and th ...

* Brynild Anundsen (1844–1913), founder of ''

Decorah Posten ''Decorah-Posten'' was a notable Norwegian-language newspaper published in Decorah, Iowa. It was founded in 1874 by Brynild Anundsen, a native of Skien, Norway, and widely read by Scandinavian immigrants in several states. History Its orig ...

'' *

Marcus Olaus Bockman Marcus Olaus Bockman (January 9, 1849 – July 21, 1942) was a Norwegian-American Lutheran theologian. Background Marcus Olaus Bockman was born Marcus Olaus Bøckmann at Langesund in Bamble municipality, Telemark county, Norway. He was educated a ...

(1849–1942), Norwegian-American Lutheran theologian *

Herbjørn Gausta Herbjørn Nilson Gaustå also Herbjorn Gausta (June 16, 1854 – May 22, 1924) was an American artist who is best known for his landscapes, portraits, and scenes from rural settings. He left an early record of immigrant life in his portraits and ...

(1854–1924), American artist. Born in Vestfjørddalen *

Theodor Kittelsen Theodor Severin Kittelsen (27 April 1857 – 21 January 1914) was a Norwegian artist. He is one of the most popular artists in Norway. Kittelsen became famous for his nature paintings, as well as for his illustrations of fairy tales and legend ...

(1857–1914), artist born in

George Awsumb George Awsumb (20 July 1880 – 24 November 1959) was a prominent Norwegian-American architect in the first half of the 20th century. Awsumb defined architecture as "frozen music" designed for the "man on the street". He was influenced by his earl ...

(1880–1959), architect born in

Vidkun Quisling Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling (; ; 18 July 1887 – 24 October 1945) was a Norwegian military officer, politician and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, Nazi collaborator who Quisling regime, headed the government of N ...

(1887–1945), politician, collaborationist leader during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Executed as a traitor, born in

Aslaug Vaa Aslaug Vaa (25 August 1889 – 28 November 1965) was a Norwegian poet and playwright. Her works contain elements from local tradition and landscape mixed with international influence. Personal life Aslaug Vaa was born on Nystog in Rauland, ...

(1889–1965), author born in

Rauland Rauland is a former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1860 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Vinje Municipality. The administrative centre was the village of Raulandsgrend (also known ...

Tarjei Vesaas Tarjei Vesaas (20 August 1897 – 15 March 1970) was a Norwegian poet and novelist. Vesaas is widely considered to be one of Norway's greatest writers of the twentieth century and perhaps its most important since World War II. Vesaas' work is c ...

(1897–1970), author born in

Anne Grimdalen Anne Grimdalen (1 November 1899 – 3 October 1961) was a Norwegian sculptor. She was born on the mountain farm Grimdalen in Skafså, Telemark, and later also lived and worked in the so-called ''Kunstnerdalen'' in Asker. She worked mainly ...

(1899–1961), sculptor born in Skafså,

Eivind Groven Eivind Groven (8 October 1901 – 8 February 1977) was a Norwegian composer and music-theorist. He was from the traditional region of Vest-Telemark and had a background in the folk music of the area. Biography Groven was born in the village ...

(1901–1977), composer born in

Lårdal Lårdal is a village in Tokke Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located on the north shore of the lake Bandak and about south of the village of Høydalsmo and the European route E134 highway. The village is the site of ...

Dyre Vaa Dyre Vaa (19 January 1903 – 11 May 1980) was a Norwegian sculptor and painter. Background He was born in Kviteseid, Telemark, and later lived and worked in Rauland. He was the son of Tor Aanundsson Vaa (1864–1928) and Anne Marie Roholt (18 ...

(1903–1980), sculptor born in

Klaus Egge Klaus Egge (July 19, 1906 – March 7, 1979) was a Norwegian composer and music critic. Background Egge was born in Gransherad, Telemark, Norway. He was the son of Rasmus Klausen Egge (1874-1962) and Rakel Abrahamsdatter Iversen (1877-1986). He ...

(1906–1979), composer born in

Gransherad Gransherad is a List of former municipalities of Norway, former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1860 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Notodden Municipality (in Telemark) and Kongsberg ...

Gunnar Sønsteby Gunnar Fridtjof Thurmann Sønsteby DSO ( 1918 – 10 May 2012) was a member of the Norwegian resistance movement during the German occupation of Norway in World War II. Known by the nickname "Kjakan" ("The Chin") and as "Agent No. 24", ...

, (1918–2012), war hero born in

Tinn Tinn is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional districts of Aust-Telemark and Upper Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Rjukan. Some of the villages in Tinn include Atr� ...

* Hans Herbjørnsrud (1938–), author born in

Heddal Heddal is a former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Notodden Municipality. The administrative centre was the village of Heddal where the Heddal ...

Tor Åge Bringsværd Tor Åge Bringsværd (born 16 November 1939 in Skien, Norway) is an author, playwright, editor, and translator and is perhaps best known for his speculative fiction. Together with long-time partner Jon Bing, he is also considered the first Norwe ...

(1939–), author born in

Agnes Buen Garnås Agnes Buen Garnås (23 October 1946 – 12 November 2024) was a Norwegian folk singer from the county of Telemark. She came from a famous musical family from the town of Jondal, and was known particularly for her singing of ancient unaccompanied ...

(1946–), musician born in

Jondal Jondal is a List of former municipalities of Norway, former municipality in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1863 until its dissolution in 2020 when it became part of Ullensvang Municipality in Vestland county. It ...

* Kåre Nordstoga (1954–), musician born in

Bugge Wesseltoft Jens Christian Bugge Wesseltoft (born 1 February 1964) is a Norwegian jazz pianist, composer, and producer, son of jazz guitarist Erik Wesseltoft. Career In 1989, Wesseltoft collaborated with the Knut Riisnæs Quartet and was soon after ...

(1964-), musician born in

* Gisle Kverndokk (1967–), composer born in

Jørn Lande Jørn Marumsrud Lande (born 31 May 1968) is a Norwegian hard rock and heavy metal singer. He is known for his work with the bands Ark, Beyond Twilight, Millenium, Vagabond, The Snakes, and most notably with power metal band Masterplan. He ...

(1968–), hard rock / heavy metal singer born in

Bård Tufte Johansen Bård Tufte Johansen (born 19 June 1969 in Skien) is a Norway, Norwegian comedian. Together with Harald Eia, he has authored and participated in several successful Norsk Rikskringkasting, NRK TV series, such as ''U:Natt'' (1994), starring with Mo ...

(1969–), comedian born in

Odd Nordstoga Odd Nordstoga (born 10 December 1972) is a folk singer, musician, actor and editor from Vinje Municipality in Telemark, Norway. In 2004, he went from relative obscurity to becoming the country's biggest selling recording artist, with the phenome ...

(1972–), musician born in

Frode Johnsen Frode Johnsen (born 17 March 1974) is a Norwegian former professional footballer who played for Odd and Rosenborg in the Tippeligaen and for Nagoya Grampus and Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan. He played in several positions, but was preferred as a ...

(1974–), footballer born in

Terje Haakonsen Terje may refer to: *Terje (name), a form of the Scandinavian name Torgeir *Tria (), a village in the commune of Derna, Bihor, Romania {{Dab ...

(1974–), snowboarder born in

Ihsahn Vegard Sverre Tveitan (born 10 October 1975), better known by his stage name Ihsahn ( ), is a Norwegian musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and composer who is best known for his work with the black metal band Emperor (Norwegian band ...

(Vegard Sverre Tveitan) (1975–), black/extreme metal musician born in

Julie Bergan Julie Bergan (born 12 April 1994) is a Norwegian singer and songwriter born in Skien, Norway. Bergan started releasing covers on YouTube at the age of 16, eventually signing a record deal with Warner Music Norway in 2013. In 2015 she attained m ...

(1994-) Norwegian singer and songwriter born in

Districts

The county is conventionally divided into traditional districts. Traditionally the county is mainly divided into

(historically called simply Telemark or more recently Telemark proper) and

. Upper Telemark is sometimes subdivided into

Vest-Telemark Vest-Telemark () is a traditional district in Norway. The area comprises the western areas of the larger region known as Upper Telemark () in Vestfold og Telemark county. The region consists of six municipalities: Fyresdal, Tokke, Vinje, Nis ...

and

Aust-Telemark Aust-Telemark () is a traditional district in Telemark county in Norway. The district comprises five municipalities: Hjartdal, Midt-Telemark, Nome, Notodden, and Tinn. The largest population centres in the region are the cities Notodden and Rjuk ...

. The name Lower Telemark traditionally refers to Grenland and

, but was more of an administrative region than a cultural one. Regardless of definition, Upper Telemark constitutes the largest part by far. For example, the modern provostship of Upper Telemark comprises 12 municipalities and more than 80% of Telemark, also including Midt-Telemark. An additional district,

is disputed. The district borders of this county are highly overlapping and to a certain extent undefined and/or disputed.

Municipalities

Cities

* Brevik *

Langesund is the administrative centre of Bamble Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The town is located on a peninsula along the Langesundsfjorden near the Skaggerak coast. The town of Stathelle lies about to the northwest. The town was establi ...

Stathelle is a town in Bamble Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The town is located at the confluence of the Frierfjorden, Eidangerfjord, and Langesundsfjorden. The town of Brevik lies about across the fjord and the town of Langesund lies about ...

Parishes

* Atrå * Austbygdi *

Bamble Bamble is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the Traditional districts of Norway, traditional district of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Langesund ...

* Brevik * Brunkeberg * Bø * Dal * Drangedal * Eidanger *

Eidsborg Eidsborg is a village in Tokke Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located about north of the village of Dalen and the lake Bandak. The village lies in a bowl-shaped valley, surrounded by forests. The 13th-century Eidsbor ...

* Flatdal * Fyresdal *

Gjerpen Gjerpen is a former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Skien Municipality. The administrative centre was the village of Gjerpen, which is now part o ...

* Gransherad * Grungedal *

* Helgen * Herre * Hitterdal, see Heddal * Hjartdal * Holla (Hollen) * Hovin * Hægland * Høydalsmo * Kilebygda * Kragerø * Kroken, see Drangedal * Kviteseid (Hvidesøe) * Old Kviteseid (Hvidesøe) * Langesund * Lisleherad (Lilleherred) * Lunde * Lårdal * Mo * Moland * Mæl * Mælum * Møsstrand * Nes * Nesland * Nissedal * Notodden *

Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Porsgrunn Our Lady of Good Counsel Church () is a Roman Catholic parish church in the city of Porsgrunn in Telemark, Norway. The church is located in the center of town just south of Porsgrunn River, at the intersection of Sverresgate and Aallsgate. The ...

* Porsgrunn * Rauland * Rjukan * Sannidal (Sannikedal) * Saude * Sauherad (Saude) * Sauland * Seljord * Siljan * Skafså *

Skåtøy Skåtøy is an island in Kragerø Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The island is the largest of all of the islands and skerries off the coast of Kragerø. It is located about to the east of the town of Kragerø and the islands of Tå ...

* Slemdal, see Siljan * Solum * Stathelle * Tinn * Treungen * Tuddal * Tørdal (Tørrisdal) * Vestre Porsgrunn * Veum * Vinje * Vrådal * Ytre Flåbygd * Østre Porsgrunn * Øyfjell * Åmotsdal * Brevik Branch (LDS, 1852–1864) * Langesund Branch (LDS, 1852–1907) * Skien (Frie Apostoliske, 1856–1892) * Porsgrunn and Skien (Great Britain Consulate Birth Register, 1876–1891) * Kragerø (Great Britain Death Register), 1895

Villages

Akkerhaugen Akkerhaugen is a village in Midt-Telemark Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located at the mouth of the river Sauarelva where it empties into the north end of the large lake Norsjø. The village of Sauherad lies about to ...

Arabygdi Arabygdi is a village in Vinje Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located in the Rauland area at the western end of the lake Totak. The Norwegian County Road 362 passes through the village, connecting it to the villages o ...

* Austbygdi *

Bjervamoen Bjervamoen or Lunde is a village in Nome Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located along the river Straumen, about west of the village of Ulefoss, about east of Flåbygd, and about south of Bø i Telemark. The village is ...

Bolkesjø Bolkesjø is a village in Notodden Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located along the Norwegian county road A Norwegian county road ( or ) is a highway in Norway owned and maintained by the local county municipality. S ...

Bostrak Bostrak or Bustrak is a village in Drangedal Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located near the western shore of the lake Bjorvann in the Tørdal area of northern Drangedal. The village of Bø i Tørdal lies about to the n ...

* Brevik * Brunkeberg * Bø *

Dalen Dalen (Dutch Low Saxon: ''Daoln'') is a village and a former municipality in the northeastern Netherlands, in the province of Drenthe. Since 1998, Dalen has been part of the municipality of Coevorden. The village was first mentioned in the 12th ...

Edland Edland is a village in Vinje Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located where the rivers Bora and Kjela meet, just to the east of the village of Haukeli. The European route E134 highway runs through the village. The villag ...

Eidanger Eidanger is a List of former municipalities of Norway, former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Porsgrunn Municipality. The administrative centre wa ...

Eidstod Eidstod is a village in Kviteseid Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located at the northern end of the lake Nisser and it is the main population centre in the Vrådal area. The Norwegian National Road 41 runs along the easte ...

Flatdal Flatdal () is a village and valley in the municipality of Seljord in Telemark county, Norway. Flatdal is located about to the northwest of the village of Seljord and about the same distance to the southeast of the village of Åmotsdal. Flatd ...

* Folkestad *

Gautefall Gautefall (also known as Gautefallheia) is a mountain village in Drangedal Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located in the mountains about southwest of the village of Bustrak (in Drangedal) and about northeast of the vil ...

Gvarv Gvarv is a village in the municipality Midt-Telemark in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located along the river Gvarvelva, just from where the river empties into the large lake Norsjø. The village of Bø lies about to the northwest, ...

* Haukeli *

* Helle * Henneseid * Herre *

Hjuksebø Hjuksebø is a village in Notodden Municipality in V Telemark county, Norway. The village is located just south of Hjuksevelta, roughly half-way between the town of Notodden and the village of Nordagutu (in Midt-Telemark Municipality. This vill ...

Hjuksevelta Hjuksevelta or simply Hjukse is a village in Notodden Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located about half-way between the town of Notodden and the village of Nordagutu (in Midt-Telemark Municipality. The village is located ...

* Holtsås *

Hoppestad Hoppestad is a village in Skien Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located about north of the town of Skien. The village of Luksefjell lies about to the north and the village of Valebø lies about to the northwest. The H ...

* Hovin *

Høydalsmo Høydalsmo is a village in Tokke Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located along the north shore of the lake Oftevant in the northeastern part of the municipality. The European route E134 highway runs through the village. T ...

Jomfruland Jomfruland is an island in Kragerø Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The small elongated island is located off the coast of mainland Kragerø, about south of the island of Stråholmen. It measures about in size. Jomfruland provides she ...

* Kil *

Klovholt Klovholt is a village in Skien Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located at the southern tip of the lake Norsjø. The village of Åfoss lies about to the north, the village of Melum lies about to the northwest, and the t ...

Landsverk AB Landsverk (full name: Aktiebolaget Landsverk, ) was a Swedish heavy industry company, manufacturing a wide variety of tracked and wheeled military vehicles, such as tractor units, off-road vehicles and armoured vehicles, etc, most notably the ...

Langangen Langangen is a village in Porsgrunn Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located in the far eastern part of the municipality, just before the border with neighboring Larvik Municipality, about to the southeast of the town of ...

Lunde Lunde may refer to: People Politics * Gulbrand Lunde (1901–1942), Norwegian councillor of state in the Nasjonal Samling government *Heidi Nordby Lunde (born 1973), Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party * Jens Lunde (1884–1974), Norw ...

Miland Miland is a village in Tinn Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located in the Vestfjorddalen valley, near the western shore of the large lake Tinnsjå, about east of the town of Rjukan, about south of the village of Atrå ...

Neslandsvatn Neslandsvatn is a village in Drangedal Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located along the small lake Neslandsvatnet, about to the southeast of the village of Prestestranda. The village of Henseid is located about to th ...

Nissedal Nissedal is a rural Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Telemark region of Telemark Counties of Norway, county, Norway. It is part of the Districts of Norway, traditional regions of Upper Telemark and Vest-Telemark. The administrative centr ...

Nordagutu Nordagutu is a village in Midt-Telemark Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located along the river Sauarelva, just south of the southern end of the lake Heddalsvatnet. The village of lies about south of the village of Holt ...

Portør Portør is a village in Kragerø Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located on the southern Skaggerak coast of the municipality, about straight south of the town of Kragerø. The Jomfruland National Park lies just off shor ...

Prestestranda Prestestranda is the administrative centre of Drangedal Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located at the northwestern end of the lake Øvre Toke, about to the southeast of the village of Bostrak and about to the northwest ...

Rudsgrendi Rudsgrendi or Rugsgrend is a village in Notodden Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located on the western shore of the large lake Tinnsjå, halfway between the village of Gransherad and the town of Rjukan. On the opposite si ...

Sannidal Sannidal is a List of former municipalities of Norway, former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1960. The area is now part of Kragerø Municipality. The administrative centre was ...

Sauland Sauland is the administrative centre of Hjartdal Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located at the confluence of the Hjartdøla and Skogsåa rivers, which together form the river Heddøla. The European route E134 highway ru ...

Skotfoss Skotfoss is a village in Skien Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located along the river Farelva where lake Norsjø feeds into the Skien watershed. It is located across the river from the village of Åfoss. It is located ...

Sneltvedt Sneltvedt is a village in Skien Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located about east of the town of Skien. The village of Hoppestad lies about to the northwest. The village has a population (2022) of 252 and a populatio ...

Snurråsen Snurråsen is a village in Siljan Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located along the Siljanelva river, about to the north of the village of Siljan. Siljan Church is located on the south side of Snurråsen. The village ...

Tinnoset Tinnoset is a village in Notodden Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located at the southernmost end of the large lake Tinnsjå, where the river Tinnelva begins flowing south out of the lake. It is about south of the villa ...

Treungen Treungen or Tveitsund is the administrative centre of Nissedal Municipality in Telemark county in Norway. Treungen and Tveitsund were previously separate villages, but they have grown together and now form one large urban area. The village has ...

Tuddal Tuddal is a village in Hjartdal Municipality in Telemark county, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island o ...

* Tveitsund *

Tørdal Tørdal is a valley and parish that makes up the northern third of Drangedal Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. Tørdal is centered around the village of Bø where the Tørdal Church is located. Another village in the valley is Bustrak. ...

Ulefoss Ulefoss is the administrative centre of Nome Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located along the northwest shore of the large lake Norsjø. The village occupies both sides of Ulefoss falls on the river Eidselva, just before ...

Vadfoss Vadfoss is a village in Kragerø Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located along the river Kammerfosselva, about midway betweenthe villages of Helle to the east and Kil to the west. It is also close to the town of Krager ...

Valebø Valebø is a village in Skien Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located on the eastern shore of Norsjø, across the lake from the villages of Ulefoss and Helgja in Nome Municipality. The village of Valebø lies about to ...

* Vinjesvingen *

Vrådal Vrådal (historically spelled ''Wraadahl'') is a village area in Kviteseid Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located along the northern end of the lake Nisser and the eastern end of the lake Vråvatn. The economy is based ...

* Yli *

Øyane Øyane is a neighborhood (''delområde'') in the Stavanger (city), city of Stavanger which lies in the southwestern part of the large municipality of Stavanger in Rogaland county, Norway. It includes many of the islands located to the east of the m ...

Øyfjell Øyfjell is a village in Vinje Municipality in Telemark county, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of ...

Åfoss Åfoss is a village in Skien Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located near the outlet of the lake Norsjø, just across the river from the village of Skotfoss Skotfoss is a village in Skien Municipality in Telemark count ...

Åmdals Verk Åmdals Verk is a small village in Tokke Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The village is located about south of the municipal center of Dalen. The village is the site of a former copper mine. The mines were operational between 1691 and ...

Åmotsdal Åmotsdal is a valley and small rural village in the municipality of Seljord in Telemark county, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Euro ...

Former municipalities

* Brevik * Bø *

* Holla * Hovin *

* Mo *

Solum The solum (plural, sola) in soil science consists of the surface and subsoil layers that have undergone the same soil forming conditions. The base of the solum is the relatively unweathered parent material. Solum and soils are not synonymous. So ...

References

External links

Telemark countyDestination Marketing Organization for TelemarkVestfold og Telemark county
{{Authority control Counties of Norway 1662 establishments in Norway 2020 disestablishments in Norway 2024 establishments in Norway Petty kingdoms of Norway

History

Geography

Infrastructure

Population

Coat of arms

Notable telemarkinger/teledølar

Districts

Municipalities

Cities

Parishes

Villages

Former municipalities

Further reading

References

External links