Dalen

Dalen is the administrative centre of the municipality of Tokke in Telemark, Norway.

Understand

The Tokke valley as seen by Peter Frederik Wergmann in the 1830s

The village, with a population of about 500, lies at the delta of the Tokke river in the western end of the lake Bandak, which is the western end of the Telemark Canal waterway. The extension of the canal to Bandak in 1892 made the village a tourist site, and the Dalen Hotel, one of the biggest wooden buildings in Norway was built. There are several hydroelectric plants in the vicinity, and the regional headquarters of Statkraft is in Dalen.

Other villages in the municipality include Eidsborg (3 km to the north), Høydalsmo (12 km to the north-east), Lårdal (10 km to the east, by the lake) and Åmsdals Verk (8 km to the south). Eidsborg has a medieval stave church, Åmsdals Verk was a mining site from 1540 to 1945.

Get in and around

The most touristic route to Dalen is by the canal, onboard Henrik Ibsen or Victoria. They may call also at Lårdal.

E134 from Oslo via Notodden passes through Høydalsmo, continuing to the north-west. Road 38 from Kragerø on the coast, near E18, leads through Åmsdals Verk and Dalen and continues northward. Road 450 comes in from road 9 in the south-west.

See

Eidsborg stave church

• 1 West Telemark open air museum (Friluftsmuseum Eidsborg), Museumsvegen 9 (in Eidsborg, 3 km north of Dalen, more along the twisting road), ☏ +47 35 06 90 90, post@vtm.no. May–middle September daily 10:00–17:00; groups year round by agreement. Some 30 old buildings, the oldest of which is from 1167. Café (with Wi-Fi and playing corner), museum shop, exhibitions. An activity park including a 105-m live scale model of the Telemark Canal. Hiking routes. 130/110/65 kr (children 6–15), family 340 kr.  
  • 2 Eidsborg stave church, ☏ +47 35 06 90 90. May–middle September daily 10:00–17:00; groups year round by agreement. One of the smallest stave churches. Erected 13th century, reconstructed in the 19th and 20th. Part of West Telemark open air museum. Guiding available at set times or by request, check whether available in English. A prehistoric query of sharpening stone nearby, exports of which seem to have reached far with the Old Norse. (updated Jun 2016)
• Høydalsmo IL. The sports club of Höydalsmo is very active and has hosted many skiing competitions, including cross-country and ski jumping. Check out whether there is something to watch.  
• 3 Åmdals Verk mines (Åmdals Verk gruver). 25 June–15 August Tu–Su 11:00–17:00; mine tours daily 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 in season, year round for groups by agreement, weather permitting. Mine in use 1691–1945, the first ones nearby in the 1530s. The temperature in the mine is 6 °C (43 °F); bring suitable clothing. Also museum, geologic exhibition, a small "mine" for children, museum shop etc. 90/70/45 kr (children 6–15), family 230 kr.  

Buy

There's an Extra grocery store where you can buy food, better selection and cheaper than Joker.

Sleep

The Dalen Hotel, a sight in itself

Splurge

• 1 Dalen Hotel, Hotellvegen 33, ☏ +47 35 07 90 00 (off season Tu–F 10:00–15:00), post@dalenhotel.no. Late April–early October. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Tourist hotel inaugurated in 1894, after the extension of the Telemark Canal. It was built in the style of a Swiss chalet with elements of National Romanticism and Dragestil. It soon received royal guests from all over Europe, beside aristocracy and mere mortals. During the German occupation, the hotel was used as a resort for German officers; the building fell into disrepair. It was reopened in 1992 after significant restoration work. The hotel's facade, lounges, dining room, and main lobby are almost identical to how they looked upon the building's completion in 1894. Rooms are in historic style, without TV, phone or minibar, a few without en suite facilities. Tables at the restaurant need to be booked, with priority for staying guests (continental breakfast, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner; menus, no à la carte, some special diets accommodated by advance request). No special arrangements for children, who are expected not to disturb the atmosphere. From 3000 NOK. One-day hotel package including dinner 6,000–14,000 kr; lunch 250–450 kr. (updated Mar 2024)
• 2 Birdbox Tokke. Check-in: 1600, check-out: 1300. Calm glamping hut where you live by a small lake, 100-m walk from the road. Note that this is outdoors, so you should at least have some sneakers, and likely hiking shoes in winter. Bring bug spray in summer. Note it is northward-facing, hence only direct sun in the morning. Small boat you can use to take trips on the lake, if you plan to take a shower/swim, you need to bring your own towel. NOK3500. (updated Jul 2024)
• 3 Vidsyn Midjås. Another glamping option, that is slightly more serviced than Birdbox Tokke (e.g., self-serviced breakfast, hiking equipment). One double room cabin, and one with three beds for families. NOK2500. (updated Jul 2024)