The Textile Industry Museum
The knitting factory in Salhus opened in 1859, where wool was carded, dyed, and turned into garments using knitting machines. Today, you can visit the Textile Industry Museum and explore the factory’s history and the era when Norwegian wool became a mass-produced commodity. The museum café serves homemade pastries, and the museum shop offers wool products for those who want to start knitting themselves!
Wool: The Vikings’ Raincoat
About 20 minutes by car from Norlender, you’ll find Osterøy Museum, where you can learn about ancient textile and handicraft traditions.
The Vikings traveled vast distances across open seas, exposed to harsh weather. They had extensive knowledge of wool and utilized its water-resistant properties in their clothing. The longest wool fibers grow on the outermost layer of the sheep, which the Vikings wove into raincoats. This way, they could produce large amounts of clothing without slaughtering the animals.
This craftsmanship is still alive today. Osterøy Museum offers courses where you can learn how to weave your own Viking raincoat.
Stay at a traditional Western Norwegian farm
Gripen gård is an authentic Western Norwegian farm that farms sheep the old way. The farm is in a beautiful location beside Storavatnet lake on Holsnøy. Farmer Helene Olli Sollid rents out cabins on her farm as accommodation. You can also stay in a lavvo (Sami tent) on an island in the lake. Enjoy nature up close and all by yourself! You can experience the sheep at close range on the farm. The sheep are one of the oldest breeds in Norway, and can graze outdoors all year.
In the autumn, you can buy cuts of meat, cured legs of mutton and, the Christmas favourite, salted, dried mutton ribs from the farm. facebook.com/gripengard/
The wool route in a day
All the places mentioned above can be visited on a day trip from Bergen. If you want to combine several stops in one day, it's a good idea to plan ahead. Some locations have limited opening hours, and a few appreciate it if you book in advance, especially if you're hoping for a guided tour.
No matter how much time you have, you’re free to create your own route. If you only have one day, a nice combination might be visiting Oleana, Osterøy Museum, and Norlender Factory & Outlet.
In addition to these wool-related spots, you can explore beautiful Mjøsvågen on Osterøy, right next to Norlender. Here, you can pick up a simple sandwich at Mjøsvågen Landhandleri. At the far end of the bay, you’ll also find the Flabellina sauna and the charming pub Fjærå Sjøhus. If you’re up for a scenic hike, Mjøsvågen is also the starting point for the steep but beautiful trail up Kossdalssvingane.
As an alternative to the hike and Fjærå Sjøhus, you can drive on to Tøsse Brygghus and book a beer tasting - just make sure you have a dedicated driver behind the wheel to take you back to Bergen.
Meet other wool lovers at the wool festival!
Do you knit? Do you enjoy learning new craft techniques? Well, you’re not alone! The Bergen region has two festivals where the focus is on wool. We advise you to regularly check their websites as the tickets, events and workshops at the festivals sell out quickly!
Ullveka takes place every October and is a celebration of Norwegian wool, Norwegian sheep breeds and Norway’s rich textile traditions. The festival hosts many workshops, exhibitions and events across the Bergen region for over a week.
Bergen Knitfest takes place every September at the Textile Industry Museum - The Museum Centre in Hordaland. For three days on end, the museum plays host to lectures, workshops, activities and, naturally, a large yarn market.
If you need assistance planning a day trip to one or more of the places mentioned in this article, we have put together a suggested road trip along the Osterfjord, allowing you to visit several of these attractions along the way.
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