Telemark County, Norway, which gave its name to a style of skiing, is 75 mi/120 km southwest of Oslo and is sometimes called Norway in Miniature: It's set amid small fjords, and the countryside is quite beautiful. The area is best seen by a combination of car, boat and ferry. The peak of Gaustatoppen, near Rjukan, offers a magnificent view of the area. Also visit Kongsberg, the center of silver mining for several centuries, where a miniature train will take you deep into the mountain.
It's also an area steeped in Norwegian Folk Culture, and in the village of Tuudal at the foot of Gaustatoppen you'll find Grammy Award-winning Hardanger fiddler Knut Buen. He started the cafeteria and cultural hub in 1994 and also runs the Triomphe Cultural Workshop, Tuddal Amphitheatre and Town Hall in Tuddal.
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